GEOREADER software complex

GeoReader offers the functionality most demanded in practice and advanced technologies: automated control in terms of determining the volume of laid road construction material and its properties, automatic search for local heterogeneities.

The main differences between GeoReader and the software products available on the market are as follows:

1) GeoReader is a symbiosis of geophysical and geodetic methods for solving applied problems;

2) The software allows creating a 3D model of the underground environment and exporting it to a CAD / GIS system;

3) Binding to the project coordinate system is performed with high accuracy;

4) Support for the requirements of industry regulatory and technical documents is provided

5) It is much more convenient to work in GeoReader, since it is designed as a CAD system – there is a radargram in the background of the application, while you can work interactively with analytics elements. Data handling is automated;

6) GeoReader offers the function of calculating the velocity parameters of the medium using the hodograph processing method (CDP) and the amplitude analysis method. This significantly improves the accuracy of determining the thickness and properties of soil layers;

7) GeoReader allows specialists to build amplitude maps (C-scan mode) when performing areal surveys in order to search for underground utilities, buried structures, etc.;

8) The GeoReader software package makes it possible to substantiate the inexpediency of control drilling and reduce its number;

9) Support for 8 different GPR formats.

 

GeoReader will be in demand for:

• highway departments,
• road construction companies,
• design and survey organisations,
• research institutes,
• airport management companies,
• archaeological expeditions,
• security and emergency services, etc.

GeoReader consists of 3 main applications: processing a package of radargrams (project manager – GeoReader Project), processing one radargram (GeoReader), and working with amplitude maps (GeoReader AmplitudeMap).

All three applications are described in detail below:

 

GEOREADER PROJECT

The block for processing the GeoReader Project radargram package is basic in terms of project management. It combines all individual radargrams added to the project by the user.

The basic principle of working in the project manager is the simultaneous management and processing of a batch of files. The GeoReader Project module allows you to edit a series of radargrams and apply various processing procedures to them, while saving the operator’s time for the same type of operations.

 

GeoReader Project functionality:

1. data import and editing of a series of radargrams,
2. export of the results of interpretation of a series of GPR profiles in CAD and GIS,
3. work with a trajectory for a series of radargrams and data binding with geodetic accuracy,
4. attribute analysis of a series of radargrams,
5. displaying the thickness of the pavement layer in the plan window in different colours,
6. linking radargrams to the terrain by pickets, or kilometres of the distance travelled,
7. construction of transverse GPR slices (along the antenna array) based on parallel profiles of multichannel GPR data.

 

GeoReader Project allows users to batch import data into a project.

Most equipment options are supported. In terms of data processing, GeoReader Project applies to all files batch procedures for attribute analysis, creating and deleting layers in which the operator forms various objects, design settings in accordance with the project documentation of the object, separating multichannel radargrams into components, calculating a soil model for all boreholes or known average velocities of the electromagnetic signal in the layers, typical amplification functions such as direct wave removal, clipping, filtering and profile reversal.

 

If there are spatial coordinates for GPR profiles, the project manager allows the user to automatically import the GPR trajectory, as well as perform operations on its displacement in plan and in height. If the trajectory is calculated in post-processing in differential mode, it can also be imported into GPR profiles. Even if the trajectory of the GPR movement is determined at the reference points using a total station, it can also be imported into the project. The location of all profiles is displayed in the plan window.

 

GeoReader Project is synchronised with two other applications of the software package and allows users to open a GPR profile for processing or activate the creation of amplitude maps. All data, regardless of whether it is a trajectory, a GPR profile or an amplitude map, are inextricably linked with each other by common coordinates. Therefore, navigation between them within the framework of working with the project is performed synchronously.

When exporting data to GIS and CAD applications or other mapping services, the attributes of GPR profiles are also unloaded, allowing one to synchronise the work of third-party programs with the GeoReader software package.

With all this, the GeoReader software package does not seek to replace the functionality of  software commonly used by engineers, such as AutoCAD or ArcGIS. If a specialist is accustomed to working with such programs, GeoReader will simply export the results of a GPR survey in an exchange format for the convenience of their further analysis and use in solving applied problems.

