Ground Penetration Radars (GPR) studies were initiated at the ESL in the
late 1960's. The goal of these studies has been and remains to extend the
state-of-the-art. As a consequence, our activities in this area has been to
attempt to detect and identify buried targets that had not previously been
achieved via GPR and this has been achieved with limited success. Typical
targets have been anti-tank mines, plastic pipe lines, tunnel detection etc.
The techniques used to detect A-T mines were extended and applied
successfully by the British (ERA) in the Falklands. Pipes could be detected
to limited depths as they are limited by clutter. Tunnels in granite could
be detected and imaged again to limited depths etc. Most of the research in
GPR technology was done by radar engineers whereas the user was more likely
to be a geologist, civil engineer etc. There does remain a substantial need
for improvement of the GPR's and this improvement requires multi-discipline
expertise in areas such as signal processing which are of continuing interest
to the ESL. Our current interest is focused on detection and identification
of Anti-Personnel mines and Unexploded Ordnance. Both represent major
problems in today's world. Some of the techniques developed in these studies
are expected to lead to improved GPR's for many other related applications.
