Application of the reconfigurability of the integration time in stepped frequency GPR Systems : first examples in the field

Abstract

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is the tool that allows the best available resolution within the non-invasive subsurface geophysical techniques, as well known (Daniels, 2004; Jol, 2009; Persico 2014). In particular, possibly integrated with other geophysical techniques (Matera et al., 2015), a GPR can provide information of geological, cultural, and structural interest (Ranieri et al., 2015; Sambuelli et al., 2014; Castaldo et al. 2009; Masini et al., 2010; Pieraccini et al., 2006; Piscitelli et al., 2007). On the other hand, several sources of uncertainty can affect the data, among which clutter (van der Merwe and Gupta, 2000), several kinds of noises (Ouadfeul and Aliouane, 2014), model errors (Pierri et al., 2001; Persico et al., 2002) and interferences from other electromagnetic devices (Goodman and Piro, 2013). In this contribution, we propose some results regarding the reconfiguration of the integration time of the harmonic tones radiated and received by a stepped frequency ground penetrating radar (GPR) system in a way programmable vs. the frequency. As will be shown, this can allow an efficient rejection of narrow band electromagnetic interferences on the GPR signal without erasing the disturbed frequencies.