Seasonal variations measured by TDR and GPR on an anthropogenic sandy soil and the implications for utility detection

摘要: Abstract The electromagnetic (EM) soil properties are dynamic variables that can change considerably over time, and they fundamentally affect the performance of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). However, long-term field studies remarkably rare records EM their seasonal variation largely absent from literature. This research explores extent apparent permittivity ( K a ) bulk electrical conductivity BEC measured by Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) impact on GPR results, with particularly important application to utility detection. A bespoke TDR monitoring station was specifically developed installed in an anthropogenic sandy UK for 22 months. relationship between temporal has been qualitatively assessed, highlighting notably degradation images during wet periods few days after significant rainfall events following dry periods. Significantly, it shown assuming arbitrary average values (i.e. not extreme values) which do often reflect typical conditions soil, lead inaccuracies estimation depth buried targets, errors potentially up approximately 30% even 0.50 m (where is expected be most accurate). It therefore recommended measure or assess surveys, if this possible use reported literature at site, improve confidence estimations target depths.