US 6,549,012 B2 · Radio system for characterizing and outlining underground industrial developments and facilities

Abstract

Most mines and underground facilities employ standardized construction techniques and materials. Such also cannot avoid having some above ground openings to receive utilities, fresh air, supplies, etc. Those or other surface openings are also universally used to discharge ground water, wastes, and other materials. Typical underground facilities have abundant electrical wiring and power demands, both of which can be detected at the surface. Levees with leakage pathways also form electrical conductors. When properly illuminated with remotely generated electromagnetic (EM) radiation, many of these features will “glow” or reradiate the radio energy in an electronic signature unique to the underground facility. Synchronized EM-gradiometer transponders are situated nearby on the ground surface to collect and analyze the “glow”. Alternative transmitting devices further includes ways to generate the illumination, and computers for characterizing the return signatures.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for detecting and characterizing underground man-made structures and facilities, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a minimum set of construction features common to all members of a class of underground man-made structures and facilities;
cataloging into a database at least one of an electronic signature and a photographic signature for each of said construction features in accessible members of said class of underground man-made structures and facilities;
radio illuminating individual ones of said minimum set of construction features included in an inaccessible underground man-made structure or facility;
collecting above ground a reradiation of radio signals produced by said individual ones of said minimum set of construction features;
comparing at least one of said electronic signature and said photographic signature for each of said construction features obtained in the step of collecting with corresponding ones stored in the step of cataloging;
and
deducing at least one of a location, depth, orientation, nature of overburden, and type for said inaccessible underground man-made structure or facility.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Radio system for characterizing and outlining underground industrial developments and facilities

Life of this patent

Radio system for characterizing and outlining underground industrial developments and facilities

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18