Interpretation of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) image for detecting and estimating buried pipes and cables

Interpretation of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) dataset towards detecting underground utility is a challenging task. The underground utility information such as location, depth and type serves as a reference prior to any construction project in order to avoid damage to the utility during excavation. However, the interpretation of GPR images is a tedious and timely process which requires human intervention. This study proposed a new hyperbola fitting technique to estimate the radius of buried utility (pipes and cables). The method was applied to nine (9) different sizes of buried pipes for radius estimation purposes. The result indicates that the technique is capable of estimating the radius of buried pipes with acceptable result; approximately 97.7% to 99.2% for cable/pipe type with a radius between 45mm to 150mm are detected accurately.