Resonant Electromagnetic Detection and Mapping of Deeply Buried Cable Networks

123 Resonant Electromagnetic Detection and Mapping of Deeply Buried Cable Networks--Dynamics Technology, Inc., 21311 Hawthorne Boulevard, Suite 300, Torrance, CA 90503-5602; (310) 543-5433 Dr. G. Minot Clements, Principal Investigator Mr. Gregory Hunter, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-97ER82361 Amount: $74,999 Detection and characterization of deeply buried underground facilities (UGFs), presents one of the most important and most difficult challenges for monitoring the activities of potential adversaries and the proliferation of advanced weapons. A common feature of UGFs is the need for power, communication and other types of cables leading to, and networked throughout, the facilities. Buried power lines (if active) can be detected easily by their emitted fields, but non-operating power lines and communication cables cannot. This project will develop a technique to detect deeply buried non-operating cables and networks by using ¿resonant¿ active electromagnetic scattering. The technique will have greater search depth than ground penetrating radar, and it will use advanced sensors and signal processing to enhance the system performance. Phase I will demonstrate feasibility by: (1) extending previous measurements to better characterize resonant scattering in a cluttered environment, (2) developing a preliminary mobile sensor design, and (3) developing a preliminary signal processing and software design. This effort will build on demonstrated resonant responses of linear conductors (in this case cables) to inductively coupled, wide-band pulses and upon recent advances in active electromagnetic sensor design and signal processing. In Phase II, a full-scale prototype sensor and signal processing system will be designed, packaged and tested against representative underground targets. The technique will be extended to achieve greater depth and mobile detection capability needed by the Department of Energy . Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: This project would first provide an identified high priority capability to support U.S. counter proliferation efforts aimed at detecting and characterizing underground facilities. The sensor system would also extend the existing arsenal of geophysical survey tools to support both government and commercial environmental site characterization and remediation programs.