GPR 2022 Short Courses
GPR 2022 is pleased to offer several short courses in conjunction with the Conference.
Early Registration Deadline for Short Courses: May 10, 2022
All short courses will be held at the Conference venue. Details about specific locations will be available soon.
Note: A short course may be canceled if enrollment is insufficient.
Registration for short courses is accomplished as part of registration for the Conference. Click/tap the Registration button at the top of any page to see full registration information and to access the online registration form.
Course A: The Future of GPR Processing in the Cloud :: June 12 :: 8:30 am - 12:00 noon
Sunday, June 12
Time: 8:30 am – 12:00 noon
Instructor: Jan Francke and Lisandro Martinez
Minimum: 5
Maximum : 30
Price: $45 by May 10; $60 after May 10 (course costs subsidized by Geolitix)
Attendee Requirements: Participants should bring a laptop; Participants are encouraged (but not required) to bring their own GPR data to the workshop
GPR processing means many things to its varied users. For utilities mappers, a can of spray paint to mark out hyperbolas in the field is all that is required. For archeologists and surveyors, RTK GNSS-tracked large GPR arrays with careful processing and interpretation to produce detailed CAD maps is required.
GPR software has a reputation of onerous learning curves and has been slow to handle the multi-gigabyte datasets generated by large surveys. New cloud-based GPR software harness the power of distributed computing to enable near-instantaneous production of results, be they DXF pipes or highly detailed depth slices. AI-driven hyperbola and horizon-detection algorithms allow for a semi-automated approach to target identification. The significant advantage of speed using massively parallel processing enables the user to fine-tune processing parameters using interactive sliders and dials with the entire dataset processed en masse and the results displayed instantaneously. These cloud GPR solutions are free for smaller projects and for academic users.
This workshop will teach both the basics of GPR processing as well as more advanced methods of filtering to extract the most useful data from each project. The workshop will use cloud computing software and each attendee is asked to bring their own laptop to follow along with the provided datasets. We will also process and interpret any datasets provided by attendees.
Addressed will be topics such as
- types and pitfalls of GPR data positioning
- global coordinate systems and their hidden risks
- integration of air photos and other geophysical datasets for added context
- basic and advanced GPR processing
- creation of 3D geological models
- creation of 3D depth slices
- production of final reports, CAD files, GoogleEarth models, etc
- what should and should not be included in GPR survey reports
Presenter Biographies:
Jan Francke
Jan has spent the last 32 years working with GPR in 105 countries, trying to find the most challenging and obscure applications of the technology. He holds a BSc, MSc and PhD in GPR-related geophysics and develops custom radar hardware and software solutions to a variety of industries. He lectures globally on the cutting edge of GPR and managing expectations of near-surface geophysics.
Lisandro Martinez
Lisandro has a background in electrical engineering and developing software for niche applications. He holds a BSc and MSc and has worked extensively on GPR processing and visualization platforms.
Course B: Strategic Imaging of Geomorphic, Geologic and Geoarchaeological Landscapes :: June 12 :: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Sunday, June 12
Time: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Instructor: Harry Jol
Minimum: 5
Maximum : 15
Price: $125 by May 10; $150 after May 10
Attendee Requirements: None
Our goal in the workshop is to demonstrate how ground penetrating radar (GPR) can aid in better understanding various geologic, geomorphic, sedimentary, and geoarchaeological settings. This interactive session will draw from over 25+ years of GPR imaging experience in these environments. The hands-on session will provide a basic overview of GPR theory and then move on to data collection procedures (2D & 3D) and processing flow that highlight earth science applications. We will then discuss the principles that lead to the concepts of radar stratigraphy. Workshop attendees will be able to develop an understanding of these concepts through in class exercises collated from a variety geoscience environments. At the end of this workshop we will pull the workshop principles together so participants can apply these concepts to their own field projects.
Presenter Biography:
Harry Jol earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Simon Fraser University and Ph.D. from the University of Calgary. Harry Jol is a Professor within the Department of Geography and Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and was awarded Fellow of the Geological Society of America. Harry has conducted research with GPR as more than 1200+ sites in North America, Europe, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, and Antarctica. He has a broad background in the earth sciences, particularly geomorphology, stratigraphy, and geoarchaeology. The research with colleagues has resulted in numerous conference presentations and publications, including 3 co-edited GPR volumes (Ground Penetrating Radar in Sediments, Stratigraphic Analysis using GPR, and Ground Penetrating Radar: Theory and Applications).
Course C: GPR Theory and Practice :: June 12 :: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday, June 12
Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (one hour lunch break)
Instructor: Greg Johnston
Minimum: 11
Maximum : 15
Price: $250 by May 10; $300 after May 10
Attendee Requirements: Bring a laptop with EKKO_Project GPR analysis software installed (optional)
This course covers a bit of everything about GPR. The classroom agenda covers basic GPR theory, instrumentation and survey design. The field portion takes the class outside to collect some data including GPR cross-sections integrated with GPS, and a grid survey. Afterward, we will return to the classroom and learn how to post-process the data, including generating 2D depth slices and 3D cubes. At the same time we will discuss principles of interpreting GPR data and how to effectively present the GPR data.
Presenter Biography:
Greg has a BSc in geophysics in 1988 from the University of Western Ontario. He started his geophysics career in the oil industry in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He joined Sensors & Software in 1992. His responsibilities have included data acquisition and post-processing software development for GPR systems, customer training, technical support, and technical sales. In more than 30 years with Sensors & Software, Greg has trained customers on GPR in more than 45 countries. He is currently Product Manager for pulseEKKO® PRO, NOGGIN®, SPIDAR® and custom systems as well as the EKKO_Project™ GPR processing software.
