Data Collection with the

Void IRIS-P
Detection
With The
GPR System
IRIS(Using
GPRNatacq)
System
Penetradar
Penetradar Corporation
Corporation
2509
2509 Niagara
Niagara Falls
Falls Blvd.
Blvd.
Niagara
Niagara Falls,
Falls, New
New York
York
USA,
USA, 14304.
14304.
www.penetradar.com
www.penetradar.com

Step 1: Start Natacq Data Acquisition Software - Click the Power On button and installed Antennas will be enabled and
appear green - To select a radar antenna for adjustment click on the Radar button corresponding to the antenna, i.e.
1,2,3, or 4 - Adjust the scroll bar to position the radar window so that the transmitted signal (monocycle) appears Note: If Preprocessing is activated the monocycle will appear as shown in Step 1a

Step 1a: This view is normal when the digital preprocessing filters are applied - These digital filters remove unwanted
distortion in the radar subsurface return signal, however, the transmitter monocycle, as observed on the screen
is altered slightly as shown - Note: This does not adversely affect the radar signal analysis

Step 2: Increase radar gain to 40 by clicking on Variable Gain setting - Adjust window position (moving the transmitted
monocycle toward the left) until low level signals are observed - Note: These signals are reflections from the
antenna, surface and subsurface

Step 3: Engage Autolock - First position signal as shown (Step 2) or click on Autolock Pos to position the signal to the
stored location - Click on the Manual button and the radar waveform will automatically adjust its position until
it is Autolock Enabled and switches from red to green - Note: If signal isnt in correct position prior to engaging
Autolock, it may not automatically lock, manually override and position till lock is achieved using scroll bar

Step 4: To collect data, a gain of 100 is recommended and Preprocessing functions are usually applied, such as surface
alignment and filtering - Radar waveform is now in Autolock, set for a gain of 100and Preprocessing is On,
you are now ready to acquire data

Step 5: Select File > New and enter a file name via keyboard - Note: The IRIS Natacq software automatically increments the
file name by one after the a data file is collected

Step 6: Select Display > Freeze to toggle the Data Acquisition mode - Note Freeze the screen to enable the data
acquisition mode by pressing the F3 function key, to enter the display mode press the F3 key again

Step 7: Select Acquire > Start (F1 Key) to start data acquisition - To end Select Acquire > End (F2 Key) - For subsequent
radar files, repeat this step - Note 1: Press F1 key to start acquisition and F2 to end - The next file is automatically
named and youre ready to collect the next data file. Note 2: To display real-time GPR data in between collected files
press F3 to enter the display mode, then press F3 again to enter the acquire mode (reassures operator antenna is ok)

Event Marking with the

Void Detection
With The
IRIS GPR System
IRIS(Using
GPRNatacq)
System
Penetradar
Penetradar Corporation
Corporation
2509
2509 Niagara
Niagara Falls
Falls Blvd.
Blvd.
Niagara
Niagara Falls,
Falls, New
New York
York
USA,
USA, 14304.
14304.
www.penetradar.com
www.penetradar.com

Step 1: Click New in Event Table dialog box - Assign a name in Key Definition File field and click Create - InSave
As dialog box assign a File Name, click Save

Step 2: Under Definition Listing default definitions will be loaded - New Key Definitions can be added, in this example,
Stop Sign with Key ID of STSN is placed in fields, then click Add - Note: Repeat this step to add more
Definitions - Click Update

Step 3: Use Drop-down menu in Description & Key ID to assign definitions to a Key (A, B, C, etc.) - Click Save and
enter a filename in New Event Table dialog box

Step 4: Event Table is ready to use - Acquisition program is setup as previously described and is in Acquire mode - Click
on Set > Event Markings > User Defined

Step 4a: In Open dialog box select the Event file that was previously created - Click Open

Step 4: Event Markings dialog box opens - Start collecting data and use assigned keyboard Keys to mark locations in
data (a MRK file will be created, along with NAT) - Note: The Main data collection box has to be the active box
and not the Event Markings dialog box to enter Key assignments

Measure with the

Void Detection
With The
IRIS GPR System
IRIS(Using
GPRNatacq)
System
Penetradar
Penetradar Corporation
Corporation
2509
2509 Niagara
Niagara Falls
Falls Blvd.
Blvd.
Niagara
Niagara Falls,
Falls, New
New York
York
USA,
USA, 14304.
14304.
www.penetradar.com
www.penetradar.com

Step (Measure): Select the desired channel where waveforms will be measured - Click on Display > Run\Freeze to suspend
Waveform Display Mode

Step (Measure): Click on Measure > Thickness - Layer Measurement dialog box will open

Step (Measure): Using cursor align 1st marker with signal from top layer interface then align 2nd marker with reflection
from second layer interface - Make sure Radar field is showing correct Radar Unit number - From
Layer Material field choose material to be measured and its typical relative dielectric constant value is
displayed or select user-defined option for a specific value - Computed thickness will be displayed

