Detection and geometric reconstruction of underground targets and strategies for obtaining the physical properties of the medium using GPR data inversion: Application to forensic and archeological studies

• Grant number: 11/21013-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Luís Porsani
• Grantee: Emerson Rodrigo Almeida
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 13/12606-0 - Microwave tomography for forensic and archaeological applications and evaluation of targets electromagnetic properties, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The GPR method has been increasingly used in shallow geophysical investigations because it is a quick data acquisition method and with low operational cost. For these reasons the method has been widely used by criminal investigators in search for missing bodies and by archeologists to help in field logistics at archeological sites. This research project aims to fill a gap in the Brazilian academic world, where GPR application for criminal investigation is very poor. To do so, this project proposes the use of GPR data inversion process in order to create a tool which may assist the data analysis and interpretation. The GPR data inversion topic is still little explored by Brazilian researchers and its application in forensic studies is still unexplored worldwide. In the developing of this tool will be used computational routines for direct and inverse calculating. They will be improved where needed in order to search for the best results according to the objectives proposed. The program obtained will be analyzed using both synthetic and real data in order to validate it in various situations. Synthetic data will be created using the ReflexWin software. Real data will be acquired first on the IAG/USP Shallow Geophysics Test Site and then on São Paulo cemeteries and Italian archeological sites. This latter case will have the collaboration of Dr. Francesco Soldovieri, aiming to establish a mutual cooperation between Brazilian and Italian researchers.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ALMEIDA, EMERSON RODRIGO; PORSANI, JORGE LUIS; CATAPANO, ILARIA; GENNARELLI, GIANLUCA; SOLDOVIERI, FRANCESCO. Microwave Tomography-Enhanced GPR in Forensic Surveys: The Case Study of a Tropical Environment. IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATIONS AND REMOTE SENSING, v. 9, n. 1, p. 115-124, JAN 2016. (11/21013-8, 13/12606-0)

RAFAEL NERIS DOS SANTOS, VINICIUS; ALMEIDA, EMERSON RODRIGO; PORSANI, JORGE LUIS; TEIXEIRA, FERNANDO LISBOA; SOLDOVIERI, FRANCESCO. A Controlled-Site Comparison of Microwave Tomography and Time-Reversal Imaging Techniques for GPR Surveys. REMOTE SENSING, v. 10, n. 2, FEB 2018. (15/50488-5, 11/21013-8, 13/12606-0, 14/18209-6)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ALMEIDA, Emerson Rodrigo. Analysis of microwave tomography on GPR data under controlled conditions: applications in archaeology and forensic studies. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto Astronômico e Geofísico (IAG/SBD) São Paulo.