Radar Systems Prism2 User manual

Version 2.60
User's Manual
Riga 2017

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Table of Contents
Section
Page
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................2
2. Brief Description of Georadar...........................................................................................3
3. Convention of Terms.........................................................................................................5
4. Radiolocation Data Display Examples..............................................................................6
5. Software Installation in Computer.....................................................................................7
5.1. Configuring the computer for wire connection with Zond-12e Georadar Control Unit
...................................................................................................................................7
5.2. Configuring the computer for wireless connection with Zond-12e or Python Georadar
Control Unit...............................................................................................................8
7. Functions of Menu Options.............................................................................................16
8. Adjustment of Georadar ..................................................................................................22
9. Radiolocation Sounding Run...........................................................................................27
10. Radiolocation Sounding Data File Handling.................................................................29
12. How to import Zond GPR data files from Prism to Voxler...........................................46
13. Our Recommendations..................................................................................................49
14. Radiolocation Sounding Data Format ...........................................................................50
14.1 SEG-Y Sounding Data Format..............................................................................50
15. Solving Problem of Layer-by-Layer Determination of Groung Thickness and Permittivity by
CDP Technique in Flat Layer Model ............................................................................53
Appendix A. Changing the Control Unit IP address...........................................................56
Appendix B. Wi-Fi Access Point ........................................................................................58
Appendix C. PrismClicker .................................................................................................60
Appendix D. Attributes .......................................................................................................64

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1. Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of our radiolocation subsurface sounding equipment and/or
your interest therein. Our Company is using over 30 years of experience in this field; the studies
in this field were launched by Aviation Subsurface Radiolocation Problem Laboratory (PLAPR)
legally succeeded by Radar Systems, Inc.
A modern Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR or “georadar”) is quite a sophisticated radio
engineering device. But with introduction of microprocessor and computer technologies, it has
become simpler in operation as compared with early models. Skill to operate a georadar actually
means knowledge of how to use the software what description you are reading now. Take a look
on software operation, and you'll find no difficulties in it.
In many cases, correct interpretation of sounding data results from certain experience
which you have already or which, hopefully, you'll acquire quite soon. The software will be your
effective helper for your tasks and decisions.
Prism2 Software Package is designed to be used in field as a component of Zond-12e
and/or Python Georadars and also in laboratory for radiolocation sounding data processing and
interpretation. Important: to work with Zond-12e and/or Python Georadar, computer must be
equipped with Ethernet card 10/100 BaseT. For wireless connection computer must be
equipped with Wi-Fi card.
The tasks of Package include:
1. Control of all Georadar modes, and adjustment of its parameters for specific job
conditions.
2. Receiving digital data from Georadar in a radiolocation sounding run, and recording
them in data files on a computer hard disk.
3. Visualization of data being received (or received earlier) on a computer display in
user's specified mode.
4. Digital processing of received data for extracting useful signals and suppressing noise,
interference and non-informative signals.
5. Determination of various signal parameters, spectral computations, and the like.
6. Printout of results.
Package is supplied on USB Flash card, CD or online from the manufacturer web site
(http://www.radsys.lv) with the computer installation file (SETUP.EXE).
Package is compiled as a user's integrated medium, i.e. user starts PRISM2.EXE file only
and deals only with this file. All and any other auxiliary files are run automatically as a function
of user's actions.
The application has a multi-window interface which is convenient for comparison of
various profiles, e.g. before and after processing, single section covered using different antennas,
etc.

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2. Brief Description of Georadar
Georadar is quite a sophisticated engineering device. Below, its simplified structural
schematic is presented, which allows getting a general idea of its principle of operation but does
not reflect its complexity.
Fig. 2.1. Simplified structural schematic of Georadar.
The transmitter sends extremely short electric pulses exciting the antenna. The transmitting
antenna radiates ultra-wideband one-and-half-period electromagnetic waves, their approximate
shape is shown in Fig. 2.2.
GPS
Target
Surface
Antenna
Antenna
Georadar
Receiver
Transmitter
Synchronizer
Stroboscopic
converter

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Fig. 2.2. Shape of radiated electromagnetic wave.
These electromagnetic waves are propagating in sounded medium, thus reflecting from
various inhomogeneities (metals, cavities, various objects, layer boundaries with different
parameters, etc.). Reflected sounded waves which carry information on the medium being
sounded are received by the receiver using a receiving antenna. Receiving signal however, in
addition to reflected wave also contain a direct wave that is going by the shortest distance
directly from the transmitting to the receiving antenna. Therefore, the receiver's output signal is
combination of transmitter's pulse (as shown in Fig. 2.2) followed by reflected pulses. This
transmitter's pulse should be used as a starting point for estimating a delay of reflected signals
for the purpose of determining the target's depth of occurrence in the medium.
Fig. 2.3. Example of received signal.
Transmitter pulse is clearly visible to the left.
Passing process shown in Fig. 2.3 is very fast, and takes tens to hundreds of nanoseconds
which in technical terms makes him very difficult to process. Therefore stroboscopic converter is
used to "expand" this process in time. Synchronizer is used for controlling all Georadar
assemblies operation, while in its turn synchronizer, is controlled by the “Prism2”software
from your computer, and its description you are holding in your hands right now. Computer
running “Prism2”is the one that receives radiolocation sounding data delivered from GPR.
When analyzing received data, it is important to keep in mind that the propagation speed of
electromagnetic waves in sounded medium (other than air) is not equal to the velocity of light, in
fact –its velocity is less due to the square root of the sounded medium dielectric permittivity.
Consideration of this factor in the software is made automatically, and you will see it soon by
yourself.

