GROUND PENETRATING RADAR AS NONINVASIVE METHOD USED IN SOIL SCIENCE AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Abstract

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-invasive geophysical method that has been
used primarily in geophysical exploration and civil engineering, to investigate the shallow subsurface of
the earth, to identify the structural integrity of buildings, tunnels, roads, bridges or airport runways,
and to detect pipes and cables. From the 1970s, the range of applications has been expanding, and now includes
subsurface soil horizons identification, estimation of the thickness and characteristics of soil organic materials,
assessment of water table depth, measuring soil water content, borehole inspection, archaeological sites and forensic investigations.
GPR has significantly improved the efficiency of the exploratory work in soil and archaeological survey due to its capability to provide
an image of the subsurface and accurate depth estimates for many common subsurface objects or soil horizons. It can also provide
information concerning the nature of buried objects.
There is a considerable amount of literature written on the uses of GPR in
environmental and engineering applications. This paper presents a general review
on this method applied in soil and archaeological investigations and also the capabilities
and limitations of GPR applications in these domains.