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Stepped frequency ground‐penetrating radar survey with a multi‐element array antenna: Results from field application on archaeological sites
Author(s) -
Linford Neil,
Linford Paul,
Martin Louise,
Payne Andy
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
archaeological prospection
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.785
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1099-0763
pISSN - 1075-2196
DOI - 10.1002/arp.382
Subject(s) - ground penetrating radar , excavation , remote sensing , radar , geology , antenna (radio) , bandwidth (computing) , computer science , archaeology , telecommunications , geography
A series of trial geophysical surveys were conducted with a 3d‐Radar GeoScope ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) utilizing a multi‐element array antenna. This system offers the potential for rapid data acquisition at very high sample densities over a wide frequency bandwidth. Field tests, conducted over the Roman town at Silchester, Hampshire, UK, suggested that a revised antenna configuration was necessary to obtain optimum results from the system, which was then successfully deployed in the collection of over 5 ha of survey data at a sample density of 0.075 m × 0.075 m. The wide area survey produced a wealth of archaeological detail to complement and expand upon the extensive record of excavation, aerial photography and other geophysical results. Initial trial surveys were conducted with a range of antenna arrays (B2431, B1831 and B1823) incorporating different sized elements to fully exploit the wide potential bandwidth of the system. However, the differing response of elements proved difficult to combine within a single data set and a marked increase in quality was obtained with the use of a prototype V1821 antenna array of identical sized elements. Some concerns remain regarding both the suitability of air‐launched antenna arrays to certain site conditions, as one early survey visit to Silchester produced very poor results that remain unexplained, and the maximum penetration depth compared with an impulse GPR using ground‐coupled antenna. © 2010 Crown copyright.