Objective There is a strong need in all branches of applied earth sciences for an exploration tool able to investigate the structure and characteristics of rockmasses around boreholes within a radius of several hundreds of meters. Directional borehole radar is presently the most promising technique in this field because it gives a true 3D information. Although various instruments have been developed, the RAMAC directional borehole radar system, manufactured by Malaa Geoscience (Sweden) is presently the only equipment available worldwide for general applications. There are however several limitations, inherent to the present design, which result in restricted operating depth (max. 1000-1500 m), slow data acquisition, uncertain directional interpretation in some circumstances, and high operating costs. The main technical objective of the proposed research is to develop a new borehole radar system in order to overcome these limitations. It would consist of a directionalmodule for deep operation (2500 m in this project, expandable to greater depth in a further stage), working on a standard logging cable and of a module for fast data acquisition mainly dedicated to shallow tomographic use. An efficient and environmentally friendly fluid exchange procedure in deep boreholes, necessary in order to carry out radar surveys, will be developed and tested for the exploration of salt deposits around gas storage caverns. Sofware developments, including diffraction tomography, and laboratory measurements of dielectrical characteristics of rock samples will also be carried out in order to improve the quality of the geophysical and geological interpretations. The industrial objective is not only the design of the new intrument, but also the expansion of the application range of the method, thus increasing demand for both the instrumentation and the service. This will be achieved through a comprehensive test measurement programme applied to mining, quarrying, engineering, environmental and hydrogeological problems. The parnership consists of Malaa Geoscience, developer and manufacturer, world leader in borehole radar instrumentation; K-UTEC and G-TEC, engineering and service companies, users of the equipment and developers of innovative applications; SGW, solution mining operator on the largest salt cavern field for gas storage in Germany, end user of the interpreted results; Dresdner Grundwasserforschungszentrum for the laboratory measurements and the geophysical department of Liège University for the software developments. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware developmentengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technologyradarnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciences Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0103 - Rational management of raw materials Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Malaa Geoscience AB Address 11,skolgatan 930 70 Malaa Sweden See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Dresdner Grundwasserforschungszentrume.V. Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address 10,meraner straße 01217 Dresden See on map G-Tec Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address 37,place de la gare 4900 Spa See on map Kali - Umwelttechnik GmbH Sondershausen Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Am schacht ii 99701 Sonderhausen See on map Salzgewinnungsgesellschaft Westfalen mbH Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address 9,gräser brook 48683 Ahaus See on map UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address Boulevard du rectorat - sart tilman b19 4000 Liege See on map
