International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)

ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 4 Issue 05, May-2015

Realization of Ground Penetrating Radar System

for Environmental Explorations
Mohamed E. Nasr1, Amr H. Hussein1, MohamedG. Saafan2
1 2
Electronics and Electrical Communications Dept., Mechanical Engineering Dept.,
Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,
Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

Ahmed A. Kabeel3
3
Electronics and Electrical Communications Dept.,
High Institute of Engineering and Technology,
New Damietta, Egypt.

Abstract—Ground penetrating radar(GPR) is a geophysical analysis andtreatment, and develop regulations to prevent
method that employs an electromagnetic technique for mishaps. By using the GPR technology,designing or
environmental purposes.Ituses the latest ground penetrating simulating a layout municipal for any systems become
technology to provide critical information on utilities, easier. Itprovides legal and financial consulting on matters
concrete, water content, metals, landmines, and other related to the environment. Environmental engineering
potential problem areas within existing structures or technologyis concerned with local and worldwide
underground. In this paper, the hardware implementation of environmental issues. The researcher can also study and
a proposed GPR system is introduced. The antennas utilized attempt to minimize the effects of acid rain, global
in the system are fabricated using microstrip technology. The warming, automobile emissions,and ozone depletion as well
antenna element is fabricated on an FR4 (lossy) substrate with as the protection of wildlife. Many environmental engineers
dielectric constant 𝜺𝒓 = 𝟒. 𝟓, loss tangent of 0.025, and
work as consultants, helping their clients to abide by
regulations and to clean up unsafe sites.
height𝒉 = 𝟏. 𝟓 𝒎𝒎. The proposed system is marked by
simplicity, flexibility, and cheapness. It can detect wide One of the most practical techniques for environmental
varieties of hidden objects or materials beneath the ground exploration is GPR which isa geophysical method that
surface. The system is supplied with two main elements which employs an electromagnetic technique for environmental
greatly contribute to enhance its performance and purposes; theGPR method is useful for rapid and
functionality. These two elements are the wide band (WB) nondestructive site investigations. It is considered to be
antenna element and the wide band RF voltage controlled economically feasible for other routine applications. This
oscillator. These elements allow the device to work over wide technique is also used in a broad range of applications and
range of frequencies, which indeed enables the system to becoming easier to use with the newly developed portable
discover a lot of materials with different characteristics. In GPR systems
addition, the proposed system will operate at large range of One of the initial successful applications was measuring
variable penetrating depths and variable resolution which are ice thickness on polar ice sheets. It was a primitive method
easily controlled by the adjustment of the operating depending on Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) [1].
frequency. Since then,there have been rapid developments in the
Keywords: Ground penetrating radar (GPR), Environmental
hardware, measurement and analysis technique. The
Exploration, Microstrip antennas. application has become more broadly used in fields such as
archaeology, civil engineering, forensic, geology, water
I. INTRODUCTION supply, and metal and mine detection[2]. There is a variety
of useful practical applications, some of which will be
Environmental engineering technology is one of the most studied.
important fieldsin recent decades.Ithas been a topic of One of the most important applications of GPR is
interest amongst engineering educators due to the increasing calculating the amount of water content in different kinds of
number of global environmental problems. Engineers soil.The estimation of soil water content is not only bound
develop solutions to environmental problemsusing the tohydrological methods, but also can be realized
principles of communication and electronics. Environmental bygeophysical measurements, especially when
technologies are involved in water and airpollution control, anondestructive method is required [3]. The GPRis used to
recycling, waste disposal, method of detection, and public estimate the soil water content during irrigation and
health issues. Using those techniques we can drainagedepending on the fact that measurement of wave
conducthazardous-environmental management, studies in propagation velocity can be used to determine soil water
which theyevaluate the significance of the hazard, offer content based on various relationships between water

