Geometryzacja form zjawisk krasowych na podstawie badań metodą georadarową

Recognition of subsoil in areas threatened with discontinuous deformation associated with the existence of natural and mining voids can be implemented by various geophysical methods. The purpose of such research, apart from confirming the existence of voids, is to determine their spatial extent. This is not a simple issue, regardless of the geophysical method used. This paper discusses the possibilities of geometrization of karst phenomenon localization using the ground penetrating radar (GPR) method by the example of a karst cave as a natural void. The area of data acquisition is located on limestone formations with numerous karstforms. The study object is the main hall of the karst cave with a height of up to 3 m, located at a depth of 3 to 7 m below the surface. Such location and shape of the subsurface structure made it possible for the author to perform a wide range of research. Their original aspects are presented in this paper. The shape of the hall was obtained using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). The GPR data were obtained employing the 250 MHz shielded antenna that was directly positioned using a robotized total station with the option of automatic target tracking. Thus, the GPR and geodetic data were immediately achieved in a uniform coordinate system. The accuracy of the data obtained in this way is discussed in this paper. The author’s original algorithm for processing of GPR data into a point cloud is presented. Based on the results obtained, it was possible to compare the GPR signal, which represents the shape of the cave hall, in relation to its image in the form of a point cloud from terrestrial laser scanning. A unique part of this paper is the selection of filtration procedures and their parameters in optimal GPR data processing, which were widely discussed and documented in a way beyond the standard filtration procedures. A significant contribution is the analysis that was carried out on the data obtained in the field and on the model data generated using the finite difference method. Modeling was carried out for two wave sources: exploding reflector and point. The presented methodology and discrimination between the actual shape of the cave, GPR field data and model data made it possible for the author to draw many conclusions related to the possibilities of shape geometrization of the subsurface voids determined by the GPR method.