NEMIG: 'Ground Penetrating Radar: Design, Application and Challenges' - Prof. David Daniels - 2nd April 2015


Abstract: Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is an electromagnetic technique for the detection, recognition and identification of objects or interfaces buried beneath the earth's surface or located within a visually opaque structure. GPR can be used for many applications ranging from geophysical prospecting, forensic investigation, utility inspection, landmine and IED detection and through wall radar for security applications.

The main challenge for GPR as an electromagnetic imaging method is that of an ill-posed problem. The physical environment is in many situations inhomogeneous and consequently both propagation parameters and reflector / target occupancy are spatially variable. Current imaging methods such as diffraction tomography, reverse time migration, range migration and back projection work when the propagation parameters are well described and stable and the target radar cross section is relatively simple. The future challenge for GPR is to develop robust methods of imaging that work in real world conditions with more demanding targets.

The seminar will introduce the principles of the technique, the basic propagation issues as well as time domain and frequency domain system and antenna design from the system engineer's viewpoint. Various applications will be considered and the basic signal processing methods that are used will be introduced using examples of some signal and imaging processing methods. The seminar will briefly consider the future developments needed to improve the inherent capability of the technique.

Bio: David is a Fellow of the IEEE and the IET and an internationally recognised expert on ground penetrating and ultra wideband radar. He has published over 100 technical papers, and a number of books on sensing techniques for concealed objects including "Ground Penetrating Radar 2nd Edition" and "EM detection of concealed targets" as well as contributing to a number of seminal reference books in the field, including a contribution to Skolnik’s Radar Handbook 3rd Edition. He is a member of the editorial board of Near Surface Geophysics and Sensing and Imaging as a well as a referee for the IEEE, IET, IoP, EPSRC, GPR 2014 and LAPC 2014. In 2012 was appointed a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. David joined the University of Manchester, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in October 2014 as a Visiting Professor. In 2012 he gained his EASA Private Pilot's Licence and in 2014 the UK IMC rating.


David Daniels talk & questions - recorded Screen and audio - 1 hour 19 minutes.


David Daniels questions - recorded from video camera - 17 minutes.


Last modified 13/01/2020 by IGC