Glossary of GPR Terms

6/4/24, 11:17 AM Glossary of GPR Terms
< https://www.sensoft.ca>
Glossary of GPR Terms

Common
Term Typical units Description
symbol
the range of
frequency spectrum
over which the GPR
signal amplitude
3 dB bandwidth MHz or GHz remains above a
value equal to the
(peak amplitude /
√2)
the term used when

displaying data
covering a surface
area with the third
dimension being
time or depth or
time. The data are
binned into voxels
(small cubic
3D View:
volumes) and the
data values are
displayed with
volume rendering
tools that render
cross sectional
slices or variable
transparency of the
3D volume.
the range of
frequency spectrum
over which the GPR
6 dB bandwidth MHz or GHz signal amplitude
remains above a
value equal to the
(peak amplitude /2)
Acquisition a term used to

Mode: describe the
method used to
initiate GPR trace
acquisition.
Common methods
are:
· Distance – trace
collection occurs at
spatial locations
(usually equispaced
steps) with position
determined from
odometer or other
distance measuring
device.
· Free run – traces
are collected one
after the other as
fast as the system
will permit.
· Time – trace
collection is
controlled by
defined time
interval either
between traces or
delay time after
https://www.sensoft.ca/resources/glossary-of-gpr-terms-2-2/ 1/27
completion of
previous trace
collection.
· External Trigger –
trace collection
< https://www.sensoft.ca> controlled by
external trigger
such as manual
button pushes or
electronic input
signal.
any hard, inert,

mineral material
used for mixing in
graduated
fragments. It
includes sand,
aggregate
gravel, crushed
stone, or slag.
Materials often
used in the creation
of concrete or
asphalt.
GPR systems emit

radio frequency
energy that travels
in all directions
from the
transmitter and is
received from all
directions by the
receiver. GPR is
used to detect
air waves
subsurface signals.
GPR signals that
travel in the air
above the ground
and reflect from
above-ground
objects produce
undesired, coherent
clutter signal called
air waves.
Device used to
transform electrical
signals into
propagating
electromagnetic
waves. With GPR
there is usually a
transmitting
antenna and
antenna
receiving antenna.
When combined
with the
transmitting or
receiving
electronics, the
term transducer is
used (see
transducer).
GPR normally uses

separate antennas
to transmit and
receiver. The linear
antenna
distance between
separation
the physical center
of the antennas is
referred to as the
antenna separation.
array the term applied in

advanced GPR
systems containing
a multiplicity of
transmitting and
receiving antennas
deployed over a
spatial volume with
< https://www.sensoft.ca> fixed spatial
locations defined
for each element.
the term applied to

the reduction in
signal amplitude of
a propagating
signal caused by
energy dissipation
in the media. For
attenuation α nepers or dB/m
GPR, the
attenuation is
commonly
associated with the
electrical
conductivity of the
media.
a gain function that

attempts to
equalize the
amplitudes of all
GPR signals by
applying a gain
Automatic Gain
AGC which is inversely
Control
proportional to the
signal strength.
This type of gain is
most useful for
defining continuity
of reflecting events.
term used to
describe the
process of
computing and then
averaging all the
amplitude spectra
for traces in a GPR
Average data file or section.
Frequency AFS The plot shows the
Spectrum frequency content
of a signal so it is
often used to
determine
parameters for
frequency filtering,
such as applying a
band-pass filter.
a plot that displays

the average
rectified signal
amplitudes for an
entire GPR line. This
plot has proven to
be a powerful way to
display how rapidly
Average Trace
ATA the GPR signal
Amplitude
amplitude decays
and to assess
ambient noise
levels, thus giving
an idea of the
maximum depth of
GPR signal
penetration.
Background BAS The process of

