What are the best radar systems for detecting underground structures in mining exploration? (2024)

FAQs

What are the best radar systems for detecting underground structures in mining exploration? ›

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR

The UtilityScan 350HS sets the benchmark for high-performance GPR solutions, boasting exceptional depth penetration and resolution. Equipped with innovative features such as dynamic range extension and GPS integration, this GPR system delivers unparalleled results in the most demanding field conditions.

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. It is a non-intrusive method of surveying the sub-surface to investigate underground utilities such as concrete, asphalt, metals, pipes, cables or masonry.

Ground penetrating radar systems are perfect for identifying voids in subsurface soil. With great precision, they can determine the depth the void resides as well as accurately detect the void's boundaries. The caveat here is that GPR can't accurately measure the depth of the void from top to bottom, just its presence.

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetic techniques can help to detect and to characterise these shallow mining structures based on the strong contrast of electromagnetic and magnetic properties (dielectric constant and magnetic susceptibility) between the rock and the backfill of cavities.

Both GPR and Electromagnetic locating provide the technology to locate underground utilities. However, both methods can lack accuracy, depending on the environment and ground contents. Vacuum excavation is a highly accurate tool, as the utility is actually being unearthed and seen with the human eye.

GPR can reach depths of up to 100 feet (30 meters) in low conductivity materials such as dry sand or granite. Moist clays, shale, and other high conductivity materials, may attenuate or absorb GPR signals, greatly decreasing the depth of penetration to 3 feet (1 meter) or less.

Hand-held GPR devices from GSSI, Proceq, and others generally run from $11,000 to $17,000 to purchase and can be rented for $1,000 - $4,000 per month. Some models incorporate a display readout for you, but most connect wirelessly to a tablet.

There are always metal detectors, of course, but if the object you seek isn't metal, those aren't much help. Fortunately, there's a better approach to finding buried objects. Ground-penetrating radar, or GPR, is a geophysical method that produces a cross-sectional profile of subsurface materials noninvasively.

Lidar can detect object from 1m to more than 2km. Detection of object Is purely depend on the reflectivity of the object. In Topographic Lidar infrared laser used to detect and map object but this laser is not able to penetrate water.

What are the problems with ground penetrating radar? ›

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) uses electromagnetic waves to detect objects and structures below the surface of the ground. Metal objects, such as rebar in concrete or buried metal pipes, can disrupt or reflect these waves, making it difficult or impossible for the radar to see through them.

The electrical conductivity of the subsurface materials is a factor in the attenuation of the radar signal emitted by the GPR antenna. Materials with higher conductivities will result in greater attenuation of the signal.

For example, geophysical tools, particularly ground-penetrating radar (GPR), is commonly used during searches for clandestine graves.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical locating method that uses radio waves to capture images below the surface of the ground in a minimally invasive way. The huge advantage is that it allows crews to pinpoint the location of underground utilities without disturbing the ground.

The GPR can be used as a stand-alone sensor or as a complementary sensor to a metal detector [1, 2]. It can detect both metal and nonmetal landmines [3].

Abstract: Ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems have important civil and military applications and can be used for surveying subsurface structures such as bunkers, tunnels and buried pipes.

3D GPR mapping is the ultimate method of precision, for noninvasive mapping of archaeological sites. As an end-to-end solution, Raptor and Condor maximize efficiency and provide the highest level of data quality available on the market.

For a general question like “How deep can you see with ground penetrating radar (GPR)?”, the answer is usually a range such as “2 to 10 feet” or “up to 18 inches”. However, for a clients' specific survey area and survey goals, these kinds of answers are often not satisfying and can be misleading.