Experimental study on the detection of avalanche victims using an airborne ground penetrating synthetic aperture radar

Abstract

For avalanche victims a short burial time is imperative for a good chance of survival. Although airborne radar systems have been used for a long time in monitoring snow accumulation, their ability to quickly cover large areas of terrain is however not commonly employed in the search for buried victims. The presented method for detection and localization of avalanche victims utilizes a ground penetrating radar mounted on an unmanned aerial system. In order to detect buried victims, the system is operated as a synthetic aperture radar using frequency-modulated continuous-wave modulation. Therefore, it is not dependent on avalanche beacons. This approach is successfully demonstrated in an experimental study, where buried, water-filled mannequin torsos could be detected in fresh as well as compressed mixed snow in a realistic winter environment on 1900 m above mean sea level.