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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbus, Ohio » Soil Drainage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256087

Title: Integration of real time kinematic satellite navigation with ground-penetrating radar surveys

Author
item FREELAND, ROBERT - University Of Tennessee
item Allred, Barry

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2010
Publication Date: 6/23/2010
Citation: Freeland, R.S., Allred, B.J. 2010. Integration of real time kinematic satellite navigation with ground-penetrating radar surveys [abstract]. ASABE Annual International Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Precision agriculture, environmental mapping, and construction benefit from subsurface imaging by revealing the spatial variability of underground features. Features surveyed of agricultural interest are bedrock depth, soil horizon thicknesses, and buried–object features such as drainage pipe. For these applications, ground–penetrating radar (GPR) is an effective near–surface imaging technology. GPR technologies are used to survey large, open land tracts, whereby subsurface features are ultimately geo–referenced using a geographic information system (GIS) database. This article describes the concept of employing real time kinematic (RTK) satellite navigation to provide real–time position location with sub-centimeter accuracy. The system automatically embeds distance-referencing markers within the GPR image file, essentially acting as a virtual survey wheel. Markers containing geo–referenced position information are generated “on–the–go” at predefined travel increments. This GPR surveying system supplies high automation and has increased our overall survey and image post–processing efficiency. A case study of locating drainage pipe beneath golf greens is presented.