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Ground Probing Radar is often applied in shallow geological investigations as it can provide a
continuous profile of the interfaces between different geological units. The only drawback is the
limited depth penetration under clay-rich or water saturated sediments (alluvial deposits). The
example below was collected during a survey in Perthshire in Scotland with a low frequency
antenna. In the lower interpreted section, the base of the overburden and Glacial Till deposits have
been inferred from the data.
A more recent development of the Ground Probing Radar technique is the investigation of ballast
thickness and quality along railways. This is has only become possible through the development of
the survey equipment to be able to collect and saving vast quantities of data at speed. The
example below shows a profile collected over an embankment which was highlighted to possibly
be at risk. Clearly evident in the data is a large arched shaped anomaly, revealing that the
thickness of the ballast is at a minimum in the central region of the embankment. Also present is an
With the highest frequency antennae (>1 GHz) the depth of penetration is limited to less than 1 m,
but the resolution of the data is appropriate for structural investigations. Coupled with the high
contrast between concrete and metallic object, the technique is ideal for detecting structural
features such as reinforcement, ground beams, piles and pile caps, etc. The example below was
collected over a reinforced floor slab, and the presence of the reinforcement grid is clearly visible.
At the ends of the section, additional reinforcement is also visible, which is attributable to the
presence of ground beams.