GROUND PENETRATING RADAR SYSTEMS

Chapter 1 – Ground Penetrating Radar | Everything You Need to Know

Ground penetrating radar systems, also known as GPRs, are used today to find many things below the surface of the ground. The standard metal detectors can read objects in the ground from 0″ to 9″ in the ground. More expensive and professional metal detectors can read up to 4’ feet in the ground. But what about all the great things to find below the 4’ feet? 

Long range metal detectors can read the frequencies in the air from targets like gold, silver, iron artifacts, and much more. They will point the way and give you a distance but how deep will they read objects? This is still unclear. It depends on the target size and mineralizations in the ground. 

LiDar is a great tool as well but the lasers only ready what’s on the surface. This is a great tool to find structures in the vegetations, including artifacts and more but what’s buried under the ground? 

As you can see, there’re many types of tools that officials, archeologists, treasure hunters, and more useful but even with the equipment mentioned above, there’re still a few important things that are missing. 

 

GROUND PENETRATING RADAR

Chapter 2 – Ground Penetrating Radar | Everything You Need to Know

Depending on what you are looking for, the ground penetrating radar can be used for so much. Let’s explore some of the possibilities. If you are a mining company looking for a vein of gold, silver, and other precious metals, you can scan the area and find the source. When it comes to mining, it is all about finding the metals and with the GPR, you now can find where the richer deposits are. 

For treasure hunters, the ground penetrating radar can be used to make you rich! Imagine that you are looking for a lost mine. You know you are in the right area but you can not find the mine entrance. By using the GPR to scan the area, it can locate voids in the ground like mine tunnels. It can also be used to find cave systems, and it can be used to find buried treasures. The GPR systems will also find relics and more. There is no limit to how these GPR’s can change your search. 

Oil companies use GPR systems for a similar purpose as a mining company. Instead of looking for valuable metals, they use ground penetrating radar to find oil deposits deep in the ground. Just think how valuable this is for someone looking for a source. 

 

HOW DOES GROUND PENETRATING RADAR WORK?

GPR systems or ground penetrating radar use the microwave band, reading the frequencies from 1-1000MHz. In order for a GPR to function correctly, you will need two main parts, a transmitter and a receiving antenna. The transmitter will send electromagnetic energy into the soil. Ground penetrating radar works by emitting a pulse and it records the echoes that result in subsurfaces objects. That includes voids, artifacts, minerals, mines, cave systems, oil, and more. 

GPR imaging devices will also detect variations in the ground. When the electromagnetic impulse hits the object, the density of the object it located reflects, refracts, and scatters the signal. This will cause the GPR systems to send a reading that stands out from the previous readings in the area. GPR systems have software that translates these types of data into images and the depth readings of the objects. 

With all of this technology, now you can see how a GPR system can map out the area and let the user know when it has found something that is in the ground. Structures, treasures, minerals, relics, caves, mines, and so much more can now be seen from the surface. 

 

HOW CAN GROUND PENETRATING RADAR BE USED? 

The traditional way is a push along or drag along type device. The push around GPR is similar to a lawnmower-shaped device while the pull along is a device that you drag across the ground like a sled.

Technology is changing every day and now manufacturers have successfully created GPR systems that are light enough and effective enough to attach to a drone. This is how the Maya lost structures were found in Mexico in 2018. Officials are still using this technique in that same area and they are finding more and more lost Maya cities buried and lost in the vegetation and under the ground.

 

GROUND PENETRATING RADAR ARCHEOLOGY

Archaeologists have been using GPR systems for quite a while now. They have found lost cities in deep depths of the earth. Valuable relics and glorious artifacts that you see in the museums likey could have been discovered by GPR systems. Just think what you can do with a device that detects what you can not see with your own two eyes. 

Here’s the catch, like I have mentioned in so many other articles, you need to be in the right area to find something worth finding. Sure, you could use a GPR to scan an unknown area, hoping to find something. But what if you do the research so when you do use a GPR, you have much better chances of finding something very worth it. 

For intense, as a treasure hunter, I would not plan a trip to the park and scan that area. There will be all types of trash. But what if you are in a Spanish rich mine and treasure area and then you use the GPR system? See what I’m saying? Do your research and find lost history. I promise you, it will point you in the right area and your time will not be wasted. 

 

GROUND PENETRATING RADAR FOR SALE

Interesting enough, looking for a GPR is hard to do. Where do you look and which one do you buy? When it comes to how to look for one for sale, it’s fairly easy. Go to Google and use keyword searches like “GPR for sale” or “where to buy a GPR”. That will point you in the right direction for starters. 

I would also like to help you in choosing the right GPR for you. My first suggestion is to have a budget. Browse the internet and look at cheap, mid-grade, and professional GPR systems and figure out where your budget is. Always stay within your budget and do not spend more than you can afford. I can not think of too many situations where buying out of your spending limit is a good thing. 

The next thing that I would suggest is quality. When it comes to technology, you usually get what you pay for. If you do buy the cheap GPR system, prepare yourself for lower performance than the more expensive GPR. That goes the same with functions and options. The more you spend, the better options you have which in return, will help you discover more under the ground. There’s some things to think about. Do your research! GPR systems are not cheap and this is an investment for sure.

 

GROUND PENETRATING RADAR RENTALS

 Renting a GPR system might be the way to go for some of you. Even if you spend $1000 dollars to rent the device for a few days, it’s still cheaper than buying one. The downside to that is, if you are planning on using one multiple times throughout your search, you might be better off buying one. 

Again, I would do your research and see how much it would cost renting vs buying. Another great possibility is that you might be able to not only rent the GPR system, but you may also be able to hire men that are skilled at using the GPR. This is a game-changer because if you are ready to make discoveries quickly, it most likely will not happen if you are a beginner. It takes time to learn the GPR system and software. 

 

GROUND PENETRATING RADAR PRICE

 I have seen GPR system pricing expand from $2,000.00 to $80,000.00 dollars. It depends on what you can afford. Because this is such a difference in price and performance, I suggest you do your homework. It’s not a bad idea to start off with a more inexpensive GPR at first. You can always learn from the cheaper GPRs and then sell it and buy a more expensive one. 

 

GROUND PENETRATING RADAR DEPTH

 This is where performance and price comes into play. Just like a metal detector, if you buy a cheap one, it will not read targets in the ground as deep. Same goes with GPRs. I’ve been told by manufacturers that some GPR systems can read targets as deep as 2- feet in the ground. I’ve also researched much more expensive ones and I have been told that those can reach as deep as over 150 deep in the ground. 

Make sure you check on reviews, articles, and more to research the brand and model that you are considering. If you are buying a no-name brand from eBay, you may have to be careful. Even though the price might be in your budget, you may not be happy with the way it performs. I am not saying that cheaper does not work. I am simply saying that you should be careful. Many GPR systems work very well but I have also heard of some not working very well as well. 

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