Average computing the
Subtraction average of all traces
in a GPR data set
and then
subtracting this
average trace from
all traces in the
data set. Most often
< https://www.sensoft.ca> used in poor quality
GPR data to
suppress coherent
system noise that
appears as
constant bands in a
GPR image. This
process makes
weaker, spatially-
varying events
(such as hyperbolas
from point targets)
more visible by
removing the time
constant responses
common to all
traces in the GPR
line. It is also used
to remove the direct
air and direct
ground waves
(transmit pulse)
visible at the time
zero; the top of the
line which are
virtually invariant in
common offset
profiling data.
This process is
similar to
background average
subtraction (see
above) but uses the
running average
over a localized set
of traces centered
at the discrete
processed trace to
obtain the average
background trace to
subtract. This
process enhances
localized events
(such as hyperbolas
Background from point targets)
BSUB
Subtraction and suppresses
horizontal or slowly
varying events. This
can be very useful
for removing
localized flat-lying
events. It is also
used to suppress
the direct air and
direct ground waves
(transmit pulse)
visible at time zero
on the trace; the top
of the line which are
virtually invariant in
common offset
profiling data.
Bandpass Filter The process

whereby a range of
frequencies are
retained in a GPR
data and all other
frequencies are
suppressed. GPR
are ultra-wideband
recording devices
and can contain

noise signals that
are not created by
the GPR transmitter.
Judicious selection
< https://www.sensoft.ca> of the frequencies
to retain and
suppress can
enhance the
interpretability of
GPR images.
Bandpass filtering
is most commonly
achieved by Fourier
analysis and
spectrum weighting,
but it can also be
achieved by
temporal
convolution of the
GPR signal with the
suitable temporal
filter impulse
response.
The range of
frequencies over
which a given
bandwidth device transmits or
detects signals
above a specified
amplitude or power.
A term specifically
defined for ultra-
wideband devices.
An upper and lower
cut off in terms of
signal amplitude
(such as 3dB
bandwidth) is
defined. The
average of the
upper and lower
cutoff frequencies
is defined as the
center frequency.
center
Often the center
frequency
frequency is very
close to the
frequency where
the spectral
amplitude peaks for
GPR systems. As a
result, peak
frequency and
center frequency
terms are often
used
interchangeably
although this is not
strictly correct.
the term used to

describe the GPR
signal created by a
single TX-RX
antenna pair which
have fixed
channel
parameters such as
frequency,
separation,
orientation etc.
(Also see definition
of array element)
color bar a bar of colors

which display the
color palette and

usually labelled to
show the range of
data values (usually
GPR signal
< https://www.sensoft.ca> amplitudes)
indicated by a
specific color in a
color image.
The term used to

refer to the
mapping of a data
value to a color.
Sometimes referred
to as the color
table. Most often
used in GPR to
color palette
assign a data
attribute (like
amplitude) value to
a color in the
creation of cross-
sections, depth or
time slice images
and 3D images.
common mid-point
(CMP) is a GPR
survey type where
the transmitter and
receiver antenna
common mid-
CMP positions are varied
point
but the movement
is carried out in a
manner that makes
the mid-point
remain constant.
Term used when

data are collected
with fixed antenna
geometry which is
moved from
common-offset location to location.
reflection COR Most often both the
configuration transmitter and
receiver antenna
orientation as well
as the separation
are fixed. See also
Line Profiling.
Concurrent Term used when

receiver multiple receivers
operation are acquiring data
samples at the
same time. Data
acquisition is
synchronized such
that all receivers
acquire data at the
same time after on
a single transmitter
pulse emission. The
timing accuracy of
the individual
receivers need to be
in the 10’s of
picoseconds to
achieve successful
data acquisition.
This speeds up GPR
data acquisition
greatly when only a
single receiver is
employed.
(Historically GPR
had to use
multiplexed receiver
operation to
achieve the same
result making for
< https://www.sensoft.ca> much slower data
acquisition).
The ability of a
material to conduct
electrical current. In
milliSiemens/meter
isotropic materials
or mS/m or
conductivity σ the reciprocal of
millimhos/m
resistivity.
(historical)
Sometimes called
specific
conductance.
Image that results

from side-by-side
display of a number
of traces which are
cross section
from adjacent
spatial
measurement
positions.
The unit used in

expressing a ratio in
the form of 20 log10
decibel dB
of the ratio. A ratio
of 10 equals 20
decibels.
The term applied to

a multiplicative
factor that changes
with depth that a
trace is multiplied
depth variable
by. The purpose is
gain
to change the
relative signal
amplitude versus
depth. See also time
variable gain.
The term used when