 

GEOREADER

Almost all the main work on processing / interpreting the GPR profile is carried out in the GeoReader single radargram processing module:

1. data import and radargram editing,
2. export of radargram interpretation results to CAD and GIS,
3. work with trajectory,
4. search for layer boundaries,
5. creation of a borehole model,
6. automatic determination of asphalt concrete thickness without drilling,
7. creating a layer model,
8. attribute analysis,
9. joint analysis of GPR data and other diagnostic systems, incl. FWD shock loaders,
10. calculation of the thickness of pavement layers according to Russian standards.

GeoReader supports 8 different GPR data formats. The source data is imported from the following formats:

• TXT of the Krot program (for LOZA series GPR),
• GPR and GPR2 (for OKO-3 GPR),
• DZT (for GSSI GPR),
• RD3 (for MALA GPR),
• DT1 (for Sensors & Software GPR),
• TRZ (for TerraZond GPR),
• SGY (universal seismic data format, including ZOND GPR data).

GeoReader, like a CAD application, allows users to initially set the classification of objects created as part of the work on the project. To do this, a separate layer is created for each type of object. At the same time, for such objects as a road or railway, a runway or a taxiway, you can set the relative position of the layers according to the design documentation. This allows providing a rigid hierarchical relationship of the spatial arrangement of the layers of structures when exporting data to other applications.

Objects that can be created in GeoReader: label, line, point, polyline, rectangle, diffractive hyperbola, borehole, text.

To create layer boundaries, 2 main approaches are used: manual and automated.

In the manual approach, the operator creates a set of points in each layer and connects them. The point can optionally be tied to the signal phase or set by a specialist by eye.

The automated approach is implemented as an additional plugin for GeoReader with its own settings. The search can be performed on the original or enhanced trace, image, or the result of attribute analysis.

When calibrating a GPR profile in GeoReader (establishing the exact position of the boundary between the geological layers of the surveyed structure), one of the tools is to take into account the results of drilling.

 

Since GeoReader is part of the workflow, the application provides the ability to create draft boreholes, which, as the project progresses, can turn into actual or be removed. The work methods of TIM LLC usually provide for preliminary marking of boreholes on GPR profiles in the most preferred locations. Then the coordinates of the location of the boreholes are taken out on the ground. If it was possible to drill a borehole in a predetermined place, it subsequently becomes a draft one, and data on the material and actual thicknesses of the layers are entered in the GeoReader application in the ‘borehole’ element. If the borehole was moved in the field, its location is coordinated and added to the GPR project using these coordinates.

The interface of the borehole work window will quickly tell the experienced user whether it was drilled exactly according to the project or there is a deviation in its position, since the control is carried out by the values ​​of the velocity of propagation of electromagnetic waves in the layer or dielectric constant. If the speed values ​​go beyond the reference values, an error at the field stage of work is obvious.

Often in a project, boreholes may not be present on every GPR profile. Subsequently, when calculating the soil model in the entire project, data from the total limited number of boreholes is used.

Part of the functionality of the GeoReader module is implemented as separate plugins.

So, the possibilities of automated search for boundaries were already noted earlier. A feature of the plugin are unique search algorithms. They have been developed as part of an annual research project and have corresponding patents. These algorithms work more precisely than in similar solutions.

The GeoReader module has a separate plugin that provides calculation of the thickness of pavement layers.

The ability to determine the thickness of pavement layers without drilling with an acceptable error is quite in demand. Today it is possible for the first layer, which is usually a pack of asphalt concrete layers or a freshly repaired asphalt concrete pavement. The calculation method is based on a comparison of the amplitude of the reflection of an electromagnetic signal from the surface of asphalt concrete with the reflection from the surface of an absolute reflector – a metal sheet. Approbation and comparison of this approach with traditional drilling calibration showed comparable results. The method disadvantage of the method is that this technology is not suitable for the underlying layers of the pavement.

