Development of handheld GPR using FieldFox network analyzer and its application in detecting structure of Qian Tang river Dike, Hang Zhou, China

Agilent introduced FieldFox handheld network analyser in 2008. It has many attractive features for GPR engineers, such as wide bandwidth, low power consumption, light weighted and small size. To investigate the performance of using FieldFox as a GPR system, we have made following tests: (1) data acquisition speed tests (2) laboratory model tests (3) field tests. Test results show that a GPR based on Fieldfox is able to make high-resolution detections at different frequency bands. The highest frequency of Fieldfox is 6 GHz. This is a distinct feature comparing with other commercially available GPR systems. The Fieldfox based GPR can be very much suited for non-destructive testing of roads, bridges, river dykes, and testing inside buildings, tunnels etc.