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3. Convention of Terms
Some terms that are present this text are listed below, since they have different
interpretations in various literature sources.
1. Sample: Unit value comprising reflected signal amplitude at a definite time.
2. Trace: A set of samples comprising one-dimensional information about reflected signals.
Examples of traces are shown in Figs. 2.3 and 4.1.
3. Profile: A set of samples comprising two-dimensional information about reflected signals
generated while passing a survey line. A profile may contain any quantity of traces. Profile
examples in various types of display are shown in Figs. 4.2 and 4.3. The final result of
sounding shall be a profile (or a certain number of profiles) as a file (or files). Subsequent
steps will be data processing (if required), printout (if required) and interpretation.
4. Zero point: Trace sample corresponding the time of transmitter’s maximum emission. It is
this very sample that has zero number on the scale along the traces, i.e. reflected signal’s
delay time should be counted from this sample. As mentioned above, the transmitter’s pulse
is approximately a one-and-half-period (i.e. three-lobe) signal. Therefore, zero point should
be set to the second lobe of the transmitter’s pulse. The Zero point setting procedure is
described in Section 10 of the present User’s Manual. It is a rather important parameter
which must be considered when measuring the time delays of signals to determine target’s
depth in the sounding medium. Zero point location examples are shown in Figs. 4.1, 4.2, 4.3.
5. Wiggle plot: Way of profile display where traces are running vertically with some spacing
between them. Drawing of each trace is made by a curve deviating to the right or to the left
from the trace centerline, depending on the sample value in each point of the trace. Here,
positive half-waves are painted in the color corresponding to the maximum positive level of
the color scale selected. Examples of wave profile are shown in Fig. 4.2.
6. Line scan: Way of profile display where traces are running vertically close to each other
and are drawn by vertical lines. Color in each point of a line shall depend on the amplitude
of a respective trace sample conforming to the color scale selected. Examples of density
profile are shown in Fig. 4.3.
7. Mark: Distinctive feature of any profile’s trace, designating certain uniqueness of a given
trace and therefore of a given point of the survey line. Marks are used to bind a profile to the
terrain. In the course of sounding, you may press a button to enter marks when passing
certain landmarks on terrain or pre-located stations. Further on, when the profile is
visualized on a display, these marks will be shown together with the profile. Mark display
examples are shown in Fig. 4.3.

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4. Radiolocation Data Display Examples
Fig. 4.1. Trace display example.
Fig. 4.2. Wiggle plot profile display example (black-and-white and color scales).
Fig.4.3 Density profile display example (black-and-white and color scales).
Note: Our experience shows that usually the most informative sounding data display type
is the density profile in the black-and-white scale (see Fig. 4.3, left side).

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5. Software Installation in Computer
To install “Prism2”Package on the hard disk of the computer sequentially perform the
following operations:
Insert “Prism2” CD in the computer CD-ROM.
If Auto Run is disabled, Press button Start on the main panel and then press Run(if
there is no Run at you Start menu you can always press Windows Key + R); type
d:\setup in Open line of appeared Run window, where dis the letter of your disk
drive, and then press button OK.
Follow instructions of the installation program. When asked, enter the Activating code
that is attached to the CD. You can also get activating code via E-mail, phone or fax.
5.1. Configuring the computer for wire connection with Zond-12e Georadar
Control Unit
Starting from 2015 “Zond-12e Advanced”GPR (serial numbers from 0537) contains
internal network router that is able to automatically configure Local Area Connection
settings on your (every version of Windows starting from Windows XP are configured to
“Obtain an IP address automatically”). For “Zond-12e Single Channel”, “Zond-12e Double
Channel”or earlier versions of “Zond-12e Advanced”GPRs or if you for any reason have
changed the Local Area Connection settings, you will have to manually configure them to be
able to connect to the “Zond-12”GPR. To do so, you need:
For Windows XP:
1. Click the Start button, point to Settings and then click Control Panel.
2. Double click the Network connections icon.
3. Double click your Local Area Connection icon and then click Properties button.
4. Select Internet protocol [TCP/IP] and click the Properties button.
5. For GPRs manufactured after 2015 - click the Obtain an IP address
automatically option and continue from the point 9.
6. For GPRs manufactured before 2015 - click the Use the following IP address
option.
7. Click the IP Address box and enter 192.168.0.2 (if this address is occupied or is not
accessible, you could use any address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254, except
occupied address 192.168.0.10. Please, consult with your network administrator
before changing IP addresses).
8. Click the Subnet mask box and enter 255.255.255.0.
9. Press OK button.
10. Press Close button.
For Windows Vista / 7:
1. Click the Start button, and then click on the Control Panel.
2. Chose the sub item View network status and tasks, of Network and Internet item.
3. Click the link Change adapter settings in the left part of Network and Sharing
Center.

