An ultra high resolution stepped frequency GPR for civil engineering applications

In this paper the authors present an ultra high resolution and high dynamic range stepped frequency continuous wave radar for masonry investigations. The radar architecture is based on a couple of VCO in a PLL loop and a low noise receiver. This approach is able to cover with 801 steps the 4–8 GHz frequency range obtaining a theoretical range resolution of 37.5 mm in air and a dynamic range higher than 110 dB. The system has also a set of horizontal and vertical antennas to provide a complete polarization matrix of the investigated surface. Moreover the radar is completed with a 2 dimensional and fully automatic scanning system.