Ground penetrating radar (GPR) shows underground features and objects by detecting contrasts in electromagnetic properties in the ground. It can reveal buried structures such as pipes, cables, foundations and archaeological artifacts.
GPR provides a cross-sectional view of the subsurface, displaying reflections from interfaces between different materials or buried objects, which are interpreted to identify the depth, size and shape of subsurface anomalies.
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) finds a variety of buried objects and features, including utilities like pipes and cables, underground storage tanks, concrete structures like foundations or slabs, remains archaeological findings such as artifacts or burial sites, and changes in soil composition or moisture content.
The ability to detect these features depends on their size, depth, and contrast of electromagnetic properties to surrounding materials.
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) cannot detect objects that do not create significant contrasts in electromagnetic properties with their surrounding environment. This includes non-metallic objects with low dielectric contrast, such as some plastics, organic materials like wood or certain types of soil, and objects buried very deep or under highly conductive materials like clay or moist soil.
GPR also has difficulty detecting objects with complex geometries or those obscured by large metallic or conductive objects nearby.
Five elements that ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements include the depth of buried objects or structures, their approximate size and shape based on reflection patterns, the presence of voids or cavities in the ground, variations in the soil composition or moisture and the presence of archaeological features or artifacts below the surface.
Interpreting GPR data involves analyzing these measurements to create a detailed picture of underground conditions.
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has a limited ability to see bodies buried underground due to several factors. Although GPR can detect objects with different electromagnetic properties, detecting human bodies can be difficult. Factors such as depth of burial, soil conditions, and composition of the body (organic matter) relative to its surroundings (soil or concrete) affect the ability of the radar signal to reflect back to the antenna.
GPR can detect abnormalities that might be indicative of burial, but definitive identification usually requires corroborating evidence from forensic investigations