Using Open-source Software to Process Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): a Case Study of Underground Utilities

Abstract

Currently, the software used to process data obtained from underground geological surveys with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is often commercial software produced. This research aimed to test open-source software for GPR data processing. The researcher used Rstudio and Reflex2DQuick. We study the characteristics of signals obtained from underground geological survey tools using GPR survey data on Rojana Road in Ayutthaya Province and Road No. 7 Pattaya - Map Ta Phut, Pattaya City, Chonburi Province, 2022. The signal is based on electrical conductivity, which can conduct electric current, and the dielectric constant, which is the electrical properties. The dielectric constant refers to the polarity of the material at any temperature. The data layer is divided into two categories: the area with non-metallic pipes and the area with metallic pipes to determine the object type. The result is in a hyperbolic curve, indicating the characteristics of objects detected by GPR, such as concrete pipes, embedded underground metal pipes or antique walls. Through open-source software, it can be used to customise the signal wave and eliminate the interference mixed with the signal. It enables the surveyor to recognize that underground utilities can be used accurately without software cost.