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4. Select your Local Area Connection icon and click right mouse button on it. Select
the item Properties of the pop-up menu.
5. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click the Properties button.
6. For GPRs manufactured after 2015 - click the Obtain an IP address
automatically option and continue from the point 10.
7. For GPRs manufactured before 2015 - click the Use the following IP address
option.
8. Click the IP Address box and enter 192.168.0.2 (if this address is occupied or is not
accessible, you could use any address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254, except
occupied address 192.168.0.10. Please, consult with your network administrator
before changing IP addresses).
9. Click the Subnet mask box and enter 255.255.255.0.
10. Press OK button.
11. Press Close button.
12. Close the Network and Sharing Center window
For Windows 8 / 8.1 / 10:
1. Right-click on bottom left corner (on your Desktop), and then press Control Panel.
2. Chose the sub item View network status and tasks, of Network and Internet item.
3. Click the link Change adapter settings in the left part of Network and Sharing
Center.
4. Select your Local Area Connection icon and click right mouse button on it. Select
the item Properties of the pop-up menu.
5. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click the Properties button.
6. For GPRs manufactured after 2015 - click the Obtain an IP address
automatically option and continue from the point 10.
7. For GPRs manufactured before 2015 - click the Use the following IP address
option.
8. Click the IP Address box and enter 192.168.0.2 (if this address is occupied or is not
accessible, you could use any address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254, except
occupied address 192.168.0.10. Please, consult with your network administrator
before changing IP addresses).
9. Click the Subnet mask box and enter 255.255.255.0.
10. Press the OK button.
11. Click the Close button.
12. Close the Network and Sharing Center window
If for any reason you don’t like new IP address of your computer you may reset your old
IP address following procedures described above. But before you reset your old computer IP
address you have to change Control Unit IP address. As default it is 192.168.0.10. For
information about the default Control Unit IP address changing, refer to Changing the Control
Unit IP address in Appendix A (p.55).
5.2. Configuring the computer for wireless connection with Zond-12e or
Python Georadar Control Unit
Starting from 2015 “Zond-12e Advanced”GPR (serial numbers from 0537) and
“Python-3” (with serial numbers from 0027) GPRs contain internal network router that is

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able to automatically configure Wireless Network Connection settings on your computer
(every version of Windows starting from Windows XP are configured to “Obtain an IP address
automatically”).For earlier versions of “Zond-12e Advanced”and “Python-3”GPR or if you
for any reason have changed the Wireless Network Connection settings, you will have to
manually configure them to be able to connect to the “Zond-12”and “Python-3”GPRs. To do
so, you need:
For Windows XP:
1. Click the Start button, point to Settings and then click Control Panel.
2. Double click the Network connections icon.
3. Double click your wireless Wi-Fi connection icon and then click the Properties
button
4. Select Internet protocol [TCP/IP] and click the Properties button.
5. For GPRs manufactured after 2015 - click the Obtain an IP address
automatically option and continue from the point 9.
6. For GPRs manufactured before 2015 - click the Use the following IP address
option.
7. Click the IP Address box and enter 192.168.0.2 (if this address is occupied or is not
accessible, you could use any address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254, except
occupied address 192.168.0.10. Please, consult with your network administrator
before changing IP addresses).
8. Click the Subnet mask box and enter 255.255.255.0.
9. Press OK button.
10. Press OK button.
11. Click the right button of mouse on your wireless Wi-Fi connection and then click
Connect button.
12. Select Zond-12e or Python network and click the Connect button.
13. If you are using factory deffault Wi-Fi access point settings then follow to the next
point, otherwise chose the secutity method for Wi-Fi connection end enter pass code
if needed.
14. Press OK button.
15. Press Close button.
For Windows Vista / Windows 7:
1. Click the Start button, and then click on the Control Panel.
2. Chose the sub item View network status and tasks, of Network and Internet item.
3. Click the link Change adapter settings in the left part of Network and Sharing
Center.
4. Select your wireless Wi-Fi connection icon and click right mouse button on it. Select
the item Properties of the pop-up menu.
5. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4 and then click the Properties button.
6. For GPRs manufactured after 2015 - click the Obtain an IP address
automatically option and continue from the point 10.
7. For GPRs manufactured before 2015 - click the Use the following IP address
option.
8. Click the IP Address box and enter 192.168.0.2 (if this address is occupied or is not
accessible, you could use any address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254, except
occupied address 192.168.0.10. Please, consult with your network administrator
before changing IP addresses).
9. Click the Subnet mask box and enter 255.255.255.0.