GPR UXO Classification Results for Jefferson Proving Ground V. Demo #3
Abstract
A broadband, full-polarimetric ground penetrating radar (GPR) operating between 10 MHz to 410 MHz was used at the Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG) UXO site during the June 26 ~ July 2 period. This was the third field demonstration in ESTCP Project 199902, the prior two being at Tyndall AFB, Florida and the Blossom Point (BP) Site, Maryland in 1999 and 2000, respectively [1][2]. The reader is referred to reports on those demos for many details of the technology and approach, beyond what is given here. The objective of these demos is to perform target classification such that UXO-like and non-UXO items can be distinguished: Radar signatures, such as late time natural resonance and polarization sensitivity, are used to separate false alarm objects from UXO-like items, i.e. those that have elongated bodies with length-to-diameter ratios greater than three [1]. Additional features such as length, depth and orientation were also extracted from the data. In some instances, different UXO types could be further classified based on their lengths estimated from the late time resonance. When this technology and approach were applied at the earlier demo sites, important information was obtained from the comparison with the ground truth data provided after the blind test. This resulted in system and processing improvements applied at the JPG site. The soil type at the Tyndall site is the most accommodating from the point of view of radar, consisting of dry sand. Measurement passes were made by dragging the antenna in linear transects across the presumed target location. However, in this first test such multi-position scans were made only to find the more or less best position from which to get a good single "look." Failure to include spatial (as well as frequency) patterns of signal response resulted in false alarms caused by shallow, non-UXO objects that had position offset and were coupled to one of the four antenna arms more strongly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA606892
Entities
People
- Chi-chih Chen
- Kevin O’neill
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory