Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration ISSN:1229-1064(Print) 2384-051X(Online) 지구물리와 물리탐사

Recently many sinkholes have appeared in urban areas of Korea, threatening public safety. To predict the occurrence of sinkholes, it is necessary to investigate the existence of cavity under urban roads. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been recognized as an effective means for detecting underground cavity in urban areas. In order to improve the understanding of the governing physical processes associated with GPR wave propagation, and interpret underground cavity effectively, a theoretical approach using numerical modeling is required. We have developed an algorithm employing a three-dimensional (3D) staggered-grid finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. This approach allows us to model the full electromagnetic wavefield associated with GPR surveys. We examined the GPR response for a simple cavity model, and the modeling results showed that our 3D FDTD modeling algorithm is useful to assess the underground cavity under urban roads.