Identification Of Buried Fibre Cable At Urban Area Using Ground Penetrating Radar

Abstract

Today’s rapid development makes the surrounding environment congested and busy. Therefore, some impacts on sub-surface utilities are not arranged systemically, creating a false position of existing cables and pipes to detect, especially fibre optic cables. Due to the material and the smallest diameter (0.3mm – 1.5 mm) of fibre optic cables give the advantages when using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). This study was done to determine the buried fibre cable in the urban area, and the radargram was used to analyse the characteristics of the fibre cable detected by GPR. An accurate site was chosen for the study by tracing the underground utilities using the GPR grid method. Using the Reflex 2D Quick software, data was post-processed to interpret and filter for a clearer image to estimate the position and depth of the cable. This software is used to extract the resolution of the radargram between the cable, the reflectivity and the velocity of the signal penetrated the target. The results indicate that GPR can be used to determine the fibre cable where the value was close to the existing depth of 0.66m for Type A cable and 1.33m for Type B cable. The values are acceptable in the general field of utility mapping and meet government standards and utility provider specifications for vertical accuracy below 6mm of depth determination. Hence, this study’s findings are beneficial, especially to land surveyors and utility providers, in affirming the position and depth of buried fibre cables, particularly in congested urban areas.