APPLICATION OF THE GPR

METHOD TO GROUND
WATER EXPLORATION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES.
GROUP 8
BISUGA OLUBUKOLA
- 110813011
ODUBOTE OLUWASEUN - 100813033
AJOSE ADEMIDE
- 110813005

OUTLINE
Introduction
Literature Review
Methodology
Case Studies
Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

Essential need for the sustenance of li

and mankind as a whole.

Pollution escalades from the activities

mankind.

Fig 1. Groundwater

g 3. Arsenic Poisoning in Bangladesh

Fig 2. Pollution as a result of human activities

INTRODUCTION

Fig 4. The GPR method.

LITERATURE REVIEW
The GPR is a geophysical method of obtaining information about the subsurface
with extremely high resolution. GPR waves are sensitive to contrasts in dielectric
properties; such changes can be detected, imaged, and characterized. GPRs
high frequency results in high resolution which makes it sensitive to geometry,
texture, and structure, which are very useful in understanding and describing
heterogeneity of the subsurface (Olhoeft, 1991a, 1991b).
GPR is used to map geologic conditions that include depth to bedrock, depth to
the water table (Knoll et. al., 1997), depth and thickness of soil and sediment
strata on land and under fresh water bodies (Beres and Haeni, 1991; Smith and
Jol, 1997), and the location of subsurface cavities and fractures in bedrock.
Other applications mapping contaminants (Daniels et. al., 1995; Guy et. al.,
2000)
The interpretation of GPR reflection data, however, is currently highly subjective
and based primarily on an interpreters ability to recognize patterns in a radar
image. Attributes commonly calculated for seismic data can be extracted from
GPR data. Visualization of certain GPR data attributes (such as energy,
instantaneous amplitude, and steepness event) can enhance the accuracy and
confidence of subsurface structural interpretations (Bniger and Tronicke, 2010,
and Udphuay et al., 2010).

METHODOLOGY

g 5. The GPR survey illustration. (After John Milsom 2011)

1. Typical Dielectric Constant, Conductivity and Velocity Value of Common Materials and M

METHODOLOGY

Fig 7. Radar Tomography

Fig 6. A Block Diagram of a GPR System

Fig 8. Various Borehole Measurements
(a) Single-Hole Measurement and
(b) Cross-Hole Measurements

METHODOLOGY

. Bi-static Mode Antenna (Radar reflection profiling)

Fig 10. Mono-static Mode Antenna(Radar reflection profi

Fig 11. Wide-Angle Reflection and Refraction (WARR) Sounding (Reynolds 1997)

METHODOLOGY

Fig 12. Common Midpoint (CMP) Sounding

(Reynolds 1997)

Table 2 - Basic Processes in the Processing and Interpretation of a GPR

GPRs processing stages

bearing striking resemblance
with that of seismic
reflection.
Velocity plays a crucial role
in GPR processing and
interpretation.

METHODOLOGY

PROCESSING OF GPR DATA

stacking, GPR data are passed through low-cut filters, to remove

due to inductive effects and the limitations in instrument frequency
nse, and high-cut filters, to eliminate noise spikes.

decrease in signal amplitude with time is then reversed by time-variant amplifica

matic gain control (AGC) is used to do this in the field, producing
s for quality control, but data are normally stored in unmodified form.

pensation, in the processing centre, for propagation effects, using SEC

ical and exponential compensation) filters based on physical models
subsurface, comes after any frequency-based filtering, because time-variant
unctions distort wavelets and must be applied with care if
ude integrity is to be preserved.

tion algorithms operate on the entire data set rather than individual traces (Figu
e usually the last to be applied.

METHODOLOGY

PROCESSING OF GPR DATA

Fig 13. Example of processing used to image
steel
reinforcing bars in a concrete slab. (a) The raw
data, with hyperbolic responses from the bars.
(b) Migration has been used to collapse the
hyperbolic tails and highlight the reflection
sources. (c) The energy envelope produced by
a Hilbert transform. (After John Milsom 2011).

