Experimental study of near surface radar imaging of buried objects with adaptive focussed synthetic aperture processing

Description

This paper deals with the application of stepped frequency radar to subsurface imaging of buried targets with a final aim of object imaging and identification. The applications are mainly mines or UXO detection but also buried pipes. The depths considered here are a few cm to 15 cm under the surface (from the top of the object). It is necessary to use a UWB radar in order to separate the soil interface from the top of the object. A versatile system has been built that can be brought outdoor. It is used to find the best parameters for a future optimal radar. Special antennas have been realized that cover the 500 MHz to 8 GHz frequency range. The antenna pair (T/R) moves at a given height over the soil surface along a rail. Radar returns are then processed on a PC in order to deliver in a few seconds a 2D vertical profile of the soil. A special algorithm for near field synthetic focusing aperture has been developed for this task. It takes into account the wave propagation in the soil. Tomographic images are presented for different objects in different soils (.5 to 5 GHz and 2 to 8 GHz bandwidths) that show the quality of the results delivered by this improved technique. Conclusion are drawn on the potentialities and the limitations of the method and future perspectives like 3D imaging

Abstract

International audience

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