Free Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Datasets The open library of real-world GPR data for education, research and software testing

GPR, or Ground Penetrating Radar, is a non-destructive geophysical method that uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves to detect and map buried structures or material layers. A signal is emitted into the ground by an antenna, and reflections from interfaces (rebar, pipes, voids, soil changes) are recorded and displayed as a radargram. GPR is widely used in civil engineering, utility detection, geotechnics and archaeology.

For concrete inspection (rebar location, void detection, thickness measurement), high-frequency antennas between 1.5 GHz and 2.7 GHz are preferred. These antennas offer fine resolution suited to the limited investigation depth of concrete (typically 30 to 50 cm). GSSI's FLEX NX (2.5 GHz) / NX25 (2.5 GHz) / NX15 (1.5 GHz) product line is perfectly suited to this type of application. For thicker slabs or massive structures, an 800 MHz or 900 MHz antenna may be preferred.

For buried utility detection (pipes, cables, ducts), medium-frequency antennas of 200 to 400 MHz are the most suitable. They allow depths of 2 to 5 metres depending on the soil, with sufficient resolution to distinguish utilities from each other. The choice of frequency depends on the trade-off between investigation depth and resolution: the lower the frequency, the deeper the penetration, but with reduced resolution.

The .DZT format is the native file format for GSSI equipment. To visualise and process it, MDS publishes GPRviewer, a free software that displays 2D radargrams and enables basic processing (filtering, gain, visualisation). GPRviewer is the ideal entry point for discovering and using GPR data without any software investment.

Yes, all datasets are downloadable free of charge after accepting the licence. They are distributed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence, which allows use, modification and sharing provided you cite the source, do not use them commercially, and share derived works under the same licence. No paid registration is required.

The CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence prohibits direct commercial use of the datasets. However, you can freely use them for internal team training, research, academic publications, demonstrations or equipment evaluation before purchase. For specific commercial use (product integration, resale), contact us at info@gprbase.com to discuss an adapted licence.

GSSI (Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc.) is an American manufacturer of ground penetrating radars, a world leader in the sector since 1970. GPRbase focuses on GSSI data for consistency: the equipment and its file formats (.DZT, .DZG, .DZX) are standardised, which guarantees a uniform experience for users and simplifies processing. MDS - Le Matériel de Sondage, the initiator of GPRbase, is a GSSI distributor and trainer in France.

Any contribution is welcome. Go to the Submit Data page, briefly describe your dataset (application, antenna, context) and send us your files. After quality validation, your data is added to the catalogue with mention of your contribution. You retain authorship of your radargrams and can withdraw a dataset at any time.