Innovative Approaches to Radar Detection of Underground Targets

The overall objective of the program is to spawn innovative solutions to detection and recognition of underground targets by transferring advanced systems design, imaging techniques and knowledge of phenomenology that were developed while supporting high technology RCS measurement needs. The efforts in Phase I will focus on experimenting with several technologies which stand out as ideal candidates to improve the usefulness of ground penetrating radars. These include high sensitivity state-of-the-art coherent radar systems, Ultra-Wideband radar systems, advanced SAR processing, including auto-focusing algorithms, and Pulsed- delta K waveforms and processing. A selection process will be undertaken to determine which technologies have the best possible potential for success. Experimental data will be collected on those applications with the highest potential payoff. The data will then be off-line processed in various ways for comparison. The results will be compiled and documented in the final report which will also recommend the radar system definition for a wide area search system. Anticipated Benefits/Potential Applications - The ability to non-destructively test for objects beneath the surface could be extremely useful for many aqplications such as detection of the deterioration of the infrastructure, roadways and highways, delamination of runways, searches for buried toxins and tunnels, etc. The list of applications goes far beyond the few listed and the ability to perform this type of testing in an efficient manner would conserve tremendous resources.