GPR data traces are
plotted side-by-side
to create an image
of the ground and
where the vertical
Depth or Depth- axis is depth often
Section Image obtained by
translating signal
travel time to depth.
Quite often the term
is shortened to
depth-section or
section.
The term used to

describe the image
obtained by
rendering a slice
through a volume of
data as a color or
Depth Slice
contour display.
(Image)
Normally generated
by a computer
process. This term
is normally
shortened to depth
slice.
dewow The process of

removing a very low
frequency
component from
GPR data. These low
frequency data
components are
< https://www.sensoft.ca> associated with
either inductive
phenomena or
possible
instrumentation
dynamic range
limitations. The GPR
trace base line
slowly undulates up
and down; in the
early days of GPR,
this was called
‘wow’. Removal of
this effect came to
be called ‘de-wow’.
dielectric See dielectric

K
constant permittivity.
A fundamental
physical property
that describes the
electrical
polarizability of a
material. Free space
or vacuum has a
permittivity of 8.89
x10 -12 Fd/m. Most
often the term is
applied to the
relative dielectric
permittivity where
dielectric the material
K permittivity is
permittivity
divided by the free
space permittivity.
Most natural
materials have a
relative permittivity
in the range of 1 -80
in the radio
frequency range.
The dielectric
permittivity is often
referred to as
relative permittivity
or dielectric
constant.
The term applied to

a device that
controls, records
and displays the
GPR data. This
device is sometimes
a personal
display unit
computer (PC) but
can also be a
custom-built, fit-
for-purpose
computer system
(see digital video
logger DVL).
distance DMI A device for

measuring accurately
instrument measuring elapsed
distances along a
survey line or
transect. The term
is common in
roadway surveys to
measure
longitudinal
distance from an
intersection or
other visible
geographic location.
< https://www.sensoft.ca> See also odometer.
In GPR applications
the output of the
device may be used
to trigger the
acquisition of GPR
at fixed distance
(step) intervals.
is an advanced,
Sensors &
Software-patented
technology that
dynamically adjusts
stacking as system
movement speed
varies. Stacking is a
DynaQ DynaQ means of improving
signal to noise so
being able to adapt
the stacking to
sensor movement
speed creates a
dynamic quality
data acquisition
technique.
is the term applied

to methods which
use electric and
magnetic fields to
transmit signals or
make sensing
observations. The
term is a general
one that
electromagnetic EM
encompasses the
whole field of
science involved in
electric and
magnetic fields –
particularly when
the fields are time
varying and
therefore coupled.
envelope formed from a pair

of traces that
uniquely bracket
the extremes of an
oscillatory signal.
The signal is
assumed to have a
zero average or
base line, so the
upper and lower
traces are identical
but of opposite
sign. The envelope
is obtained by using
the method referred
to as the Hilbert
transform to
calculate the
positive and
negative traces; the
positive bounding
trace is normally
referred to as ‘the
envelope’. The
envelope does not
have the oscillatory
nature of the
original signal. The

envelope is more
indicate of the data
resolution.
Enveloping can also
< https://www.sensoft.ca> simplify the GPR
section display
making it easier to
interpret. Creating
depth slices of the
envelope is a
powerful way of
displaying GPR data
that cover an area.
A non-destructive
testing device that
is used to perform
structural testing
for pavement
rehabilitation
projects, research,
and pavement
structure failure
detection. It is used
for conventional
and deep-strength
flexible, composite
and rigid pavement
falling weight
FWD structures. The FWD
deflectometer
applies a dynamic
load to the
pavement surface,
similar in magnitude
and duration to that
of a single heavy
moving wheel load.
The response of the
pavement system is
measured in terms
of vertical
deformation, or
deflection, using
seismometers.
The actual or
physical limit on the
file size bytes amount of data
stored in a
computer file.
Time of onset of the

direct air signal at
the GPR receiver,
referenced to the
start time of trace
recoding. When
plotting GPR data
this time offset
establishes the zero
point on the time
first break time
scale axis. In
practice, this offset
time on a GPR trace
is determined by
sensing when the
receiver signal rises
above a defined
level for the first
time from start of
recording.
frequency f Hz, MHz, GHz is the term applied

