Quantitative imaging of road hidden defects using reverse time migration based on deconvolution, attenuation compensation, and optimized full waveform separation

• Published in: Journal of applied geophysics Vol. 241; p. 105866
• Main Authors: Feng, Deshan, Feng, Zheng, Huang, Guoxing, Tai, Xiaoyong, Qin, Hao, Wang, Xun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2025
• Subjects: Attenuation compensation; Deconvolution; Forward simulation; GPR; Optimized RTM; Road hidden defects; GPR; Deconvolution; Road hidden defects; Optimized RTM; Attenuation compensation; Forward simulation
• ISSN: 0926-9851
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jappgeo.2025.105866

In order to understand the situation of underground defects in roads, carry out timely maintenance, and prevent the further expansion of hidden underground defects, the author proposes a high-precision reverse time migration (RTM) method for ground penetrating radar (GPR) detection data imaging of roads. Firstly, considering typical types of underground defects, numerical models for crack, uncompacted subgrade, cavity, settlement, and other condition are established. Forward simulations are conducted to analyze and summarize the GPR forward response characteristics of typical underground defects. Secondly, to overcome shortcomings such as artifacts, noise, weak deep signals, and low vertical resolution in conventional RTM, the author proposes an optimized full waveform separation RTM method based on deconvolution and attenuation compensation to process both simulated and measured data. The characteristics and reliability of the imaging results are then summarized. The research results show that the imaging performance of the optimized RTM is significantly superior to that of conventional RTM. The analysis of the imaging effects and reliability of the optimized RTM for different types and water content levels of defects provides valuable guidance for imaging analysis of actual measured data. This method enhances the intuitiveness and accuracy of identifying underground defects. •The authors propose a reverse time migration method based on deconvolution, attenuation compensation, and optimized full waveform separation to process both simulated and measured data.•The optimized RTM method can overcome disadvantages in conventional RTM method, such as artifacts, noise, weak deep signals, and low vertical resolution.•We analyzed the specific RTM effects for different types and moisture content levels of defects, which provides guidance on the reliability of RTM results for actual measured data.