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 4 Issue 05, May-2015

content and dielectricconstancy.(e.g.Topp et al., 1980; Topp The antennas utilized in theGPR measurement subsystem
and Ferre, 2002)comparedtheir results using GPR with TDR are fabricated using microstrip technology. The antenna
[4].The temporal patterns of soil watercontent change element is fabricated on an FR4 (lossy) substrate with
measured with the GPR method werevery similar to the dielectric constant 𝜀𝑟 = 4.5, loss tangent of 0.025, and
TDR method. During irrigation anddrainage, the GPR direct heightℎ = 1.5 𝑚𝑚. The proposed system is marked by
ground wave sampling depthwas from 0.2 to 0.5 m, based simplicity, flexibility, and cheapness. It can detect wide
on the fact that the GPRestimates of cumulative irrigation varieties of hidden objects or materials beneath the ground
and drainage weremost similar with the TDR-based surface.And one of main and important application of GPR
measurements for the same lengths. has been studied, metal and mine detection. The
functionality of this device can be improved by using a
Another study to measure the water content in landfill,
higher gain antennas and power amplifiers. Furthermore,
estimating water content from GPR data was based on
the capabilities of the device can be extended from target
determining the dielectric permittivity (ε), of the landfill
detection only to detection and identification by simply
waste was presented in [5]. Thedielectric permittivity was
modifying the system software without any changes in
calculated through a relationship between velocities of an
hardware.
electromagnetic (EM) wave in a medium (v). GPR is also
employed to detect the void inside dikes and dams [6] and II.PROPOSED GPR SYSTEM
[7].Results of experiments received by towing of 900 MHz
and 1000 MHzantenna units over cylindrical void targets of In this section, the hardware implementation of a
differentdiameters and heights, excavated into the clay base proposed GPR system is introduced. The block diagram of
ofthe test site. the proposed system is shown in figure (1) while the
hardware implementation of the system is shown in figure
There is also another issue that GPR would be helpful.
And one of the biggest environmental issues is (2).The proposed GPR system consists of four subsystems;
landmines;Landmines are small explosive objects that are the GPR measurement subsystem, the monitoring
buried under theearth surface. They are classified as subsystem, the remote control subsystem, and wireless
Antipersonnel (AP) landmines,which are used to target camera module. All these subsystems are connected
persons, and Antitank (AT) landmines. Many obstacles are together through Bluetooth and Xbee wireless modules that
faced in removing these buriedlandmines, such as the loss provide the ability to remote control and monitoring the
or absence of maps or informationabout them or even the
operation without being nearby. The system is supplied
areas where they were laid in, the changeof their locations
due to climatic and physical factors[8]. GPR can detect and with two main elements which greatly contribute to
provide critical information about landmines, landmines enhance its performance and functionality. These two
also classified as a metallic and non- metallic, the non- elements are the wide band (WB) antenna element and the
metallic landmines is a challenging taskthat cannot be wide band RF voltage controlled oscillator. These elements
performed using traditional techniques. But with the rapid allow the device to work over wide range of frequencies,
developments in GPR techniques it became easier. which indeed enables the system to discover a lot of
(Zakarya Zyada et al)[9]presents the advances in materials with different characteristics. In addition, the
surface-adaptive groundpenetrating radar (GPR)-based anti- proposed system will operate at large range of variable
personnel landmine detection project in Nagoya penetrating depths and variable range resolution which are
University.Thepaperproposed landmine detection system easily controlled by the adjustment of the operating
which has the followingfeatures based on the problems frequency.
encountered in previous demining systems: (1) can
entermine field; (2) uses compound sensor; (3) sensing with The basic building blocks and components of the proposed
adaptation to landform andvegetation; (4) records sensing GPR system are described in the next sections.
result to information management system and uses it
forprodding or other mine action.
A. GPR Measurement Subsystem
Another study has been made by (Mahmoud A.
The GPR measurement subsystem is the main
Mohanaa et al)[10]. Depending on GPR sensitivity to detect
subsystem. It consists of the following building blocks; (1)
discontinuities in the electric permittivity of the ground has
long been recognized asmaking it useful for finding two semi-circle-like slot antennas, (2) RF voltage
landmines with little or no metalcontent. controlled oscillator, (3) RF power amplifier, (4) RF power
detector, (5) Arduino microcontroller, (6) XBee TX
module, (7) camera module, and (8) TREX board.

