Stephen Twist, Project Manager, Atlas Geophysical Limited

Regardless of what Doc Brown told Marty we still need roads! So, come with me and take a merry jaunt down memory lane as I highlight early applications of GPR for pavement investigation in the UK. I’ll show you what it was like to conduct a GPR survey at the turn of the century and how the innovative work my colleagues and I were doing foreshadowed what was to come for modern GPR systems. There will be pictures, data examples, and maybe the odd meme, to help illustrate that GPR is a great tool for pavement investigation – but probably not at 88mph!

Davide Campo, Technical Manager, Sandberg

Ground Penetrating Radar signal amplitude is the main signal attribute used for GPR data interpretation as, by observing its variations, it is possible to identify buried targets or material changes. 180-degree phase shifts, commonly referred to as polarity reversal, are also used to infer the material nature, however polarity analysis is not always straightforward as there are other factors impacting the signal and simple visual inspection of radargrams. Common statements like “voids cause polarity inversion” or “they start with negative pulse” will be under discussion. 

Panelists: Daniel Bigman, Sean McConnel, Andrew Watson

Multi-channel GPR has become more popular in the past few years. Much of the macro-level use has been applied to large scale utility locating and mapping. However, MCGPR has the ability to participate in solving problems in other industries such as archaeology, geology, biology, and more. This presentation offers examples of the application of MCGPR across a variety of industries and applications.

Randy Brehm, Geophysicist, NSGeo Imaging Inc.

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a common tool used in cemeteries to map burials of unmarked and lost graves. These surveys typically take place in older historical cemeteries where original documentation has been lost or deemed unreadable. Named the Nutana or Pioneer cemetery, it is the oldest cemetery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with burial dates ranging between 1884 and 1948. The author was invited to give a demonstration of the GPR method for the University of Saskatchewan Geophysical Field school in May of 2023 at the Nutana Cemetery and was run in conjunction with an Electrical Resistivity Tomography survey. The GPR survey was composed of a small 3D grid adjacent to a row of headstones. There were no identifiable signatures commonly found in GPR cemetery mapping. In addition, geospatial control was inadequate. The survey was redone in July, extending the survey eastward to tie a survey monument, visible in satellite imagery to gain “better” geospatial coordinates. The results of the GPR survey indicate very shallow (0.1 to 0.2m BGS) “rectangular” anomalies, approximately 1m east of flush to ground grave markers over the extended area, albeit truncated. A final survey was conducted to determine the extents of these anomalies in August of 2023. The dimensions of the anomalies are roughly 0.6 X 1.75m. The cause of the anomalies is unknown as the ground has not been probed. Possible explanations are wolf stones, fallen headstones or infill material to level depressions. 

Paul S. Martin, Archeologist, Martin Archaeology Consulting 

Archaeology by its nature is a multidisciplinary discipline. Archaeologists often have borrowed techniques, practices, and instruments developed for other disciplines such as chemistry, climatology, geology, and hydrology. Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) was initially developed to study the thickness of glacier ice, but through time and refinement found a home as a trusted tool in the survey process to determine the location of unmarked human burials. Since the late 1960s the military and law enforcement communities have been utilizing the powerful biosensor of the canine olfaction system to locate human remains following modern decomposition events. This paper will explore how to utilize this powerful biosensor to survey for historic and precontact human burials to reduce the area required to survey for the GPR, and how to utilize RTK-GPS collected during the AHRDD survey to enhance the analysis of the results. 

Moderator: Forrest Sim 

Panelists: Jan Francke, Greg Jeffries, Vimy Henderson 

Discover the transformative power of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) applications through a dynamic discussion uniting academia and industry leaders. Explore the diverse realms where GPR is revolutionizing industries such as construction, archaeology, and environmental studies. This panel discussion brings together experts who will delve into their experiences, research findings, and practical insights, showcasing the collaborative efforts between academia and industry that drive innovation in GPR technology. From uncovering new discoveries to implementing real-world solutions, witness how this collaboration fuels advancements and propels the adoption of GPR technologies across various sectors.