Journal Article

FZJ-2026-02774

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Evaluation of GPR Waveforms for a Custom RFSoM-based Tomography System

Chkhetia, R. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Mester, A. ; Bachner, M. ; Zimmermann, E. ; Metreveli, Z. ; Natour, G.

2026
MDPI Basel

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3390/app16126179

Abstract: High-resolution soil moisture monitoring in a lysimeter requires precise Ground-PenetratingRadar (GPR) systems that can provide clean time-domain data for a Full-Waveform Inversion (FWI) algorithm. Using high-speed Radio Frequency System-on-Module (RFSoM)devices provides flexibility in signal generation. To optimize such a system, an appropriatetransmit waveform and processing pipeline need to be selected. This paper presents a performance evaluation of three GPR waveforms—impulse, Stepped-Frequency ContinuousWave(SFCW)andnon-linear Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW/chirp)—onthe same hardware setup. To ensure a fair comparison, all waveforms were tested underan identical total measurement time. Numerical simulations were performed using anelectromagnetic model of the system. Physical validation was conducted in an anechoicchamber using a 4 GS/s RFSoM setup and planar elliptical dipole antennas. Simulationsshowed that both sinewave-based methods provide better signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs)than the impulse GPR, with the non-linear chirp achieving the best results (20.7 dB improvement compared to impulse). Experimental measurements supported these results, showingbetter SNR across the frequency band for the SFCW and chirp waveforms. Because of itshigh SNR and simple hardware implementation, the non-linear chirp was identified as themost suitable waveform for this RFSoM-based GPR system.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Institute of Technology and Engineering (ITE)

Research Program(s):

1. 2173 - Agro-biogeosystems: controls, feedbacks and impact (POF4-217) (POF4-217)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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