In this paper, the hardware implementation of a proposed A. (1) Implementation of the Antenna Elements
GPR system is introduced. The proposed GPR system Antennas are the most important hardware components
consists of four subsystems; the GPR measurement of GPR system since they control the electromagnetic
subsystem, the monitoring subsystem, the remote control signal generated and detected. Optimum GPR performance
subsystem, and wireless camera module. All these
requires antennas that transmit and receive broad frequency
subsystems are connected together through Bluetooth and
content with minimal phase shift when using short duration
Xbee wireless modules that provide the ability to remote
control and monitoring the operation without being nearby. electromagnetic pulses. In this section, the implementation

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 4 Issue 05, May-2015

of a wideband Semi- Circle- Like slot antenna element is

introduced. The antenna element is fabricated on an FR4
(lossy) substrate with dielectric constant 𝜀𝑟 = 4.5, loss
tangent of 0.025, and height ℎ = 1.5 𝑚𝑚.

The development of wireless technologies like an ultra-

wideband antenna technology, have increased demand for
wideband (WB) antennas. In these systems, printed wide
slot antennas have received much attention owing to their
wideband matching characteristics and Omni directional
radiation patterns .In this section, a design of a wideband
antenna with microstrip line feed is presented. The total
bandwidth of the antenna is controlled by optimizing the
width D and the length H of the fork-shaped tuning stub.
Figure (3) shows the geometry and dimensions of the Fig.3.Configuration of the proposed semi-circle-like slot antenna designed
proposed slot antenna with a (R=19mm) radius semi-circle- using the CST software using FR4 (lossy) substrate with 𝜀𝑟 = 4.5 and ℎ =
like aperture. The circle radius is at the center of the 1.5 𝑚𝑚.
substrate. Figure(4) shows the fabricated semi-circle-like slot
antenna. Figure(5) shows the scattering parameter of the
antenna element obtained using CST software compared to
the experimental measurements of the fabricated antenna
element using the VNA (HP8719Es). The simulation
results indicate that the designed antenna element has
wideband frequency range (1.86 GHz- 4.43 GHz). The
measurements indicate that the fabricated antenna element
has wideband frequency range (2.1 GHz to more than6
GHz).

Fig.1. The block diagram of the proposed GPR system.

Fig. 4.The fabricated semi-circle-like slot antenna element.

Fig. 2. Hardware implementation of the proposed GPR system.

Fig.5.The scattering parameter S11 of the semi-circle-like slot antenna

element using the CST simulation compared to the experimental
measurements.

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 4 Issue 05, May-2015

Figure6. (a), (b), and (c) show the simulated far field A. (3)RF Power Amplifier
radiation pattern of the proposed antenna element at the
A (UM10480- BGA7210) MMIC variable gain power
frequency𝑓𝑜 = 2.3 𝐺𝐻𝑧. The antenna gives a nearly
amplifier is used to amplify the RF signal received from
omnidirectional radiation pattern in the H-plane and a
the RF voltage controlled oscillator. The BGA7210
dipole-like radiation pattern in the E-plane as shown.
MMICis an extremely linear Variable Gain Amplifier
(VGA), operating from0.7 𝐺𝐻𝑧 to 3.8 𝐺𝐻𝑧. The maximum
gain is 30𝑑𝐵. It has an attenuation range from 0 𝑑𝐵
to63 𝑑𝐵.At its minimum attenuation setting it has a
maximum output power of 21 dBm, an IP3O of39 dBm and
a noise figure of 6.5 𝑑𝐵.The current consumption can be
optimized per attenuation setting allowing for optimized
overall system performance. The current consumption and
attenuation level are controlledthrough a digital serial
interface (SPI). The current can be reduced to 120 𝑚𝐴.
(a) Optimallinearity performance is obtained at 185 𝑚𝐴. The
BGA7210 has a fast switchingpower-down pin to further
reduce current consumption during idle time.