when a signal is
repetitive at regular
intervals of time.
Frequency
measures the
number of
repetitions that
occur in a time
interval such as
pulse per second or
< https://www.sensoft.ca> cycles per second.
(Frequency can also
be used in other
contexts such as
spatial frequency
which indicates a
signal that repeats
with distance or
length such as
cycles per meter).
The term is also
used to indicate the
center or peak
frequency of a GPR
antenna response
although it is
somewhat a mis-
use of the term.
For a reflection
from a surface,
there is a finite area
on the surface for
which signals
travelling from the
source to the
receiver are
indistinguishable
based on the time
of travel or length of
travel path. This
area is defined to
be the Fresnel zone
or zone of influence.
The Fresnel zone is
Fresnel zone defined by
differences in path
length being a
faction of the
wavelength when
the signal is
sinusoidal
excitation. The zone
of influence is the
same concept but
expressed in terms
of differences in
travel time being
less than a fraction
of the pulse-width
of an impulsive
transient signal.
Process of
amplifying signals
to match recording
gain device or the
dynamic range of
the display. See
time gain.
global GPS GPS is a satellite-

positioning based approach to
system obtaining
georeferenced
coordinates. The
satellites transit a
defined timing
signal and the GPR
receiver, usually on
or near the Earth’s
surface, records the
signals from many
satellites and uses

the signals to
triangulate the best
estimate of the
receiver location in
< https://www.sensoft.ca> 3D space with
reference to a
standard earth
geoid shape. The
result is normally
latitude and
longitude and
elevation as well as
a very precise time.
When GPS is used

with GPR, the GPS
receiver data is
recorded in a data
file and recorded
information tied to
the GPR data. When
the GPS record is
available and
synced to the GPR
data, Latitude and
Longitude, UTM
coordinates, and
GPS elevation can
be provided for
every GPR trace in a
data set. A GPS file
is created by
GPS Files
attaching a GPS
system to the GPR
system during data
collection. GPS files
contain lines of
standard GPS
positional output
text (called NMEA
strings) and the
associated GPR
trace number. When
the GPS file is
attached, latitude,
longitude, and GPS
elevations for every
GPR trace can be
saved into the GPR
file.
A .gpz file is a
Sensors & Software
standard data file
for GPR data
recording and
interchange. The
.gpz is used with
the PC-based GPR
software called
EKKO_Project. The
GPZ .gpz
.gpz file contains a
wide variety of data
files including GPS
files and .dt1 GPR
data files as well as
proprietary data
from Sensors &
Software
instruments and
auxiliary sensors.
Grid A square or
rectilinear set of
straight lines which
cover an area.
Acquiring data on a
grid means
acquiring data
along each line
forming the grid.
Acquiring data on a
< https://www.sensoft.ca> grid at regular
spatial steps is the
optimal way to
obtain a data set
suitable for advance
signal processing,
such as the creation
of 3D volume
renderings and
depth or time slice
images.
Conventional
notation is to use a
first quadrant
Cartesian
coordinate system
with X and Y axes.
is the term used to

describe the XY
spatial resolution
Grid Resolution attained in a grid
and is controlled by
the largest line or
trace spacing.
term used to
describe a real
extent of a
grid size rectilinear grid (i.e.
5m x 10m, 20ft x
50ft., 24″ x 24″,
600 mm x 600mm).
is the term to
describe the
process of
acquiring data on a
grid survey
grid over an area
with the end goal to
create 3D, depth or
time slice images.
ground- GPR Ground penetrating

penetrating radar is a
radar geophysical method
for mapping
subsurface
structure using
electromagnetic
energy. There are
several deployment
methods, but all
approaches involve
a transmitter
creating radio
frequency signals
typically in the 1 to
5000 MHz
frequency range
and a receiver
which detects
similar signals. The
goal is to measure
the impulse
response or the
transfer function of
the surrounding
medium with the
view of
reconstructing the
material property
structure. In its
simplest form, a
GPR system with a
transmitter and
receiver are moved
over the ground
< https://www.sensoft.ca> surface and
reflections
returning from
subsurface objects
are detected,
recorded and
displayed to the
user.
Term applied to
distortion in a map
image derived from
a grid survey when
there are
measurement
system errors. The
effect is most
pronounced when
data are collected
in alternating
directions along
grid lines with an
improperly
herring bone
calibrated
effect
odometer. In the
case of GPS or
similar positioning
techniques, the
systematic
positioning error
can be created by a
finite temporal
response lag so
that the measured
response is delayed
with respect to the
device (GPR
system) position.
A term used to
describe stretching
the horizontal
(position) axis of a
cross-section
image. If GPR data
positioning is
distorted, this is a
means of
regularizing the
spatial position so
that distance is a
horizontal linear-axes on a
stretch GPR cross section
image. Sometimes
the process is
referred to as
rubber banding or
rubber sheeting
since the effect is
to stretch or
squeeze the spatial
axis of the data is
achieve uniform
spatial
presentation.
hyperbola Characteristic
inverted “U” GPR
response from a
point target.
(Mathematical form
of the position-
travel time
response from a
point target). The
apex of the
hyperbola (top of
the inverted U)
< https://www.sensoft.ca> represents the
location of the GPR
system’s closest
approach to the
object.
A point source GPR

