Topographic correction in ground penetrating radar surveys: Global positioning system and tiltmeter integration

The objective of this study is defining the effect of topographic slope differences, as being one of the parameters that affect GPR -aremote sensing technology, on measurement results, and to find out a solution to the problem of the unsystematic error resulted from slope area on GPR measurements with in the discipline of Geomatic Engineering by using recent survey methods and technologies. Using the "Gyroscopic Correction Method" developed by using GPS and Digital Inclinometer, it is possible to determine the effect of the gyroscopic effects caused by land slope on the current Georadar technique, the buried object is to determine the underground real location in the (UTM) coordinate system, allowing for the creation of underground maps with more accurate location data than current applications. It is considered that it is possible to eliminate "Gyroscopic Effects" or an other words "antenna orientation problem" resulted from area slope differences with "Gyroscopic Correction Method" which improved with using digital inclinometer and GPS. This method provides determining the actual location of the buried object in (UTM) coordinate system and mapping the underground more accurately. Thanks to syncronized GPS and inclinometer data collection the gyroscopic effect or an other word "antenna orientation error", which caused by area slope differences, was eliminated significantly. In order to test the performance of the method derived from combination of GPR-GPS-Inclinometer, was compared with the actual dimensions of the buried water tanks in Orhangazi Park, located in Maltepe region of İstanbul. When comparing the results of the traditional GPR survey with those of the GPR/GPS/Inclinometer combination model, it has been noted that the Gyroscopic Correction method produced better horizontal point positioning precision, and the horizontal positioning uncertainty was improved about %54 for slope land area types.