Patent ID: 6909669
Filing Date: 2005-06-21
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A system, at least part of which is buried as a probe, for instantaneously detecting a level of scour, in particular, scour about a structure that may be at least partially submerged in water, comprising: at least one first conductor of electromagnetic energy having a characteristic impedance, a source end, a distal end configured to have an impedance different from said characteristic impedance, and a length much greater than any of said first conductor's other dimensions, wherein at least part of said at least one first conductor is buried as part of said probe; at least one electromagnetically conducting ground plane electromagnetically isolated from and adjacent said at least one first conductor, wherein at least part of said at least one electromagnetically conducting ground plane may be buried as part of said probe; and at least one sub-system, in operable communication with said source end of said first electromagnetic conductor, for providing analog signals to and processing analog signals from said at least one first conductor, said processing to include capturing reflections of said analog signals from said at least one first conductor, wherein at least part of said at least one sub-system may be buried integral with and atop said probe, wherein said processing yields information for decision making, and wherein said system is particularly suited for use in lossy soils.