Development of Reflection Tomography Software and Antennae for ErthRadar Buried UXO/Clutter Detection an

The primary objective of this SBIR effort is to develop and refine UXO detection, location, and discrimination technologies. The development of such technologies are achieved through systematic research, laboratory and bench scale tests, leading to performance validation based on large pilot scale proof-of-principle demonstrations. Results of the feasibility study conducted in Phase I investigation helped in identification of physical, chemical and environmental phenomenological factors affecting the proposed UXO sensor hardware integration as well as the development and refinement of the acquisition and processing software algorithms. Of equal importance is the potential application of the developing technology for the identification, location, etc. of other environmental contaminants. The development of the tomography discrimination software is based on an innovative approach to reconstruct 3-D image from returned EarthRadar signals for which the variable ground characteristics and transmitted signal bandwidth are accounted for. The development of the antennae is based on optimizing coupling with the ground in which site specific material properties and heterogeniety of the earth and the most suitable transmitted signal bandwidth are accounted for.