Ground radar, also known as ground penetrating radar (GPR), is a geophysical method used for subsurface exploration and imaging. It works by transmitting electromagnetic pulses into the ground and detecting reflected signals that bounce back from interfaces or underground objects. Ground-based radar systems typically consist of a transmitting antenna that sends radar waves and a receiving antenna that detects the reflected signals. By analyzing the time it takes for signals to return and their strength, GPR can create detailed images of underground features such as soil layers, bedrock, buried objects, utilities, archaeological artifacts and geological structures.
Ground radar is commonly referred to as ground penetrating radar (GPR) due to its primary function of penetrating the ground to detect and image underground features. This is a non-destructive testing method that provides high-resolution images of the subsurface without the need for physical excavation or surveying. GPR systems vary in size and capabilities, ranging from portable units used for field surveys to larger systems used in research, engineering, and archaeological investigations. Ground radar technology has applications in various fields, including civil engineering, environmental studies, forensic investigations, military operations and archaeological research.
The function of ground penetrating radar (GPR) is to study and map underground structures and features by transmitting radar pulses into the ground and analyzing the reflected signals. GPR works on the principle of electromagnetic wave propagation, where radar waves pass through the ground and bounce back from underground interfaces that have different electrical properties. The system records the time taken for signals to return and their strength, which is processed to create cross-sectional images (radargrams) or three-dimensional maps of the subsurface. Data obtained from GPR surveys helps identify underground utilities, map geological layers, assess ground conditions, locate buried objects or structures, detect voids or anomalies, and evaluate the integrity of construction materials.