Calibration with the

Void Detection
With The
IRIS GPR System
IRIS(Using
GPRNatacq)
System
Penetradar
Penetradar Corporation
Corporation
2509
2509 Niagara
Niagara Falls
Falls Blvd.
Blvd.
Niagara
Niagara Falls,
Falls, New
New York
York
USA,
USA, 14304.
14304.
www.penetradar.com
www.penetradar.com

Step (Calibration):Click on Calibration > (Choose from list) - Note: Make sure vehicle is in Park and Radar Antennas
are mounted pointing upwards toward open space for Free Space and select an operating height for all
antennas pointing downward, straight toward the ground for Flat Plat - Ensure that AutoLock is
still engaged - Files are automatically created when chosen (Free-Fspace0001 & Flat-Fplate0001)

Step 1 (Free Space): Record the Variable Gain setting used, typically gain is 100 - Click on Display > Run\Freeze to
suspend Waveform Display mode -

Step 1a (Flat Plate): Place a flat metal plate (at least 1 meter square in size) centered beneath the antenna being calibrated Record the Variable Gain setting used, typically gain is 40 - Click on Display > Run\Freeze to
suspend Waveform Display mode

Step 2 (Free Space): Click on Aquire > Start (F1) - Note: Normally, a single file can be used to hold the free space data
from multiple antennas

Step 2a (Flat Plate): Click on Acquire > Start (F1) - Note: The flat plate data should be acquired at 1 Radar Unit per time
and the data file should only have the flat plate data for that respective channel (i.e. four data files for
four antenna units) - You can assign Fplate001.nat to antenna 1, Fplate0002.nat to antenna 2, etc.

Step 3 (Free Space): The information panel indicates the acquisition status - Observe the signals displayed on the screen DO NOT interrupt the computer system or go near the antennas while acquiring data

Step 3a (Flat Plate): The information panel indicates the acquisition status - Observe the signals displayed on the screen DO NOT interrupt the computer system or go near the antennas while acquiring data

Step 4 (Free Space): Acquisition stops when the file size reaches a certain size (usually several hundred kilobytes, depending
on number of Radar Units used) and Complete is shown in Status field - Note: Once data
collection is started again the file name is automatically assigned to the next number as shown in Next
File

Step 4a (Flat Plate): Acquisition stops when the file size reaches a certain size (usually several hundred kilobytes, depending
on number of Radar Units used) and Complete is shown in Status field - Move plate to next unit
and repeat steps - Note: Once data collection is started again the file name is automatically assigned
to the next number as shown in Next File

Step 1 (DMI): Click on Calibration > DMI - Note: Prior to collection, mark the start and end lines for a known distance
(recommend to use at least 1000 feet) for which the vehicle will be travelled on for the DMI calibration

Step 2 (DMI): Click on DMI Calibration tab and enter the distance to be travelled in the Calibrate Distance field - Select
proper units in Measurement Units field - Click Start button and start driving forward away from the
start line at normal speed - Click Stop button when the vehicle comes to a full stop at the end line

Step 3 (DMI): The distance travelled is shown in the Computed Distance field and the New DMI Constant field displays
the new constant - Click Apply New button to use new constant, which becomes Current DMI Constant Repeat steps until measurement in Computed Distance field agrees with actual distance travelled - Click
OK to save the new constant to the file History.dmi

Step 1 (Time Scale): Make sure vehicle is in a parked position - Place flat metal plate (1 meter square) on surface (ground) Use an object to simulate 12 inches of air (stack of foam or empty cardboard box measuring 12 in
height) and place this on flat metal plate - Place antenna on top of 12 inch object (air gap of 12 inches) Waveform signal will look as shown above

Step 2 (Time Scale): Dont use Time Scale under Calibration menu - Click on Measure > Thickness - Layer Measure
dialog box will appear

Expand
Button

Marker 1

Marker 2

Step 3 (Time Scale): Two marker lines will appear along with dialog box - Align first marker on Surface Echo - Select Air
in Layer Material field - Move Second marker toward the first marker until 12.00 (as close as can be
achieved) is in Layer Measurement field - Note: Expand button can be used to enlarge view so the
markers can be lined up as precise as possible

Step 4 (Time Scale): Remove antenna from object and place another 12 inches of simulated air on top of the other 12 inch
object (plate is still on ground with 24 inches of air seperating antenna and plate) - The Surface echo
will appear as shown above, using the Cal adjustment screw, turn until the Surface echo is lined up
with the second marker line as shown in Step 5

12"

Step 5 (Time Scale): Second marker line is now lined up with Surface echo - The second 12 inch air gap is removed and the
antenna is placed back on the single 12 inch air gap and flat metal plate - The first marker is then
moved back onto the Surface echo as shown in Step 3 - Repeat procedure until the gap between the two
markers is 12 inches in the Layer Measurement field in both positions (on 12 and 24 inch air gaps)

Step 6 (Time Scale): The distance between the two markers will be 12 inches in both positions to create a 1 to 1
relationship between ms & ns - Note: The scale can be adjusted to whatever ratio is required (1.5 to 1,
2 to 1, etc)