refection appears
as a hyperbola in
the cross-section
image. One of the
parameters
hyperbola controlling the
velocity shape of the
estimate hyperbola is the
ground velocity.
Hyperbolic fitting
enables the ground
velocity and target
depth to be
estimated.
Process of fitting a
hyperbolic shape to
a local GPR
response in the
space-time domain.
The fitting process
hyperbolic
yields a velocity
fitting
estimate for the
material (media)
above the target
and a depth
estimate of the
target.
The minimum lateral

separation between
lateral two objects
resolution required so a GPR
length clearly detects two
side-by side
responses.
is the term to
describe collecting
data along one or
more GPR lines for
immediate site
assessment using
Line Profiling or
cross-section
Common-offset
images. A series of
profiling
lines can be used to
help define site
conditions prior to a
grid survey. Also
see Common Offset
Reflection (COR).
is the term used to

identify the location
of a single GPR data
set. A line is
Line normally straight,
and data are
recorded from the
start to the end of
the line.
Lowpass Filter removes

frequencies above a
cut-off frequency –
useful for removing

high frequency
noise in GPR data.
The filter can be a
zero-phase or
< https://www.sensoft.ca> causal type filter. It
can be applied in
the frequency
domain via Fourier
methods or in the
time domain by
convolution.
A fundamental
physical property
that describes the
magnetic
polarizability of a
material. Free space
or vacuum has a
permittivity of 12.57
x10 -7 H/m. Most
often the term is
applied to the
relative
permeability where
the material
magnetic permeability is
u divided by the free
permeability
space permittivity.
Most natural
materials have a
relative
permeability. For
most materials
relative
permeability is in
the range of 1 +/-
.00001 in the radio
frequency range.
For this reason,
permeability has no
impact on GPR
signals.
A measure of
frequency equal to 1
Megahertz MHz million repetitions
per second. See
frequency.
microsecond =10 -6 s
microsecond = 1000ns;
occasional unit of
GPR time.
The process of
collapsing the
response of a point
target back to the
source point.
Common term in
reflection seismic
and similar to
synthetic aperture
Migration
image
reconstruction. Can
be visualized by
thinking of the
signal on a
hyperbolic response
being summed and
placed at the apex
of the hyperbola.
multiplex: the process of

creating a single
stream of data
obtained from a
multiplicity of
receivers or
detectors. (The
< https://www.sensoft.ca> sequencing is
normally fixed- i.e.
for four channels
named 1, 2, 3, and 4,
the sequence of the
samples in this
serial stream might
be … 1a, 3a, 2a, 4a,
1b, 3b, 2b, 4b, 1c,
3c, 2c, 4c, where a,
b, c refers to each
cycle of selected
channels…)
Describes a multi-
channel GPR
configuration where
there is more than
one polarization of
the antenna
elements. The
terminology will
take on two forms
multi- namely, one when
polarization single lines are
configuration being surveyed in
(multi- which case the PR-
polarization): BD, PL-BD, PR-EF,
PL-EF, X-POL terms
are used whereas if
an area is being
covered we will have
the XX, XY, YX, YY
terminology being
used. Refer to the
pulseEKKO manual
for more details.
nanosecond ns ns 10 -9 s (One Billionth

