A Multi-template Correlation Time Delay Estimation in GPR System under a Building Collapse Model

Abstract

This paper proposes a multi-template correlationbased time delay estimation method that enhances the accuracy and robustness of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) signal interpretation in noisy environments. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on a single reference waveform, the proposed method utilizes the original signal along with its higher-order derivatives to better match diverse echo patterns. Simulation experiments using a four-layer collapse model generated in gprMax confirm that the proposed method achieves lower mean percentage error (MPE) than traditional techniques under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. By addressing the challenges of echo distortion and environmental noise, the proposed approach demonstrates strong potential for reliable subsurface detection in post-disaster search and rescue scenarios.