METHODOLOGY

INTERPRETATION OF GPR DATA

hree-dimensional (3D) display of a high-resolution ground penetrating radar (GPR) d

a 0.1-m orthogonal grid to locate a safe area to drill a hole through a reinforced concrete s
unprocessed data are presented as a 3D cube showing X and Y image sections. In the centr
in the Z plane) has been selected to highlight a conduit cross-cutting the slab. The location
ed drill hole is shown (right) superimposed on the data cube. No data processing other than
and selection of interpolation parameters was required, and nobody was hurt in the makin

METHODOLOGY

INTERPRETATION OF GPR DATA

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

re situations when the water table is detectable on a radargram, and others whe
reason for this is that the ratio of the thickness of the capillary zone to the wave
dent radiowaves need to be small (i.e d<wavelenght) in order to provide sufficien
in relative dielectic constant between the unsaturated and saturated material to
cant proportion of energy. If the capillary zone is thick with respect to the wavele
e rate of charge if relative dielectric constant with depth through this zone is sma

ct of this is that, for each incremental increase in the relative dielectric constant
on of the incident energy is reflected so that the total reflected energy is smeare
llary zone and hence the resulting reflection amplitude is too low to be detected
ity.

GPR EXPLORATION FOR GROUND WATER AND

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IN CHANGDE CITY,
HUNAN PROVINCE, CHINA. (Ziaqiang Zhu et
al., 2009)
Changd
e

Fig 15. Location of study area.

Fig 16. A conceptual model of the water saturation profile in the subs

oject was carried out to differentiate between the capillary fringe and the satura
attention was paid to the central frequency used for this purpose.

GPR EXPLORATION FOR GROUND WATER AND

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IN CHANGDE CITY,
HUNAN PROVINCE, CHINA. (Ziaqiang Zhu et
al., 2009)

PR sections at profile show changes in the electromagnetic signal during the exploration. A
frequency is centered in 400 MHz.

GPR EXPLORATION FOR GROUND WATER AND

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IN CHANGDE CITY,
HUNAN PROVINCE, CHINA. (Ziaqiang Zhu et
al., 2009)

8. GPR sections at profile show changes in the electromagnetic signal during the exploratio
Antenna frequency is centered in 400 MHz.

GPR exploration for groundwater in a crystalline rock

terrain: A case study of the district of Petropolis
(Brazil). (Jandyr de Menezes Travassos et al., 2004)
Most GPR acquisition is done in
sedimentary terrain. Work done with
the GPR in Crystalline terrain is very
rare.
Water exploration will not be
associated with extensive/continuous
reflections.
Fig 19. Location of study area.

20. CMP profile at the studied spring. The

ave is represented by the first straight line
me. The groundwave is represented by the
ond straight line, note that beyond 10 m, this
e is highly attenuated. Subsurface reflectors
represented by hyperbolas.

GPR exploration for groundwater in a crystalline rock

terrain: A case study of the district of Petropolis
(Brazil). (Jandyr de Menezes Travassos et al., 2004)

Fig 21. Velocity analysis for the CMP profi

Velocity is incremented in 0.001 m/ns ste
from 0.01 to 0.15 m/ns.

PR time section on crystalline rock,

everal diffraction patterns (bowties)
ns, specially between traces 40
the profile. (b) Same GPR section
and converted to depth, a uniform
Vr = 0.07 m/ns is assumed
t. Compare with (a), migration untied the bowties on the section and turn them into dipping
A producing well, with static hydrostatic level at 4.9 m depth is located at trace 32 m.

GPR exploration for groundwater in a crystalline rock

terrain: A case study of the district of Petropolis
(Brazil). (Jandyr de Menezes Travassos et al., 2004)

Interpretation of the radar section shown in Fig. 22. The Fs are interpreted as fractures an
is interpreted as a boudin structure.

Merits/Demerits of GPR
MERITS
Very good resolution at shallow depth of penetration.
Relatively easy to carry out.

DEMERITS
In very loose snow pack or areas where trees create void spaces
in the snow, the energy may encounter air pockets and reflect
these in the data. This can obscure and complicate the reflection
profile, so extra care is needed during interpretation.
Expensive
Shallow depth of penetration.

CONCLUSION

GPR has two major advantages over most other noninvasive geophysical techniques:
1. GPR provides a 3-D pseudo-image that can easily be
converted to depths that are accurate down to a few
centimeters; and
2. GPR responds to both metallic and non-metallic
objects.
3. The GPR method is highly useful in both sedimentary
and crystalline environments for the exploration of
groundwater. The method has proven successful in those
works cited in this paper (report).

The GPR method has also proven useful in the

determination of contamination in water which is directly
linked to the study of the environment.

Thanks.