of a second)
odometer ticks/m Odometers and

calibration distance measuring
value indicators (DMI) are
based on encoders
that generate a
defined number of
electrical signals
(normally referred
to as ticks) per
revolution of the
encoder. When
attached to a wheel,
the wheel diameter
dictates the
distance travelled
per revolution. To
calculate an
accurate measure
of distance
travelled, an
“odometer
calibration” is
required which is
usually attained by
measuring the
number of ticks that
are observed when
the wheel traverses
a known distance.
Calibration is the
result of this
measurement
process converted
to a value for the
number of
measured ticks per
unit distance such
< https://www.sensoft.ca> as ticks/m.
The maximum depth

for buried targets
for which reflected
signals can be
detected. When a
GPR pulse travels
into the ground, it
decreases in
amplitude because
of geometrical
spreading of the
energy and
absorption of the
penetration
energy by the
depth
medium. At some
point the signal
amplitude gets so
small that it is no
longer detectable.
The depth that the
signal amplitude
falls below
detectability
defines the
penetration depth
or depth of
exploration.
A picosecond is
picosecond ps 10 −12 seconds (one
trillionth of a
second).
Term used to
describe stacking
(averaging of
repetitive
observations) at a
single time point.
Often done when
point stacking using a Digital
Equivalent Time
Sampling (DETS)
receiver. Stacking is
carried out
sequentially for all
the points in a GPR
trace.
the number of
Points per Trace
N sample points in a
(N):
GPR trace.
A sensor that
detects the
alternating current
in electrical cables
using the magnetic
field intensity
produced. The
Power Cable sensor is normally
PCD
Detector attuned to detect
the magnetic fields
that oscillate at 50
or 60 Hz which are
the standard
oscillation rate for
power lines carrying
electric current.
acronym for pulse

repetition
frequency. For a
pulse repetition GPR system, it is
PRF kHz, MHz
frequency
< https://www.sensoft.ca> the number of times
the transmitter
emits a pulse in a
second.
acronym for the

pulse repetition
period. For a GPR
system, this is the
pulse repetition
PRP ms, us time interval
period
between
transmitter firings
and is equal to
1/PRF.
the peak amplitude

of the voltage pulse
applied to a GPR
transmitting
antenna. Impulsive
GPRs are
characterized by
this voltage. This is
a simple alternative
means of defining
the energy available
pulser voltage: volts
to be emitted.
Energy is stored in
a source power
supply and released
when the
transmitter is
triggered. The GPR
signal at a distance
is directly
proportional to the
peak voltage.
Electromagnetic
fields that travel
through a material
as waves. Radio
signals which are
commonly in the
frequency range of 1
MHz to 1,000 MHz
and
electromagnetic
waves in this
radio wave frequency range are
generally referred
to as radio waves.
(Electromagnetic
signals in the 10,
000 MHz range are
similarly referred to
as microwaves.
Light waves are just
higher frequency
electromagnetic
waves.)
The minimum radial

distance separation
between two
range resolution
objects required so
length
a GPR clearly
detects two vertical
responses.
receiver Rx General term for

electronics device
used to detect
electromagnetic
field strength and
translate the
signals into
electrical voltages
< https://www.sensoft.ca> or currents to be
recorded or
displayed. Modern
receivers generally
convert the signals
into digital values
(numbers) for
recording and
display.
normally named
“Fresnel reflection
coefficient”.
Quantifies GPR
reflection
signal reflection
coefficient
amplitude from a
flat interface
between two
materials.
measure of signal
reflectivity amplitude returned
by a target.
relative See dielectric

K
permittivity permittivity.
The minimum
separation of two
objects before their
resolution individual
responses merge
into a single
response.
Impulsive GPR
signals can give rise
to reverberating
responses that
oscillate for a much
longer time than the
ringing
GPR pulse or
wavelet. Such a
response is referred
to as a “ringing”
response or
“ringing” for short.
Signal amplitude
measured at
sample point
specific point in
time.
the time between

success sample
points on a trace
which is usually a
sample time
constant fixed value
interval
and is selected to
assure that the
Nyquist sampling
criteria are met.
The value assigned

signal to amplitude of the
amplitude radio wave signal at
a point in time.
Signal-to-noise The ratio of GPR

ratio signal amplitude to
the average noise
amplitude. A large
ratio results in a
larger penetration
depth or the ability
to detect weaker
< https://www.sensoft.ca> signals.
Describes the GPR

data in a time or
depth slice when
Slice the data is
displayed as a
computer-
generated image.
Spatial filters act on

