Super-Resolution Detection of Millimeter-Scale Fractures With Fluid Flow Using Time-Lapse Full-Polarimetric GPR and Anisotropy Analysis

A new methodology for detecting millimeter-scale fractures with fluid flow, which can damage rock carving relics, has been developed using time-lapse full-polarimetric ground penetrating radar (FP-GPR) and anisotropy analysis. The approach leverages the rapid variation of water content in fracture seepage zones to quantify anisotropic effects over time through techniques such as Freeman decomposition, H-Alpha decomposition, and polarimetric phase (PP) feature analysis. Numerical tests using hydrological modeling confirmed that variations in water content and polarimetric features are consistent with anisotropy in the seepage zone. Field tests at the Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing, China, demonstrated the effectiveness of this methodology for both surface and buried fractures.

Dong, Z., Feng, X., Zhou, H., Zhang, M., Liu, Q., An, Y., Zhang, Y., Yang, J., Liang, W., Yu, Y., & Liu, C. (2024). Super-Resolution Detection of Millimeter-Scale Fractures With Fluid Flow Using Time-Lapse Full-Polarimetric GPR and Anisotropy Analysis. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 62, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1109/tgrs.2023.3344665