Mitigating ground clutter effects for mine detection with lightweight artificial dielectrics

Robert Linnehan; Carey M. Rappaport

doi:10.1117/12.479097

13 August 2002 Mitigating ground clutter effects for mine detection with lightweight artificial dielectrics

Robert Linnehan, Carey M. Rappaport

Proceedings Volume 4742, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets VII; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.479097
Event: AeroSense 2002, 2002, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Ground surface roughness is problematic when using a radar impulse to detect and locate land mines. Waves scatter from a random rough ground surface in unpredictable ways, contributing to clutter that is particularly hard to suppress. This clutter has proven experimentally and computationally to distort and obscure the desired scattered field from a buried target. To overcome this effect we have developed a lightweight, artificial dielectric that can be placed over a chosen area that will mimic flat ground and mitigate clutter effects. An artificial dielectric of close-packed array of small insulated metal-coated plastic spheres and lossless uniform plastic spheres can be formulated to match the dielectric properties soil. The ratio of these two spheres in the collection is adjusted to match a particular soil type and the moisture content. Placing them in a conformable bag and ensuring a flat upper interface with the air, ground reflections from an impulse radar can effectively be removed to reveal a target scattering signature. Furthermore, a matched filter can be used to distinguish between a landmine and a false alarm (such as a rock) The artificial dielectric was matched by running experiments in the frequency and time domains. A 1 GHz center frequency impulse ground penetrating radar was used to collect time signals and compare different cases: flat ground, rough ground and rough ground with artificial dielectric. Results indicate excellent rough surface reflection removal and target signal enhancement.

Citation Download Citation

Robert Linnehan and Carey M. Rappaport "Mitigating ground clutter effects for mine detection with lightweight artificial dielectrics", Proc. SPIE 4742, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets VII, (13 August 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.479097

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