Characterization of soil texture by dielectric constant using ground penetrating radar and cyclic variation of moisture content of soils

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. L. Lai ◽  
W. F. Tsang
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omer Shamir ◽  
Naftaly Goldshleger ◽  
Uri Basson ◽  
Moshe Reshef

Soil moisture content (SMC) down to the root zone is a major factor for the efficient cultivation of agricultural crops, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Precise SMC can maximize crop yields (both quality and quantity), prevent crop damage, and decrease irrigation expenses and water waste, among other benefits. This study focuses on the subsurface spatial electromagnetic mapping of physical properties, mainly moisture content, using a ground-penetrating radar (GPR). In the laboratory, GPR measurements were carried out using an 800 MHz central-frequency antenna and conducted in soil boxes with loess soil type (calcic haploxeralf) from the northern Negev, hamra soil type (typic rhodoxeralf) from the Sharon coastal plain, and grumusol soil type (typic chromoxerets) from the Jezreel valley, Israel. These measurements enabled highly accurate, close-to-real-time evaluations of physical soil qualities (i.e., wave velocity and dielectric constant) connected to SMC. A mixture model based mainly on soil texture, porosity, and effective dielectric constant (permittivity) was developed to measure the subsurface spatial volumetric soil moisture content (VSMC) for a wide range of moisture contents. The analysis of the travel times for GPR reflection and diffraction waves enabled calculating electromagnetic velocities, effective dielectric constants, and spatial SMC under laboratory conditions, where the required penetration depth is low (root zone). The average VSMC was determined with an average accuracy of ±1.5% and was correlated to a standard oven-drying method, making this spatial method useful for agricultural practice and for the design of irrigation plans for different interfaces.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curtis Berthelot ◽  
Diana Podborochynski ◽  
Timo Saarenketo ◽  
Brent Marjerison ◽  
Colin Prang

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of soil type, moisture content, and the presence of frost on road substructure permittivity. Permittivity sensitivity of typical road soils was characterized in the laboratory to provide baseline dielectric constant values which were compared to field ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey results. Both laboratory devices, the complex dielectric network analyzer and the Adek Percometer, as well as the field GPR system were used in this study to measure the dielectric constant of soils. All three systems differentiated between coarse-grained and fine grained soils. In addition, at temperatures below freezing, all three systems identified an increase in water content in soils; however, when frozen, the sensitivity of dielectric constant across soil type and moisture content was significantly reduced. Based on the findings of this study, GPR technology has the ability to characterize in situ substructure soil type and moisture content of typical Saskatchewan road substructure soils. Given the influence of road soil type and moisture content on in-service road performance, this ability could provide road engineers with accurate estimates of in situ structural condition of road structures for preservation and rehabilitation planning and optimization purposes.


Geoderma ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 207-208 ◽  
pp. 310-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Jonard ◽  
Mohammad Mahmoudzadeh ◽  
Christian Roisin ◽  
Lutz Weihermüller ◽  
Frédéric André ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-53
Author(s):  
Lei Fu ◽  
Lanbo Liu

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical technique widely used in near-surface non-invasive detecting. It has the ability to obtaining a high-resolution internal structure of living trunks. Full wave inversion (FWI) has been widely used to reconstruct the dielectric constant and conductivity distribution for cross-well application. However, in some cases, the amplitude information is not reliable due to the antenna coupling, radiation pattern and other effects. We present a multiscale phase inversion (MPI) method, which largely matches the phase information by normalizing the magnitude spectrum; in addition, a natural multiscale approach by integrating the input data with different times is implemented to partly mitigate the local minimal problem. Two synthetic GPR datasets generated from a healthy oak tree trunk and from a decayed trunk are tested by MPI and FWI. Field GPR dataset consisting of 30 common shot GPR data are acquired on a standing white oak tree (Quercus alba); the MPI and FWI methods are used to reconstruct the dielectric constant distribution of the tree cross-section. Results indicate that MPI has more tolerance to the starting model, noise level and source wavelet. It can provide a more accurate image of the dielectric constant distribution compared to the conventional FWI.