GeoReader allows importing external charts with coordinate or line reference to the GPR profile. One of these is the graph of changes in elastic deflection from the impact on the pavement surface of the shock load. Collaborative data analysis has already begun to show its effectiveness. Thus, according to shock loading, the places of increased deflection are determined, and GPR helps to explain the reasons for the decrease in the strength of the pavement in this place.

The automatic anomaly search plugin works in tandem with attribute analysis. The automatic search for structural anomalies performs the function of automatically determining physical deviations in the examined structure from the design parameters by identifying areas of change in the attribute field of the signal and the texture of the GPR profile. Automated search for structural anomalies can be activated both from the block for processing a package of radargrams (project manager), and from the block for processing one radargram.

The anomalies identified by the results of the attribute analysis are automatically detected using digital image processing. The figure below shows the detection of technological voids in building blocks, the display of which on the initial GPR profiles is not sufficiently objective.

according to OKO series GPR (Logis-Geotech)

The plugin for converting the original radargram into a circular one allows getting a circular image. This is practical when analysing a GPR profile taken along a mine shaft. Specifying the initial coordinate of the profile or cardinal direction allows specialists to determine the exact position of the detected voids or other formations.

 

GeoReader allows importing the GPR trajectory from external devices and exporting it to the Google Earth map. The results of radarogram interpretation can be downloaded from GeoReader in the project coordinate system in csv, shp, dxf formats to such software systems as Autodesk AutoCAD, Bentley Microstation, ESRI ArcGIS, QGis and similar.

The working area of the processing block for one radargram of the GeoReader software package consists of the following areas:

– element manager (1),

– radargram (2),

– trace (3),

– histogram (4),

– element menu (5).

 

GEOREADER AMPLITUDEMAP

The main function of GeoReader AmplitudeMap is the construction of interpolated horizontal slices from a series of vertical GPR profiles of any configuration. Whether it’s a parallel longitudinal profiling or an orthogonal survey network.

The AmplitudeMap module allows specialists to build horizontal slices of areal and linear objects, adjust image detail, use source radargrams or enhanced profiles as backgrounds, as well as the results of attribute analysis

Using a single-channel GPR when recording a grid of orthogonal profiles, an amplitude map can be built, given only the coordinates of the beginning and end of the profiles. GeoReader AmplitudeMap takes into account both longitudinal and transverse profiles when building amplitude maps. The shape of the survey network does not have to be rectangular. Some profiles may be longer, some shorter, and there may be shadow areas within the survey perimeter. For example, in places where obstacles are located to record a continuous profile.

The display of the amplitude map can be different: in the form of interpolated maps or along individual profiles. Users themselves choose the most suitable mode.

according to GRT series GPR (TerraZond)

data from 15.00 ns to 20.00 ns

data from 20.00 ns to 25.00 ns

In addition to the amplitude of the reflected signal, amplitude maps allow displaying the results of attribute analysis. Also, amplitude maps are ideal for searching for building structures buried underground, the location of reinforcement in concrete slabs, the concrete slabs themselves under asphalt concrete, local voids, subsidence, and waterlogged areas.

By marking the places of characteristic reflections from engineering communications on GPR profiles, it is possible to display them on amplitude maps at a given depth. Comparing the picture of a horizontal slice with the location of point objects, one can determine the direction of tracing engineering communications.

according to OKO series GPR (Logis-Geotech)

data from 60.00 ns to 80.00 ns

 

SOFTWARE

The functionality of the software package and operating instructions are described in the user manual: GeoReader_manual.

Read the instructions for installing the TRIAL version or the instructions for installing the FULL version.

For user experience purposes, the processes that support the life cycle of the GeoReader software are described.

 

GEOREADER SOFTWARE COMPLEX HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:

– operating system: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 10 (32 or 64 bits),

– processor: at least 1 GHz frequency,

– random access memory (RAM): at least 2 GB,

– video card: at least 256 MB with OpenGL support,

– free disk space: at least 2 GB.

A technical description and examples of solving typical tasks during GPR surveys are presented on the TIM LLC YouTube channel: