A digital twin of the GSSI 2000 MHz palm antenna developed using multi-parametric optimisation

Numerical modelling of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) has been extensively used to both predict and assess its performance. As the transmitting and receiving antennas are one of the most fundamental elements of a GPR system, an accurate representation of them should be included in a model if the simulations is to be close in reproducing the actual GPR signal with a good degree of fidelity. In this paper, a three-dimensional model of a 2000 MHz “palm” antenna from Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. (GSSI) is presented. Values for unknown dielectric properties of key elements were estimated using a genetic algorithm (GA) and a particle swarm optimization (PSO) scheme. The results were compared with real responses obtained in free-space and above a metal plate, showing good agreement. Further validation has been done using real data from realistic scenarios, resulting in a very good match with the simulations.