GPR Theory: Understanding the Dielectric Constant

GPR works by transmitting and receiving a high frequency electromagnetic wave through the ground, whether it’s soil, concrete, gravel, or other material. Radar waves travel at different velocities depending on what material it’s traveling through; anything ‘different’ that it interacts with will produce a reflection, to be received by the GPR device. Upon receiving the reflection, a GPR device will take note of the amount of time it takes for the signal to return and the strength of that reflection. The system will take these two pieces of information and convert them into a depth reading; in order to do so, they must be programmed with what’s known as the dielectric constant. This constant describes the speed at which electromagnetic waves move through a particular material.

The Importance of the Dielectric Constant

The dielectric constant is critically important to getting accurate depth readings with GPR systems. Dielectric constants, also known as relative dielectric permittivity, are measured on a scale of 1 to 81, where 1 is the dielectric constant for air (through which radar waves travel most quickly) and 81 the constant for water (through which radar waves travel most slowly). Metallic objects exist outside the scale, since radar waves cannot penetrate them at all; they are described as having an infinite dielectric constant.

In order to convert the variable that is produced by a radar reading – time – into the desired product of the reading – depth – GPR systems must be accurately programmed with the correct dielectric constant for the ground material in question. This enables GPR systems to produce meaningful depth readings, instead of timed reflection readings; these time reflection readings are transformed in an equation with the proper dielectric constant. As a result, depth readings from GPR systems are only as accurate as the dielectric constant with which they are programmed for each particular ground material. There are three key methods for determining an accurate dielectric constant, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.

Methods of Determining the Dielectric Constant

Published Reference

One way of determining the dielectric constant is by utilizing a published reference, available from GSSI in manuals and products documentation, as well as online. Using a published reference is the quickest and easiest way to obtain a dielectric constant because it doesn’t require field analysis if ground material type is known. It’s not the most accurate, though, because published references are averages and not site specific.

Source: USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service Soils, GPR Soil Suitability Maps

Hyperbola Fitting

A more accurate way to determine the constant can be with utilizing a method known as migration, or hyperbola fitting. Hyperbola fitting relies on data gathered from pipe-like targets in the ground; individual GPR units are capable of calculating dielectric constants for different soils simply by fitting a hyperbola tool to hyperbola data gathered in real-time from one of these pipe-like targets. This is the most consistent way to determine the dielectric constant in the field.

Ground Truth

The final method for determining the dielectric constant is through what’s known as ground truth. In this case, a GPR unit is positioned over something for which the actual depth is known; by programming the unit with this known depth (known from a prior dig or a chart), the unit can calculate the dielectric constant and effectively gauge depths for other objects in the field.

Interested in learning more? The GSSI Academy holds hundreds of GPR classes throughout the year in Nashua, NH, Henderson, NV, and on-sites around the world. In addition, we are currently providing webinars on GPR Theory & Method and GPR Post Processing. To join, please contact your Application Specialist or Local Agent.