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Luca Bianchini Ciampoli

Bio: Luca Bianchini Ciampoli is an academic researcher from Roma Tre University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ground-penetrating radar & Ballast. The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 60 publications receiving 547 citations.

Papers published on a yearly basis

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This work provides an overview on the main signal processing techniques employed in road engineering, and theoretical insights and instructions on the proper use of the processing in relation to the quality of the data acquired and the purposes of the surveys.

189 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
19 Feb 2019
TL;DR: Results have proven the viability of the proposed signal processing method for data acquired on flexible pavements using GPR, provided recommendations on use of specific processing stages depending on survey requirements and quality of the raw dataset.
Abstract: Effective quality assurance and quality control inspections of new roads as well as assessment of remaining service-life of existing assets is taking priority nowadays. Within this context, use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) is well-established in the field, although standards for a correct management of datasets collected on roads are still missing. This paper reports a signal processing method for data acquired on flexible pavements using GPR. To demonstrate the viability of the method, a dataset collected on a real-life flexible pavement was used for processing purposes. An overview of the use of non-destructive testing (NDT) methods in the field, including GPR, is first given. A multi-stage method is then presented including: (i) raw signal correction; (ii) removal of lower frequency harmonics; (iii) removal of antenna ringing; (iv) signal gain; and (v) band-pass filtering. Use of special processing steps such as vertical resolution enhancement, migration and time-to-depth conversion are finally discussed. Key considerations about the effects of each step are given by way of comparison between processed and unprocessed radargrams. Results have proven the viability of the proposed method and provided recommendations on use of specific processing stages depending on survey requirements and quality of the raw dataset.

71 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new surveying methodology is proposed based on the integration of multi-source, multi-scale and multi-temporal information collected using the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), InSAR and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques.
Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the existing health monitoring and assessment methods for masonry arch bridges. In addition, a novel “integrated” holistic non-destructive approach for structural monitoring of bridges using ground-based non-destructive testing (NDT) and the satellite remote sensing techniques is presented. The first part of the paper reports a review of masonry arch bridges and the main issues in terms of structural behaviour and functionality as well as the main assessment methods to identify structural integrity-related issues. A new surveying methodology is proposed based on the integration of multi-source, multi-scale and multi-temporal information collected using the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR – 200, 600 and 2000 MHz central-frequency antennas) and the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR – C-band SAR sensors) techniques. A case study (the “Old Bridge” at Aylesford, Kent, UK – a 13th century bridge) is presented demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method in the assessment of masonry arch bridges. GPR has proven essential at providing structural detailing in terms of subsurface geometry of the superstructure as well as the exact positioning of the structural ties. InSAR has identified measures of structural displacements caused by the seasonal variation of the water level in the river and the river bed soil expansions. The above process forms the basis for the “integrated” holistic structural health monitoring approach proposed by this paper.

49 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the integration of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques for the monitoring of the rail-abutment transition area in railway bridges is reported.
Abstract: This paper reports the integration of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques for the monitoring of the rail-abutment transition area in railway bridges. To this purpose, an experimental campaign was conducted on a rail truss bridge located in Puglia, Southern Italy. On one hand, GPR was used to obtain structural details of the subsurface (thickness of the ballasted layer, position of the sleepers, presence of clay/humidity spots) and to identify potential construction-related issues. Parallel to this, InSAR analyses were mainly addressed to monitor subsidence at the rail-abutment transition area. Outcomes of this investigation outlined presence of subsidence at both the areas of transition and have proven the proposed integrated approach as viable to achieve a more comprehensive assessment of the structural integrity of railway bridges.

44 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the integration between satellite remote sensing and ground-based techniques is discussed and the potential of using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and high-frequency ground penetrating radar (GPR) techniques as self-standing and integrated survey methodologies is discussed.
Abstract: This study reviews research developments in non-destructive assessment of linear transport infrastructures. The main focus will be on the integration between satellite remote sensing and ground-based techniques. Specifically, the potential of using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and high-frequency ground penetrating radar (GPR) techniques as self-standing and integrated survey methodologies will be discussed. To this effect, an overview on data fusion techniques will be given. The last section of the paper reports recent results achieved by using both GPR systems and the permanent scatterers InSAR technique on a real-life railway.

