Why use GPR with drone?
How it works
The system consists of a UAV integrated with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The full integration is ensured by adding the onboard computer UgCS SkyHub to the system. Drone's flight is planned and managed using the full functionality of UgCS.
You can choose between a ready-to-use system or components like the UgCS SkyHub integration kit for self-assembling.
DJI M300, M210, M600 series of-the-shelf drones as well as UAV's based on DJI A3 or Pixhawk autopilots with ArduCopter/PX4 firmware
Radar's data logging is started automatically and geotagged with GPS coordinates from the autopilot
Data-sheet
User Manual
Laser or Radar altimeter to fly automatically in True Terrain Following (TTF) mode
Flight planning and control software displaying GPR's status data and its current trace
ugcs.com
INTRODUCTION WEBINAR
Why to use Airborne GPR+drone
The webinar gives an introduction to the use of #airborne #GPR on #drones - the possibilities offered by the GPR+drone integrated system. The webinar covers the basics of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) usage with a drone:
- What is a GPR and why use it with a drone?
- Planning and the flight of a drone survey mission with GPR (in simulation mode)
- Demonstration of data analysis using data acquired during surveys: - pipeline inspection - locating a lost WWII fighter plane in Greenland
- Q&A
Applications
Small objects detection
Radar Systems Zond-12e #Drone 1000a #GPR system is applicable to detect small objects with a diameter starting from 8cm and pipes/cables with a diameter starting from 3cm. The GPR+drone integrated system can be used both with a drone or for terrestrial surveys if conditions don't allow to use a drone.
Bathymetry of fresh water
The GPR-drone integrated system enables to measure the depth of water or profiling the bottom of freshwater rivers, lakes, ponds up to 15 meters in depth.
Benefits – possibility to do work even when the water is frozen or the surface of the water is partially covered with ice. Compared to bathymetry using a boat (equipped with echo sounders) the drone with a GPR provides better accuracy in following survey lines thanks to the inbuilt GPS and automated flight. Also, in most cases, a drone makes it a lot easier to deliver the necessary equipment to the desired area. More detailed about airborne GPR for bathymetry >>>
The result displayed in Figure 3 was gathered with the drone flying at an altitude of 2 meters above the water surface, speed 2 m/s. Airborne GPR datasets >>>
GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS FOR LAYERS PROFILING
Strata profiling is a standard task that needs to be done before any serious area development or construction works. The standard technique is drilling dozens of holes or conducting a GPR survey on carts.
GPR+drone integrated system delivers higher work productivity and enables safer work conditions for the personnel in cases of rough terrain.
GPR allows finding any potentially dangerous underground water streams or lakes.
Data gathered by GPR on the drone flying at an altitude of 1 meter over an asphalt-covered car parking lot. The layers are clearly visible.
Data set can be downloaded here - https://files.ugcs.com/s/zR5LZJmZoSKHKYr
Mapping of underground infrastructure
Mapping of underground infrastructure is an important task before starting any construction works on previously developed territories or in cases when actual documentation and maps for underground infrastructure is missing.
True Terrain Following
Acquire the best possible data by flying the GPR as low as possible mimicking the relief of the surface. Adding an altimeter to the system will enable to fly in True Terrain Following mode.
UgCS SkyHub enables the drone to fly at low altitudes (up to 1 meter) without a need to import precise Digital Elevation Model (DEM) height-map into UgCS.
Case Studies
Bathymetric survey of Silkeborg Lake
Customer: Landinspektorer A/S geopartner.dk
Goal: Determine the change of bottom shape of water reservoir's due to exploitation
Technology: Drone integrated system with Cobra Plug-In GPR SE-150 antenna
Flight control: UgCS
Result: Profile of the freshwater reservoir defining its depth
Location of underground gas pipes
Pilot project in collaboration with: Conexus Baltic Grid, JSC
Goal: verify the applicability of airborne Ground Penetrating Radars (GPR) to locate underground gas pipes.
