Distributed/Embedded Sub-Surface Sensors for Imaging Buried Objects with Reduced Mutual Coupling and Suppressed Electromagnetic Emissions

The proliferation of strategic subsurface sanctuaries has increased the need for enhanced remote sensing techniques providing for the accurate detection and identification of deeply buried objects. A new RF tomographic technique is proposed in this concept paper for developing RF CAT scans of buried objects using spectral, spatial/angular, and polarization diversity. This imaging technique uses an embedded ring of subsurface radiators, delivered by earth-penetrating non-explosive, electronic "e-bombs", as the source of strong underground radiated transmissions. Distributed surface-contact sensors are used to collect the tomographic data for relay to a circling UAV and transmission to a remote control site (using layered sensing).