Non-destructive GPR signal processing technique for thickness estimation of pavement, coal and ice layers: A review

In recent years, there has been a significant surge in the utilization of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for measuring the thickness of subsurface layers, and researchers in this field have paid close attention to it. GPR enables users to achieve greater precision in evaluating the quality and condition of underground materials. The traditional methods used to measure the thickness of underground layers are time-consuming, hard to conduct and not economical. GPR is one of the most recommended non-destructive geophysical methods for routine subsurface inspections. This article is intended to highlight the application of GPR for thickness estimation of distinct materials such as, pavement, ice and coal layers and novel non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques adopted recently for thickness estimation. This article presents an overview of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) methodologies for layer thickness estimation, encompassing their advantages, disadvantages, and recent research findings. By synthesizing existing literature, the potential applications of GPR while addressing its inherent limitations are illustrated here. Furthermore, practical recommendations are provided to enhance the effectiveness of GPR-based layer thickness estimation techniques.