The ability of the ground penetrating radar in subsurface pipes situation identification: computer simulations

Abstract

Nowadays, the subsurface pipe leaksare one of the important and common pipe problems in Iraq; these pipes are difficult to detect and locate for fixing or replacing. As it known, the geophysical methods play a major role to detect subsurface targets. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is one of the geophysical tools that detect the subsurface targets.

Before applying this technique in the field, the computer simulations will take place. Several synthetic models have been simulated to study the GPR effectiveness and its ability to detect and identify the subsurface pipes situationand parameters (depth, size, filled materials). GPRMax2D V2.0 software was used in these simulations. These models consist of many synthetic pipes with varies sizes, depths and filled materials, which wereair, clay and water. The simulations showed that GPR was able to detect the subsurface pipes and identify their parameters (size/shape/depthand filled materials).