44 citations


Cited by
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01 Jan 2001
TL;DR: In this paper, the evolution of the Ancona landslide (central Italy) was analyzed by processing 61 ERS images acquired in the time span between June 1992 and December 2000.
Abstract: Spaceborne differential synthetic aperture radar interferometry (DInSAR) has already proven its potential for mapping ground deformation phenomena, e.g. volcano dynamics. However, atmospheric disturbances as well as phase decorrelation have prevented hitherto this technique from achieving full operational capability. These drawbacks are overcome by carrying out measurements on a subset of image pixels corresponding to pointwise stable reflectors (Permanent Scatterers, PS) and exploiting long temporal series of interferometric data. Results obtained by processing 55 images acquired by the European Space Agency (ESA) ERS SAR sensors over Southern California show that the PS approach pushes measurement accuracy very close to its theoretical limit (about 1 mm), allowing the description of millimetric deformation phenomena occurring in a complex fault system. A comparison with corresponding displacement time series relative to permanent GPS stations of the Southern California Integrated GPS network (SCIGN) is carried out. Moreover, the pixel-by-pixel character of the PS analysis allows the exploitation of individual phase stable radar targets in low-coherence areas. This makes spaceborne interferometric measurements possible in vegetated areas, as long as a sufficient spatial density of individual isolated man-made structures or exposed rocks is available. The evolution of the Ancona landslide (central Italy) was analysed by processing 61 ERS images acquired in the time span between June 1992 and December 2000. The results have been compared with deformation values detected during optical levelling campaigns ordered by the Municipality of Ancona. The characteristics of PS, GPS and optical levelling surveying are to some extent complementary: a synergistic use of the three techniques could strongly enhance quality and reliability of ground deformation monitoring. D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

419 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper reviews the latest development of the GPR’s primary infrastructure applications, namely buildings, pavements, bridges, tunnel liners, geotechnical and buried utilities and outlines the path to a more rigorous development in terms of standardization, accreditation, and procurement policy.
Abstract: The GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) conference in Hong Kong year 2016 marked the 30th anniversary of the initial meeting in Tifton, Georgia, USA on 1986. The conference has been being a bi-annual event and has been hosted by sixteen cities from four continents. Throughout these 30 years, researchers and practitioners witnessed the analog paper printout to digital era that enables very efficient collection, processing and 3D imaging of large amount of data required in GPR imaging in infrastructure. GPR has systematically progressed forward from “Locating and Testing” to “Imaging and Diagnosis” with the Holy Grail of ’Seeing the unseen’ becoming a reality. This paper reviews the latest development of the GPR’s primary infrastructure applications, namely buildings, pavements, bridges, tunnel liners, geotechnical and buried utilities. We review both the ability to assess structure as built character and the ability to indicate the state of deterioration. Finally, we outline the path to a more rigorous development in terms of standardization, accreditation, and procurement policy.

293 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review the recent advances in nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) as applied to the inspection of thick composite parts and sandwich structures and determine possible research prospects to address the limitations of current technologies.

126 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a literature review on pavement distresses and related detection methods is presented, and a gap analysis is conducted which is concluded that in particular the distresses related to pavement microtexture need serious additional research in order to be implemented in a cost-effective fashion.
Abstract: In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on pavement distress detection. A large part of these studies applied automated methods to capture different distresses. In this paper, a literature review on the distresses and related detection methods are presented. This review also includes commercial solutions. Thereafter, a gap analysis is conducted which is concluded that in particular the distresses related to pavement micro-texture need serious additional research in order to be implemented in a cost-effective fashion. Depth-related distresses are detectible fairly well, but rely on expensive tools.

108 citations