Technology: 124 MHz and 500 MHz GPR antennas integrated with a drone.
Flight control: UgCS with True Terrain Following mode.
Result: The 700mm steel pipe is clearly detectable from altitude up to 7meters using 500 MHz GPR system in sandy soil (typical for Latvia).
Locating aircraft buried under Greenland's ice
Customer: Arctic Hotpoint Solutions and Fallen American MIA Repatriation Foundation (FAMIARF)
Goal: Locate the P-38 “Echo” a U.S. dogfighter lost during the events of WWII
Technology: GPR+drone integrated system managed with UgCS software
Result: Acquired data showed anomalies at a depth of around 100m
Read the full article about the expedition on the xyHt.com magazine.
Archaeological investigation of Inca ruins
Customer: Archeological surveyors, Peru
Goal: Test systems applicability for archeological investigation to locate remains of Inca ruins
Technology: integrated Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) with a drone equipped with an altimeter, allowing the drone to fly in the True Terrain Following mode.
Flight control: UgCS with True Terrain Following mode
Result: Acquired data with detected anomalies, to be used for further research
Freshwater bathymetry
Customer: Topodrone.org
Goal: Determine the change of bottom shape of water reservoir's due to exploitation
Technology: GPR+drone integrated system
Flight control: UgCS
Result: Profile of the freshwater reservoir defining its depth
Project 1667 - searching the Gold Ship wreck
Customer: Project 1667
Goal: Determine the applicability of GPR at the current area at ocean shoreline
Technology: integrated Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) with a drone equipped with an altimeter, allowing the drone to fly in the True Terrain Following mode.
Flight control: UgCS with True Terrain Following mode
Result: GPR proves to be applicable at areas in some distance from ocean shoreline - test data analysis presents penetration of up to 5-10 meters
Technical specification
Currently, SPH Engineering provides 5 setup configurations for the GPR-drone integrated system. All systems are integrated with DJI M600/M600 Pro drone.
Supported GPR systems are:
- Radar Systems Zond-12e Drone 1000a (download Data Sheet)
- Radar Systems Zond-12e Drone 500a (download Data Sheet)
- Radarteam Drone CBD
- Radarteam Cobra Plug-In GPR with SUBECHO-70 (SE-70) antenna
- Radarteam Cobra Plug-In GPR with SUBECHO-150 (SE-150) antenna
| Radar Systems Zond-12e Drone 1000a |
Radar Systems Zond-12e Drone 500a |
Radarteam Drone CBD |
Radarteam Cobra Plug-In SE-70 |
Radarteam Cobra Plug-In SE-150 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency range, MHz | 600-1300 | 200-900 | 50-1400 | 20-140 | 20-280 |
| Bandwidth, MHz | 700 | 800 | 1350 | 120 | 260 |
| Centre frequency, MHz | 1000 | 500 | 500 | 80 | 124 |
| Size (L x W x H), cm | 41 x 31 x 18 | 41 x 31 x 18 | 50 x 35 x 20 | 139 x 15 x 21 | 92 x 22 x 22 |
| Weight, kg | 3,2 | 3,2 | 5,2 | 4,9 | 4,6 |
| DJI M600 Pro drone with GPR | |||||
| Take-off weight | |||||
| with TB47S batteries, kg | 13,6 | 13,6 | 14,3 | 14,3 | 14,1 |
| with TB48S batteries, kg | 14,1 | 14,1 | 14,8 | 14,8 | 14,6 |
| Approximate flight time | |||||
| with TB47S batteries, min | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
| with TB48S batteries, min | 24 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 20 |
| Maximum length of survey line (speed 2m/s) | |||||
| with TB47S batteries, m | 2160 | 2160 | 1800 | 1800 | 1920 |
| with TB48S batteries, m | 2880 | 2880 | 2280 | 2280 | 2400 |
Still have some questions?
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