Real time ice thickness measurements

Ice, Roads & Bridges Safety

Winter ice roads and bridges are a common transportation link in the northern regions of Canada, Alaska, Europe and Russia. The Sensors & Software IceMap™ GPR system is designed to measure the ice thickness on these temporary, yet vital, links and ensure the safety of travelers using these icy roads and bridges.

The GPR-based ice thickness sensor is housed in a toboggan that is towed across the ice surface behind a truck or snowmobile. The ice thickness data is sent wirelessly from the sensor to the operator’s computer and displayed in real-time as a cross-sectional image.

The current ice thickness under the sensor is displayed numerically and graphically. As well, the minimum and maximum ice depth values for the current line are displayed. An alarm sounds when the ice drops below the user-defined minimum ice thickness value.

Rapid data acquisition enables the unit to be towed at speeds up to 80 km per hour. Low power requirements make it possible for a 12V battery to power the system.

IceMap™ Data Collection Software

To collect IceMap™ data, the user simply sets the desired vehicle speed (in km/h or mph), scan depth and step size (measurement interval). All other parameters are automatically optimized for best quality data.

Data Review

After collecting IceMap™ data, the Playback bar plots the areas where the ice is thinner than the threshold value (orange line). Quickly determine where the problem areas are.

Data Editing

After collecting IceMap™ data, the operator can click on a Toolbar button to edit:

• User defines the area to delete picks or repick by dragging the box edges on the touchscreen

Reports