Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Science and Technology addresses the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and related technologies for earthquake disaster management. It details government mechanisms for timely deployment, coordination between central and state authorities, and efforts to overcome GPR limitations. The document also highlights the integration of GPR with emerging technologies to improve search and rescue operations.
Key Points / Main Content:
GPR Deployment and Operational Readiness:
* The government is actively enhancing the timely deployment and operational readiness of GPR for search and rescue, void detection, damage assessment, and subsurface impact analysis following earthquakes.
* Drone-mounted GPR was successfully used in a recent landslide rescue operation in Sikkim, demonstrating readiness.
Coordination Framework:
* Disaster management is primarily the responsibility of State Governments, with the Central Government supplementing efforts through logistical and financial support.
* The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is equipped with GPR and other tools for specialist response, with 16 battalions strategically located.
* The Central Government encourages State/UT Governments to raise and equip State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) with similar capabilities.
GPR Contribution to Rescue Operations:
* Documented case studies of GPR directly leading to successful rescues during Indian earthquakes are limited due to complexities in debris and combined use of technologies.
* GPR was used after the 2001 Bhuj earthquake to investigate sand blow craters, and after the 2011 Sikkim earthquake to examine distressed pavements.
Addressing GPR Limitations:
* The government is addressing GPR limitations through ongoing research, improved interpretation techniques, and technology integration, involving ISRO, NGRI, NBRI, and IIT Roorkee.
* Low-frequency antennas, dual-polarized 3D GPR systems, and advanced signal processing techniques are being deployed.
Integration with Emerging Technologies:
* Research organizations are actively developing and refining GPR techniques, including polarimetric GPR and time-domain full waveform inversion.
* GPR is being integrated with 3D software modeling and geospatial data to create detailed subsurface visualizations and accurate maps.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
* Impact: Primary responsibility for disaster management; receive supplemental support from the Central Government.
* Action Required: Raise and equip SDRFs with adequate disaster response capabilities, potentially mirroring NDRF equipment.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):
* Impact: Responsible for specialist response during disasters, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
* Action Required: Maintain operational readiness and deploy resources as needed.
Research Institutions (ISRO, NGRI, NBRI, IIT Roorkee):
* Impact: Involved in research and development to improve GPR technology and techniques.
* Action Required: Continue research efforts, develop improved interpretation methods, and integrate GPR with other technologies.
Key Entities Referenced
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): A geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. It is used for search and rescue, detecting voids, assessing structural damage, and understanding the earthquake's impact.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): A specialized force constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment like GPR to provide specialist response to disasters.
State Disaster Response Force (SDRF): A state-level disaster response force, raised and equipped by State/UT Governments, to provide immediate response during disasters.
Disaster Management Act, 2005: An act of the Parliament of India to provide for the effective management of disasters and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): The national space agency of India, involved in developing and refining GPR techniques.
National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI): An Indian research institution extensively working on GPR's limitations and developing GPR techniques.
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee): An Indian educational institution working on GPR's limitations.
Lachen, Sikkim: A town in Sikkim, India where a landslide rescue operation utilized Drone mounted GPR to locate potential victims.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2793
ANSWERED ON 06/08/2025
EARTHQUAKES-GPR TECHNOLOGY
2793. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has any mechanisms or plans have in
place to ensure the timely deployment and operational readiness of
GPR and related geophysical equipment immediately following the
occurrence of an earthquake, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the coordination framework between Central and
State disaster management authorities, particularly for sharing and
optimal utilization of scarce technical resources such as GPR
equipment and trained operators;
(c) the details of the documented examples or case studies where
the identification of voids using GPR directly contributed to the
successful rescue of trapped individuals during earthquake disasters in
India;
(d) manner in which the Government intend to address the inherent
limitations of GPR technology, such as reduced penetration depth in
certain building materials and challenges posed by debris clutter in
collapsed urban environments; and
(e) whether the Government is exploring the integration of GPR with
other emerging technologies, such as drone surveillance, artificial
intelligence and remote sensing, to enhance the overall efficiency and
effectiveness of earthquake search and rescue operations, if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पथ्ृ िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय के राज्य मंत्री (स्ितंत्र प्रभार)
(डॉ. जितेंद्र स हं )
(a) The Government is continuously working on enhancing its
operational readiness and timely deployment of Ground Penetrating
Radar (GPR) and related geophysical equipment for search and rescue
Page 1 of 3purposes, detecting voids & buried objects, assessing structural
damage, and understanding the earthquake's impact on the subsurface
following the occurrence of an earthquake. In a recent landslide
rescue operation in Lachen, Sikkim, the Indian Army utilized Drone
mounted GPR to locate potential victims buried under debris indicating
Government’s readiness to ensure the timely deployment and
operational readiness of GPR and related geophysical equipment in
event of disasters. The Drone mounted GPR helped identifying two sub-
surface anomalies at depths of 0.76 metres and 0.015 metres to
support rescue operations.