2003 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilce F. Rossetti

The geological characterization of shallow subsurface Neogene deposits in northeastern Pará State using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) revealed normal and reverse faults, as well as folds, not yet well documented by field studies. The faults are identified mostly by steeply-dipping reflections that sharply cut the nearby reflections causing bed offsets, drags and rollovers. The folds are recognized by reflections that are highly undulating, configuring broad concave and convex-up features that are up to 50 m wide and 80 to 90 ns deep. These deformation structures are mostly developed within deposits of Miocene age, though some of the faults might continue into younger deposits as well. Although the studied GPR sections show several diffractions caused by trees, differential degrees of moisture, and underground artifacts, the structures recorded here can not be explained by any of these ''noises''. The detailed analysis of the GPR sections reveals that they are attributed to bed distortion caused by brittle deformation and folding. The record of faults and folds are not widespread in the Neogene deposits of the Bragantina area. These GPR data are in agreement with structural models, which have proposed a complex evolution including strike-slip motion for this area from the Miocene to present.


2013 ◽  
Vol 539 ◽  
pp. 25-29
Author(s):  
Wei Chen ◽  
Pei Liang Shen ◽  
Jian Xin Lu ◽  
Wan Ru Zhang

The variations of dielectric constant and the amplitude of reflected EM wave of concrete during the first 3 days are measured with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) at 20 oC. The amplitude decreases sharply after mixing with water, and then increases till a stabilized stage, followed by a gradual decline. The relative dielectric constant decreases with increasing hydrating time. The results show that the dielectric properties of concrete can be used as an effective way of studying the kinetics of concrete setting and hardening process at early ages.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-496
Author(s):  
J. David Redman ◽  
A. Peter Annan ◽  
Nectaria Diamanti

Bulk electrical properties of media are important inherently for ground penetrating radar (GPR) applications and for providing a means to determine indirectly other physical properties such as moisture content. We have developed a reflector whose reflectivity can be controlled electronically. This variable reflector controlled by a GPR provides an effective method to measure bulk electrical properties of media. For sample measurements, the GPR is placed on one side of a sample and the variable reflector on the opposite side. GPR trace data are then acquired with the reflector in an on-state and in the off-state. By differencing these measurements, we improve the ability to detect the specific reflection event from the variable reflector. This process removes both the direct wave and clutter from the trace data, improving the quality of the refection event and our ability to accurately pick its arrival time and amplitude. We describe the variable reflector, a prototype instrument based on the reflector and numerical modeling performed to understand its response. We also show the results of testing applications to the measurement of wood chip moisture content and monitoring of the electrical properties of concrete during the curing process.


2020 ◽  
pp. 014459872097336
Author(s):  
Fan Cui ◽  
Jianyu Ni ◽  
Yunfei Du ◽  
Yuxuan Zhao ◽  
Yingqing Zhou

The determination of quantitative relationship between soil dielectric constant and water content is an important basis for measuring soil water content based on ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology. The calculation of soil volumetric water content using GPR technology is usually based on the classic Topp formula. However, there are large errors between measured values and calculated values when using the formula, and it cannot be flexibly applied to different media. To solve these problems, first, a combination of GPR and shallow drilling is used to calibrate the wave velocity to obtain an accurate dielectric constant. Then, combined with experimental moisture content, the intelligent group algorithm is applied to accurately build mathematical models of the relative dielectric constant and volumetric water content, and the Topp formula is revised for sand and clay media. Compared with the classic Topp formula, the average error rate of sand is decreased by nearly 15.8%, the average error rate of clay is decreased by 31.75%. The calculation accuracy of the formula has been greatly improved. It proves that the revised model is accurate, and at the same time, it proves the rationality of the method of using GPR wave velocity calibration method to accurately calculate the volumetric water content.


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