Assessing the appropriateness of GPR with a soil geographic data base

摘要

The performance of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is dependent upon the electrical conductivity of soils. Soils having high electrical conductivity rapidly attenuate radar energy, restrict penetration depths, and severely limit the effectiveness of GPR. The principal factors influencing the electrical conductivity of soils are: amount and type of salts in solution, amount and type of clay, porosity, and degree of water saturation. To adequately assess the appropriateness of GPR for an investigation, operators need information concerning these properties. The State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) date base provides digitized soil maps with soil attribute data. The soil attribute data and small-scale digitized maps provide a basis for comparing the physical and chemical properties of soils on a state, regional, or national scale. Attribute data bases can be questioned for information on over twenty-five physicla and chemical properties (i.e., soil reaction, salinity, clay content, clay mineralogy, depth to water table or bedrock) of soils. This information is spatially referenced and can be plotted in a geographic information system (GIS). STATSGO contains patial data compiled on 1:250,000 US Geological Survey base maps. This data base and interpretative maps can be used to assess the appropriateness of GPR within comparatively large areas of the United States and Puerto Rico.