GPR data in the
spatial (or
positional)
direction. These
filters use adjacent
traces during the
filtering procedure
and alter the shape
of the trace through
various
mathematical
Spatial Filter
manipulations
designed to
enhance or
eliminate certain
responses. For
example,
Background
Subtraction is a
spatial filter that
removes flat-lying
responses in the
GPR data.
SEC gain is a
composite of a
linear time gain and
an exponential time
Spreading & gain which attempts
Exponential to compensate for
SEC
Compensation the spherical
Gain spreading losses
and the exponential
ohmic dissipation of
energy with depth in
the GPR Line.
term used to
describe recording
many repetitions of
stacking
a signal and
computing the
average value.
The number of
repeated
measurements
stacks
averaged to get a
resulting
measurement.
Spatial distance
between
observation points
station interval along a survey
traverse line or
mesh points on a
grid.
step size See station interval.
Measure of system
exploration depth
indicated by the
system ratio of transmitter
Q
performance
< https://www.sensoft.ca> output power or
voltage to receiver
noise power or
voltage.
GPR signal
amplitudes
decrease rapidly in
amplitude versus
delay time after the
transmit pulse is
emitted. Time gain
is the term applied
to the operation of
time gain applying an
amplification, which
increases with time,
to the signal,
attempting to
compensate for
large differences in
signal amplitude.
This is a non-linear
operation. See gain.
The time interval

between sample
points on GPR trace;
usually a constant
interval. The
delta-t interval is usually
time sampling
or Δt) ns or ps adjusted to match
interval
the GPR frequency
of operation and
often set
automatically by the
system based on
GPR frequency.
is the term to
describe the data
acquired between
two times – top of
time slice and
bottom of time
Time Slice: slice. Most often a
grid survey has the
maximum time
subdivided into a
number of time
slices of equal
thicknesses.
The maximum
recording time
selected for a GPR
measurement.
Normally set in the
Time Window ns field during
measurement but
can be reduced
when viewing
processing data
after acquisition.
Topography A topography file is

Files a text file
containing GPR line
positions and the
elevations at those
positions. When a
topography file is
attached to a GPR
line, elevations for

every GPR position
are interpolated
saved into the
elevation field of
< https://www.sensoft.ca> the GPR trace
header.
Sequence of sample
points from a single
GPR channel that
trace
indicate the time
variation of signal
amplitude.
Process of plotting
traces side-by-side
to create an
apparent cross
section of the
ground. Trace
number, which is
normally equivalent
to horizontal
Trace Plot
position, increases
in the horizontal
direction while data
points on the trace
are plotted in the
vertical direction
representing
increasing signal
delay time or depth.
the number of GPR

traces that can be
collected in a given
time interval
Trace Repetition
traces/second normally
Rate
determined as 1/
(PRP x Points per
trace x stacks) +
delay time)).
term used to
describe stacking
Trace Stacking (recording and
averaging) of
complete traces.
Time between
acquisition of
Trace Time
sequential traces in
Interval:
free run data
acquisition mode.
Name used where

GPR antenna,
electronics, and
transducer
shield are combined
into one physical
unit.
General term used

for electronics
devices used to
transmitter Tx
create propagating
electromagnetic
fields
the peak output

amplitude of the
Transmitter
Volts (V) transmitter
Output Voltage:
electronics that is
fed to the antenna.
GPR array elements

can be distributed
over a flat surface
Two- to form a two-
dimensional
< https://www.sensoft.ca> dimensional array
(2D) array: of elements. (Note
in some rare cases
arrays may also be
3D)
UTM is a geographic
coordinate system
that uses a 2-
dimensional
Cartesian
coordinate system
to give locations on
the surface of the
Earth. It is a
Universal
horizontal position
Transverse UTM
representation, i.e.
Mercator (UTM)
it is used to identify
locations on the
Earth independently
of vertical position
but differs from the
traditional method
of latitude and
longitude in several
respects.
Each UTM zone is

