Action TU1208
Civil Engineering Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar
COST Success Story
Training School on Ground Penetrating Radar
for Civil Engineering and Archaeology
Msida, Malta, January 25-29, 2016
COST Action TU1208 organised a Training School on Ground Penetrating Radar for Civil Engineering and Archaelogy (Valletta Campus of the University of Malta, Valletta, Malta, January 25th-29th, 2016).
During this course, the following topics were presented: GPR fundamentals, how to conduct a survey, stepped-frequency versus pulsed radar systems, overview on the applications of GPR in civil engineering and archaelogy, processing and
interpretation of GPR data, electromagnetic modelling of GPR scenarios, European regulations for GPR manufacturers and end users, and safety issues in near-surface geophisical prospecting.
Two half-days were devoted to practical training: surveys were carried out in the Nymphaeum of the Argotti botanical gardens in Floriana and in the Jesuits' church in Valletta. During the practical sessions, both a commercial pulsed GPR system and a stepped-frequency GPR prototype were used. Hence, the school represented a valuable opportunity to get acquainted with stepped-frequency systems which are rarely used. Both radar systems were brought to Malta from Italy. The Training School included a half-day touristic tour of Malta.
The Coordinators of the Training School were Dr Sebastiano D'Amico (University of Malta, Malta, TU1208 MC Member), Dr Raffaele Persico (CNR, Italy, TU1208 WG Member) and Dr Lara Pajewski (Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy, TU1208 MC Chair).
The Team of Trainers was composed by Dr Sebastiano D'Amico, Dr Raffaele Persico, Dr Lara Pajewski, Prof Vega Pérez-Gracia (Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, Spain, TU1208 MC Substitute Member), Prof Janet Mifsud (Country representative for Malta, COST NCP and CSO Ministry), Dr Ruben Paul Borg (University of Malta, Malta).
Class Scheduling
Monday, 25 January 2016
Introduction to the COST programme and to the Action TU1208. GPR basic principles. Electromagnetic properties of media. Pulsed and stepped-frequency GPR systems.
Time | Trainer | Activity |
09:00 - 09:30 |
| Welcome and registration |
09:30 - 10:00 | All Trainers and Local Authorities | Introduction to the Training School, presentation of Trainers and Trainees. |
10:00 - 11:00 | L. Pajewski | Introduction to COST - European Cooperation in Science and Technology. Introduction to COST Action TU1208. |
11:00 - 11:30 |
| Tea and coffee break* |
11:30 - 13:30 | L. Pajewski | GPR basic principles. Electromagnetic properties of media. |
13:30 - 14:30 |
| Lunch break |
14:30 - 16:30 | R. Persico | Pulsed and stepped-frequency GPR: differences, pro and cons, theoretical and practical aspects of GPR prospecting with both systems. |
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
Non-destructive testing in civil engineering. COST activities in Malta. Practical training 1.
Time | Trainer | Activity |
09:00 - 11:00 | V. Pérez-Gracia | GPR applications in civil engineering. |
11:00 - 11:30 |
| Tea and coffee break* |
11:30 - 13:00 | R. P. Borg | Non-destructive testing of concrete. |
13:00 - 14:30 |
| Lunch break |
14:30 - 15:00 | J. Mifsud | COST activities in Malta |
15:00 - 18:00 | All | Practical training 1 (Jesuit's church). |
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Practical training 2. GPR data processing. Integrating prospecting by combining GPR with other NDT methods.
Time | Trainer | Activity |
09:00 - 13:00 | All | Practical training 2 (Argotti botanical gardens). |
13:00 - 14:30 |
| Sandwich Lunch |
14:30 - 16:00 | R. Persico | GPR data processing 1. |
16:00 - 16:30 |
| Tea and coffee break* |
16:30 - 17:30 | S. D'amico | Integrated prospecting by combining GPR with other non-destructive testing methods. |
Thursday, 28 January 2016
Non-destructive testing in archaelogy. Electromagnetic modelling of GPR.
