Technical Details

Millennium Project Number: M-2001-004

Project Title: Development on Handheld Pipe Locator - Lawrence Livermore

Project Start Date: 2001

Projected End Date: 2003

Technical Details:
The objective of this project is to evaluate a range of MicroImpulse Radar (MIR) antennas that have been developed for defense applications in order to determine their applicability to finding underground gas infrastructure and in particular, plastic pipes.

The MIR approach utilitizes ultra-wide band radars that are exceptionally small and lightweight. Typical MIR imaging systems are used for near surface applications (less than 1 ½ feet from the surface) such as bridges, mine detection, and wall surveying. The smallest antennas represent those with high frequency that perform at shallow depths. To accurately detect facilities at deeper depths, lower frequency antennas (1 GHz or less) must be used. These antennas are larger but large to Lawrence Livermore is approximately 10 inches in size. As part of this effort, Lawrence Livermore will also use 3-dimensional imaging or diffraction tomography to provide a full featured map of what the antenna is identifying underground. Also as part of this project, laboratory testing will be conducted on a number of potential antennas and the most promising will be field tested at a pipe farm. If this proof-of-concept phase is successful, NYGAS would seek means for licensing the technology to a commercial developer and supporting further development into a handheld pipe locator.

This project is being cofunded 50% by the DOE National Energy Technology Lab.

                                           View Funding for Millennium Project M-2001-004