A review of practical numerical modelling methods for the advanced interpretation of ground-penetrating radar in near-surface environments

As ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technology improves, there is an increasing demand for]note sophisticated and detailed interpretational tools. Numerical modelling has become one of the most popular advanced analysis methods and there is a wide range of electromagnetic modelling approaches available to the GPR user. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique is one of the most common, as it provides modellers with a robust, flexible, yet accurate, modelling scheme that is capable Of Simulating GPR wave propagation in complex, three-dimensional, heterogeneous, lossy, subsurface environments. Through the use of a well-constrained example, the realistic modelling of near-surface GPR is evaluated including the practical limitations, computational procedures and application constraints of the FDTD method. The results show that, despite some obvious deficiencies, even a relatively basic FDTD model can provide important additional information for the advanced interpretation of observed GPR data.