Mapping of Groundhog Burrows with Ground Penetrating Radar

Laura Sherrod - 2011

High frequency antennas of 400MHz and 900MHz were used to map three Marmota monax burrows in Kutztown, PA during the Fall Semester of 2011.  An endoscope was used to confirm the interpretations of the GPR results.  Initial results indicate that the depth and dimensions of the burrows, as well as features such as ramps and offshoot tunnels, can be identified with the geophysical methods used. 





Three dimensional cube (above) shows the location of groundhog burrows which can be identified as hyperbolic reflections in the GPR image when surveyed perpendicular to the long axis of the burrow, or as linear features (left) when surveyed parallel to the long axis of the burrow. 

GEL 358 (Geophysics) students participate in the survey of the first field site using the 400MHz antenna.
GEL 358 students survey at the first field site with the 400MHz antenna Jarred Swiontek lays out the grid for the 400MHz antenna at the second field site.  The 900MHz antenna was used by Jarred Swiontek to obtain higher resolution images of the subsurface. 

2011 Mapping of Groundhog Burrows with GPR

Paleontology and Geophysics Ground Penetrating Radar
Sherrod Home Page