segmented into 20
latitude bands. Each
latitude band is 8
degrees high and is
lettered starting
from “C” at 80°S,
increasing up the
English alphabet
until “X”, omitting
the letters “I” and
“O” (because of
their similarity to
the numerals one
and zero). The last
UTM Letter latitude band, “X”, is
extended an extra 4
degrees, so it ends
at 84°N latitude,
thus covering the
northernmost land
on Earth. Latitude
bands “A” and “B”
do exist, as do
bands “Y” and “Z”.
They cover the
western and
eastern sides of the
Antarctic and Arctic
regions
respectively.
The UTM system

divides the Earth
between 80°S and
UTM Zone 84°N latitude into
60 zones, each 6°
of longitude in
width.
UTM Zone Zone 1 covers

Number longitude 180° to
174° W; zone
numbering
increases eastward
to zone 60 that
covers longitude
174 to 180 East.
is the term used to

characterize the
< https://www.sensoft.ca> speed at which GPR
signals travel in a
media. Velocity is a
critical parameter
when creating
velocity v m/ns or m/us
depth slice images
and estimating
depths of targets
since velocity is
used to convert
travel-time to
depth.
Applies a running
average filter
vertically (down-
the-trace) to a GPR
trace plot. The
signal is averaged
by replacing the
data value at a
given point by the
Vertical Filter average data value
over a window
centered about that
point. Its primary
purpose is to
reduce random or
high frequency
noise by acting as a
low pass temporal
filter.
Impulsive GPRs
emit an oscillatory
electromagnetic
wavelet or EM pulse which is short
pulse in time and space
and is often
referred to as a
wavelet.
the term used to

refer to the spacing
between X lines
X Line Spacing:
when a grid is
covered by
equispaced X lines.
A line oriented in
the X direction. (i.e.
Y = constant while X
position varies).
X Line: This is a Sensors &
Software
convention when
collecting GPR data
in a grid.
time or depth slice

X Slice: image created from
X lines in a grid.
XY Axes: X and Y are the

names given to the
two orthogonal
directions of a grid.
When positioned at
the specific corner
of the grid which is
selected to be the
origin of the
coordinate system
and facing
diagonally across
the grid, the
positive X direction
< https://www.sensoft.ca> runs to the right
along the edge of
the grid and the
positive Y direction
runs straight ahead.
time or depth slice

image created from
XY Slice:
combining both X
and Y lines in a grid.
the term used to

refer to the spacing
between Y lines
Y Line Spacing:
when a grid is
covered by
equispaced Y lines.
A line oriented in
the Y direction. (i.e.
X = constant while Y
position varies).
Y Line: This is a Sensors &
Software
convention when
collecting GPR data
in a grid.
time or depth slice

Y Slice: image created from
Y lines in a grid.
The time of first

emission of signal
by the transmitter.
This time should be
zero time equated to the first
break time unless
the transmitter
receiver separation
is zero.
The size of an area

on a reflecting
feature that can be
zone of uniquely resolved.
influence (See Fresnel zone
definition and
lateral resolution
length).
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6/4/24, 11:17 AM Glossary of GPR Terms

Glossary of GPR Terms

the term used when

Acquisition a term used to

any hard, inert,

GPR systems emit

GPR normally uses

array the term applied in

the term applied to

a gain function that

a plot that displays

Background BAS The process of

Bandpass Filter The process

and can contain

the term used to

color bar a bar of colors

color palette and

The term used to

Term used when

Concurrent Term used when

Image that results

The unit used in

The term applied to

The term used when

The term used to

dewow The process of

dielectric See dielectric

The term applied to

distance DMI A device for

is the term applied

envelope formed from a pair

original signal. The

Time of onset of the

frequency f Hz, MHz, GHz is the term applied

global GPS GPS is a satellite-

satellites and uses

When GPS is used

is the term used to

ground- GPR Ground penetrating

A point source GPR

The minimum lateral

is the term used to

Lowpass Filter removes

useful for removing

multiplex: the process of

nanosecond ns ns 10 -9 s (One Billionth

odometer ticks/m Odometers and

The maximum depth

acronym for pulse

acronym for the

the peak amplitude

The minimum radial

receiver Rx General term for

relative See dielectric

the time between

The value assigned

Signal-to-noise The ratio of GPR

Describes the GPR

Spatial filters act on