(b) The primary responsibility of disaster management rests with the
State Government concerned. The Central Government, wherever
required, supplements the efforts of the State Governments by
providing logistic and financial support in cases of natural disasters of
severe nature. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), constituted
under section 44 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 is equipped
with state of art equipment like GPR and other geophysical tools to
provide specialist response to a threatening disaster situation or
disaster. At present, NDRF has 16 Battalions, which are located as per
vulnerability profile of the country to provide immediate response
during disasters. As per the National Policy on Disaster Management,
raising of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and equipping them is
with the State/UT Governments concerned. The Central Government
regularly follows up with the State/UT Governments to raise SDRF and
equip them with adequate disaster response capabilities. To facilitate
the State Governments, the Central Government has also shared the
list of disaster response equipment with them, with the request to
equip their SDRF in line with NDRF. Training programs and workshops
are being conducted to enhance the skills of engineers and other
professionals in using GPR and other relevant technologies.
(c) Documented examples or case studies pertaining to identification
of voids and successful rescues during Indian earthquake disasters are
not readily available due to several reason like (i) the complexities of
earthquake debris makes it challenging for GPR to accurately identify
voids and distinguish them from other subsurface anomalies and (ii)
GPR is often used in conjunction with other technologies like acoustic
sensors and micro-seismic monitoring, making it difficult to isolate
Page 2 of 3GPR's specific contribution to a successful rescue. Thus, the focus
was more on conventional search and immediate rescue of trapped
individuals. However, after the 2001 Bhuj earthquake, GPR was used to
investigate sand blow craters formed due to liquefaction in the Banni
plain and Great Rann of Kachchh. The high-resolution GPR successfully
imaged the stratigraphy and deformation up to 6.5 meters deep,
helping to understand the mechanism of sediment venting. The Sikkim
earthquake 2011 resulted in various types of failures, including slope
failures, settlement, and structural failures. GPR was used to examine
distressed pavements and depth of cracks in buildings.
(d) The Government is addressing the limitations of Ground
Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology through ongoing research,
development of improved interpretation techniques, and the
integration of GPR with other technologies. Government Agencies and
Educational Institutions like Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO), National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), National
Building Research Institute (NBRI), Indian Institute of Technology
Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) are extensively working on GPR's limitations.
Low Frequency Antennas and Dual-Polarized & 3D GPR Systems are
being deployed for addressing reduced penetration depths whereas
advanced Signal Processing techniques using Deep learning models
are being developed and used to specifically eliminate clutter in
reinforced concrete, improving the detection of voids and other
subsurface anomalies.
(e) Yes, various research organisations like ISRO, NGRI, NBRI etc.
are actively involved in developing and refining GPR techniques,
including polarimetric GPR for fracture detection and time-domain full-
waveform inversion for quantitative analysis of subsurface
properties. The use of GPR in conjunction with other technologies,
such as 3D software modelling, to create detailed subsurface
visualizations are also being explored. GPR data is being combined
with geospatial data (like topographic data) to create more accurate
subsurface maps, particularly in uneven terrains. These techniques will
help enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of earthquake
search and rescue operations.
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