Radar imaging of buried mine-shaped objects

Our investigation of the use of radar imaging method for the detection and identification of buried anti-personnel mines by numerical simulation based on the FD-TD method and by laboratory experiments has led to the following findings: (a) a mine should be larger than or equal to two wavelengths for it to be imaged under the multi-static configuration. (b) Circular polarization is better for imaging circular-shaped mines; linear polarization is better for the rectangular-shaped mine. (c) For a plastic mine there is an optimum soil moisture condition for imaging, which is around 4%. (d) Soil surface roughness is a source of clutter which can cause distortion in imaging.