Rugged Tablets for Ground Penetrating Radar: ASTELLOG Case Study
Ground penetrating radar lives or dies by its display. The radar returns a stream of underground data that has to be interpreted while the operator is still standing on the survey line, which makes the terminal part of the instrument rather than an accessory.
ASTELLOG needed to equip the IDS Stream DP with a terminal that would complete its solution for surveying, engineering surveying and geological investigation. The company selected the TERVEX I10A, a 10.1-inch Windows rugged tablet.
Challenge: Turning a GPR Frame Into a Complete Solution
ASTELLOG needed to equip the IDS Stream DP with appropriate terminal tools to build a more complete solution.
The terminal has to be mounted on the survey frame rather than on a desk: it must be compact, connect to the radar host by cable, and remain usable with a stylus in the field.
Solution: I10A Tablets Driving the IDS Stream DP Over Serial
The I10A is deployed directly above the control stick of the IDS Stream DP manual body frame through dedicated vehicle accessories, and is connected to the ground penetrating radar host through a serial port.
The I10A sends transmission and reception control commands to the radar host, obtains high-resolution underground data, and displays and saves it in the uMap acquisition software.
Staff can view B-Scan 2D profiles and C-Scan 3D slices in real time on uMap, and can upload the relevant data to the IQmaps platform.
The plan also deploys positioning devices and power supplies to provide multiple positioning methods such as GPS and TPS, together with continuous power support.
Acquisition software, instrument controls and the underground image sit on the same screen within reach of the stylus, so the survey crew stays focused on the line instead of on a separate control unit.
Results: Real-Time Radar Interpretation in the Field
With a 12th Gen Intel Core processor and the dedicated uMap acquisition software, the tablet detects and acquires large volumes of radar data in real time.
The compact size allows easy installation on the handheld body frame of the ground penetrating radar, and multiple I/O ports provide stable, fast data transmission and command control.
A high-definition, high-brightness screen plus stylus touch operation makes radar data and high-resolution underground information easier to read, and improves portability.
