Acta Musei Moraviae

Use of ground-penetrating radar for exploration of abandoned mines

Abandoned mine workings are a specific geohazard that can have a negative impact on the stability of the surface. In order to ensure safe constructional, agricultural, and other land use, it is important to precisely determine the spatial dimensions and the overall stability of these mines. The results of the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey were correlated with a digital elevation model of the area in order to evaluate the impact of the abandoned mine workings on the current surface. This comparison allowed to assess the current stability of the surveyed subsurface and to identify potential risks. The results of this study prove GPR to be an effective method in abandoned mine exploration as it can not only identify the mine workings, but also evaluate the subsurface stability and point at possible hazards.