Ultra-Wideband GPR Imaging of the Vaucluse Karst Aquifer
Abstract
In this paper, we present the validation of an Ultra Wide band measurement system which is the first experimental step of the French MAXWELL Research Project devoted to the survey of the karst aquifer located in the Vaucluse in Provence. This radar system employs Exponentially Tapered Slot Antennas (ETSA), with a usable bandwidth from 100 MHz to 2.5 GHz. The antenna is driven by a .01- 26.5 GHz Agilent vector network analyzer (VNA), with a noise floor of -120dB under test conditions and a noise floor of -100 dB in a field setting. A synthetic pulse is applied to the antenna by using a classical step frequency sweeping. The recorded amplitudes and phases of the reflection coefficient (S11 parameter) are filtered and inverse Fourier transformed to obtain the time-domain data. In principal, due to the flat radiation characteristic of the frequency generator, appropriate synthetic pulses can be generated for analysis. The advantages of this approach are mainly, 1) a large depth resolution due to increased bandwidth, 2) a wider dynamic range for detection of weak late underground echoes, 3) a low signal distortion due to absence of pulse deconvolution post-processing. The foregoing system was deployed inside a tunnel in the Low-Noise Underground Laboratory (LSBB) located in Rustrel (France) which allows the use of low power radiation. Minimization of noise interference was accomplished by : 1) using low noise and low-loss cables, 2) using a PVC structure covered with absorbers to shield the ETSA from unwanted tunnel wall reflections and from radiation from the vector network analyzer, 3) an effective calibration of long cables to the antenna connector with careful cable unwinding to reduce phase errors, 4) a power level fixed at 8 dBm in the frequency band of interest to avoid distortion in the mixer of the VNA. Monostatic or multistatic data, were collected by moving manually the antennas along the PVC frame, in 5 cm increments over a length of 6 m. Both parallel and perpendicular polarizations were recorded. Data were obtained from 150 MHz to 2 GHz to reduce any reflections from the connection to the analyzer. Time sections were then processed after an inverse Fourier transform. To validate our results (from a geophysics point of view), reference data were also collected using 100, 250 and 500 MHz RAMAC GPR systems. Results are very promising especially regarding the resolution of the images, depth penetration and low emitting power. In future experiments, our approach could be still improved by using shorter cables, high directive antennas and absorbers to reduce coupling in multistatic configurations.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008AGUFMNS51A..08D
- Keywords:
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- 0609 Antennas;
- 0674 Signal processing and adaptive antennas (6974);
- 0925 Magnetic and electrical methods (5109);
- 1848 Monitoring networks;
- 1859 Rocks: physical properties