Time | Trainer | Activity |
09:30 - 11:00 | V. Pérez-Gracia | GPR applications in archaeology. |
11:00 - 11:30 |
| Tea and coffee break* |
11:30 - 13:30 | L. Pajewski | Electromagnetic modelling of GPR scenarios. |
13:30 - 15:00 |
| Lunch break |
15:00 - 16:30 | L. Pajewski | Introduction to the freeware tools gprMax and to E2GPR. |
16:30 - 17:30 | L. Pajewski | Open discussion with Trainees about their research activities in the GPR field. |
20:00 |
| Common dinner in pizzeria. |
Friday, 29 January 2016
Touristic Tour in Malta. Processing of data collected during practical sessions. Safety recommendations and European regulations.
Time | Trainer | Activity |
09:00 - 12:30 | All | Half-day tour in Malta |
12:30 - 13:30 |
| Lunch |
13:30 - 15:00 | R. Persico | GPR data processing 2. |
15:00 - 15:30 |
| Tea and coffee break* |
15:30 - 17:00 | R. Persico | Practical hints for GPR surveying, safety recommendations and European regulations. |
* A permanent Poster Session was held. Trainees prepared posters, to present their research and professional activities on GPR.
Training School Grants for PhD Students & ECI
COST Action TU1208 is proud to offer free courses: this school did not have a registration fee and students from all Countries were very welcome to attend it for free.
COST Action TU1208 offered 12 grants of 650,00 EUR to Trainees from COST Countries and approved institutions in Near-Neighbour Countries (NNC); for the list of COST Countries and NNC, please visit www.cost.eu. Trainees coming from Malta could not apply for a grant.
To submit a Grant application, the following items had to be sent to school@gpradar.eu:
- Curriculum vitae including the list of publications.
- Motivation letter written by the Applicant.
- Support letter written by the PhD Supervisor (for PhD Student) or by a colleague (for Early-Career Investigators, i.e., Trainees who received their PhD no more than 8 years ago).
The selection of Granted applications was based on the COST key principles of excellence and inclusiveness. COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon2020 and its policy contributes to the "Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation" Horizon 2020 goal. To identify excellent applicants, we ask applicants to submit a curriculum vitae, a motivation letter and a support letter. At the same time, we aim at achieving inclusiveness. This objective is developed by COST around three main elements: support to Early-Career Investigators, fostering of gender balance and support to researchers coming from less-research intensive COST Member Countries.
List of Granted Trainees
1. Salih Serkan Artagan (Turkey & Czech Republic)
2. Davids Berzins (Latvia)
3. Michal Dabrowski (Poland)
4. Emanuela Longo (Italy)
5. Fabio Martorelli (Italy)
6. Giovanni Musolino (Italy)
7. Francesco Panzera (Italy)
8. Igor Prokopovich (Russia, NNC)
9. Santo Prontera (Italy)
10. Hamza Reci (Albania, NNC)
11. Victor Salinas Naval (Spain)
12. Alessio Ventura (Italy)
Further Trainees who attended the Training School
13. Adriana Alescio (Malta)
14. Daniel Banaante (Malta)
15. John Betts (Malta)
16. Joan Cassar (Malta)
17. Joanna Causon Deguara (Malta)
18. Nathalie Deboro (Malta)
19. Daniela Farrugia (Malta)
20. Glen Farrugia (Malta)
21. Pauline Galea (Malta)
22. Nico Muscat (Malta)
23. Jennifer Porter (Malta)
24. Mohamed Rouai (Morocco, NNC)
25. Christian Schembri (Malta)
26. Kenneth Spiteri (Malta)
27. Giovanna Vessia (Italy)
28. Adriana Zammit (Malta)
29. Rosarianna Zumbo (Malta)
30. Lara Marie Walker (Malta)
- 30 Trainees
- 10 Countries (7 COST, 3 NNC)
For information concerning the COST Action TU1208, please take contact with the Chair of the Action, Dr. Lara Pajewski - This website is supported by COST, European COoperation in Science and Technology - COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme Horizon2020