26
2026
-
01
The geological radar calibration project of the Xi’an Institute of Metrology has been successfully launched, injecting a strong technological foundation into the safe management of urban underground spaces.
Recently, the Xi’an Institute of Metrology, under the Xi’an Municipal Market Supervision Administration, has achieved a major technological breakthrough: its ground-penetrating radar calibration project has officially been put into operation. As the first specialized calibration institution for ground-penetrating radar in Northwest China to simultaneously obtain both legal metrological authorization and CNAS national laboratory accreditation, the institute, after three years of intensive technical research, has successfully overcome longstanding challenges in industry‑wide calibration. This milestone provides precise metrological assurance for fields such as geological exploration, municipal infrastructure maintenance, transportation infrastructure development, and cultural heritage preservation, thereby bolstering urban underground space safety management with robust scientific and technological support.
Industry Pain Point: Underground Exploration Lacks Standardization, Hindering Safety Assurance
Ground-penetrating radar, the “technological eye” for subsurface exploration, is a core nondestructive testing tool across fields such as construction and transportation, resource exploration, urban infrastructure management, and archaeological surveying. It can precisely “see through” underground rock strata, laying a solid safety foundation for site selection in major engineering projects; accurately locate municipal utility networks—water, electricity, gas, heating, and more—thereby preventing accidental damage during construction; deeply detect hidden defects within roads and bridges, safeguarding the travel safety of millions; nondestructively assess the “health index” of airport runways, ensuring aviation safety; and even “penetrate the earth to reveal treasures” at archaeological sites, supporting the preservation of cultural heritage. 
The measurement accuracy of ground-penetrating radar directly affects engineering quality, public safety, and urban resilience, serving as the “first pair of eyes” for safeguarding underground infrastructure. However, for a long time, both domestically and internationally, there has been no unified metrological technical standard, leaving a critical gap in the traceability of GPR measurements. This has resulted in insufficient data reliability, difficulties in cross‑regional mutual recognition, and high equipment calibration costs, thereby hindering the overall advancement of the industry’s technical capabilities.
Collaborative Problem-Solving: Pooling Wisdom to Tackle Challenges and Setting a New Benchmark for Metrology in Northwest China
In response to this common challenge facing the industry, the Xi’an Institute of Metrological Technology has proactively fulfilled its duties as a statutory metrology institution, collaborating with Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an Coal Science Testing Technology Co., Ltd., the Science and Technology Research Institute of China Railway Xi’an Bureau Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an Tieyi Institute Testing Company, Shaanxi Expressway Engineering Testing and Inspection Co., Ltd., and Xi’an Zhengtong Municipal Engineering Testing and Inspection Co., Ltd., among others. Wuhan Volatility Technology Co., Ltd. A number of universities, research institutions, and leading industry enterprises have jointly undertaken a research initiative on “ground-penetrating radar-based source-tracing methods.” After three years of intensive effort, they have delivered an impressive outcome through “hardcore innovation”:
▶2023: Undertook the Shaanxi Provincial Administration for Market Regulation’s science and technology project, “Research on Metrological Calibration Methods for Ground-Penetrating Radar,” and took the lead in launching end-to-end technological research and development.
▶2024: Independently developed the “High-Precision Displacement Bracket for Wave-Speed Measurement” (granted a utility model patent, Patent No.: ZL 2025 2 0192174.6), and concurrently completed the design and fabrication of the “High-Precision Thickness Specimen Assembly” (with thickness error ≤ 0.3 mm), thereby overcoming technical barriers in key components.
▶2025: Led the development of the Shaanxi Provincial Local Calibration Specification JJF (Shaan) 131-2025, “Calibration Specification for Ground-Penetrating Radar,” thereby filling the gap in calibration methods for ground-penetrating radar in Northwest China. Based on this specification, a public metrological standard was established and accredited with both statutory metrology authorization and CNAS national laboratory accreditation, making it the first statutory metrology technical institution in Northwest China capable of performing ground-penetrating radar calibrations.
▶ Developed an innovative “georadar periodic verification standard test block” that closely replicates real‑world pavement structures—comprising asphalt concrete, water‑stabilized base, lime‑stabilized soil, and medium‑grained sand layers—and incorporates embedded multi‑material conduits, providing a “real‑world‑level” reference standard for routine equipment calibration.
Service Upgrade: From “Calibration” to “Empowerment,” Safeguarding Urban Underground Safety
At present, the Xi’an Institute of Metrology has fully launched its geological radar calibration services. In addition to providing precise calibration for relevant equipment, the institute is expanding its collaboration into six key areas: training in detection and analysis capabilities, verification of detection performance, adaptation and replacement of domestically produced instruments, digital and intelligent upgrading of equipment, and the development of industrial metrology testing centers—thereby helping the industry transition from “usable” to “easy to use and intelligently applied.”
The attainment of dual qualifications this time not only addresses the challenges of traceability and high costs associated with ground-penetrating radar in Northwest China, but also, by standardizing measurement protocols, significantly enhances the accuracy and reliability of subsurface detection data. This provides robust metrological support for major infrastructure projects, municipal utility network maintenance, transportation facility inspections, and archaeological surveys, thereby playing a vital role in mitigating urban safety risks such as pavement collapses and safeguarding public well-being.
Source: Contributed by the Xi’an Market Supervision Administration
09
/
07
Related news
Delivery and Training of the BD-GPR-900 Ground-Penetrating Radar to a Certain Unit in Qinghai
The equipment delivered this time is the BD‑GPR‑900 series ground-penetrating radar, developed by Wuhan Bofeng Technology Co., Ltd. using its proprietary technology. Our engineers conducted theoretical discussions and hands-on training with the client’s team, and the handover and training processes were completed successfully.
09
/
01
Related news
The equipment delivered this time is the BD‑GPR‑900 series ground-penetrating radar, developed by Wuhan Bofeng Technology Co., Ltd. using its proprietary technology. Our engineers conducted theoretical discussions and hands-on training with the client’s team, and the handover and training processes were completed successfully.
08
/
11
Related news
From July 27 to 28, 2026, Wave Technology attended the quarterly workshop of the National Key R&D Program project on the “Intelligent Maintenance and Management System for Airport Runways,” while simultaneously conducting field tests at Luoyang North Suburban Airport to validate the accuracy of its software algorithms, thereby providing data support for the project’s subsequent iterations.
08
/
10
Related news
Delivery and Training of the BD-GPR-100 Ground-Penetrating Radar to a Singaporean Organization
The equipment delivered this time is the BD‑GPR‑100 series ground-penetrating radar, developed by Wuhan Bofeng Technology Co., Ltd. using its proprietary technology. Our engineers conducted theoretical discussions and hands-on training with the client’s team, and the handover and training processes were completed successfully.
Focusing on creating value for customers and the industry
Contact Us
Manager Yang：18942904640
Mail：1310182090@qq.com
Address: No. 2, 22nd Floor, Yunhe Building, Yuemachang, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province