MRI: Development of a Ground-based Interferometric Radar for Infrastructure and Natural Hazards Applications

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)提供资金的。这一重大研究仪器项目的目标是开发一种便携式、三脚架安装的雷达系统，用于基础设施和自然灾害的高分辨率(亚毫米)变形测量。这种陆基雷达(GBR)的运作是基于从不同时间进行的雷达测量中识别干扰模式，以检测和量化移动。该项目的开发方法是将GBR设备设计为在多个频率和极性下工作，以提高广泛应用的测量精度。建议的GBR仪器有可能改变土木工程和地质应用中进行变形测量的方式。GBR设备的机动性、多功能性和非凡的灵敏度将允许用于各种应用，从对建筑物和桥梁的小规模评估，到对大坝、隧道和山体滑坡的大规模监测。开发新的方法将给社会带来好处：识别民用基础设施的问题，减轻自然灾害对社会的影响，并发现对国家安全的潜在威胁。此外，该设备将为土木工程、电气工程和地质科学领域的学生提供独特的动手教育工具。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009(Public Law 111-5). The objective of this Major Research Instrumentation project is to develop a portable, tripod-mounted radar system that will be used for high-resolution (sub-millimeter) deformation measurements of infrastructure and natural hazards. The operation of this ground-based radar (GBR) is based on the identification of interference patterns from radar measurements performed at different times to detect and quantify movements. The development approach for this project is to design the GBR device to operate at multiple frequencies and polarities to enhance the accuracy of the measurements for a wide range of applications.The proposed GBR instrument has the potential to transform the way deformation measurements are performed in civil engineering and geological applications. The mobility, versatility and exceptional sensitivity of the GBR device will allow for use in a variety of applications, from small-scale evaluation of buildings and bridges, to large-scale monitoring of dams, tunnels and landslides. Benefits to society will result from the development of new methods to: identify problems with civil infrastructure, mitigate effects on society from natural hazards, and detect potential threats to national security. In addition, this equipment will serve as a unique, hands-on educational tool for students in the fields of civil engineering, electrical engineering, and the geological sciences.