A. (4)RF Power Detector

Thetransmitting antennaconverts the amplifiedRF
signal into an electromagnetic wave that penetrates the
ground.If there is a buriedtarget beneath the ground, the
impinging wave will be reflected by the target back to the
receivingantenna which converts it into an electrical RF
signal which is fed to the power detector.The RF power
detector, (ZX47- 40LN+), converts the receivedRF signal
into DC voltage.Two50Ω SMA connectors are used, input
power range from −40𝑑𝐵𝑚 to +20𝑑𝐵𝑚, and operating
frequency range from10𝐻𝑧 to 8𝐺𝐻𝑧.
(b)
A. (5)Arduino Microcontroller
The main unit or themain brain of the GPR system is
Arduino Uno. Arduino board is based on the ATmega328
which has all features of microcontrollers. It is simply
connected to the computer using a USB cable which
provides the required power to start the device operation
and a mean for data transfer.The Atmega16U2 is easily
programmed using the USB cable and there is no need for a
separate burner.The Arduino supplies the control voltages
to the RF voltage controlled oscillator and the power
amplifier to adjust the operating frequency and the
amplifier gain respectively. It takes the DC signal from the
power detector and supplies it to the XBee wireless
(c) transmitter module to be transmitted to the monitoring
Fig.6.The simulated radiation pattern of the proposed antenna element at system.
the power divider resonance frequency 2.3 GHz (a) 3D plot of the pattern,
(b) Polar plot of the pattern in the H-plane, and (c) Polar plot of the
pattern in the E- plane. A. (6) XBee Wireless Module
XBee RF modules are embedded solutions providing
A. (2)RF Voltage Controlled Oscillator wireless end-point connectivity to devices. These modules
An (ZX95-2500+) voltage controlled oscillator is used use the IEEE 802.15.4 networking protocol for fast point-
as a source or generator for the RF signal.The VCO to-multipoint or peer-to-peer networking. They are
provides operating frequency band from 1600 to 2500 MHz, designed for high-throughput applications requiring low
output power 7.5 𝑑𝐵𝑚, supply voltage 12 V, supply current latency and predictable communication timing.
28 𝑚𝐴, and tuning voltage 0.5 𝑉 to 14 𝑉.

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 4 Issue 05, May-2015

A. (7) Wireless Camera Module IV.CONCLUSIONS

A wireless camera is mounted at the front of the In this paper, a hardwareimplementation of ground
moving GPR to display the area to be covered during penetrating radar (GPR) systems is introduced.The
detection process.The live video of the camera will be proposed system is marked by simplicity, flexibility, and
displayed on the screen of the monitoring systemto cheapness. It can detect wide varieties of hidden objects or
materials beneath the ground surface. The system is
facilitate the remote control process without being nearby
supplied with two main elements which greatly contributed
for risk reduction.
to enhance its performance and functionality. These two
elements are the wide band (WB) antenna element and the
A. (8)T'REX board wide band RF voltage controlled oscillator. These elements
TheT'REX boardis used toremote control the system allow the device to work over wide range of frequencies,
motion using Bluetooth technique.It is a wireless interface which indeed enables the GPR system to discover a lot of
board that simply connects the motors driverswith any materials with different characteristics. In addition,
theproposed GPR system will operate at large range
mobile using android software.
ofvariable penetrating depthsand variable range resolution
whichare easily controlled by the adjustment of the
B. Monitoring Subsystem operating frequency. The functionality of this device can be
Xbee receiver module takes up the received signal improved by using a higher gain antennas and power
from the Xbee wireless transmitter and supplies it to the amplifiers. Furthermore, the capabilities of the device can
monitoring system. The received signal will be displayed be extended from target detection only to detection and
on laptop screen using open source project "GUINO". The identification by simply modifying the system software
GUINO main function is to open serial port, listening for without any changes in hardware.
instruction from Arduino to generate Graphical User REFERENCES
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