Site Characterization At The Rabbit Valley Geophysics Performance Evaluation Range

The United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) is developing a Geophysics Performance Evaluation<br>Range (GPER) at Rabbit Valley located 30 miles west of Grand Junction, Colorado. The purpose of the range is<br>to provide a test area for geophysical instruments and survey procedures. Assessment of equipment accuracy and<br>resolution is accomplished through the use of static and dynamic physical models. These models include targets<br>with fixed configurations and targets that can be re-configured to simulate specific specifications. Initial testing<br>(199 1) combined with the current tests at the Rabbit Valley GPER will establish baseline data and will provide<br>performance criteria for the development of geophysical technologies and techniques.<br>The U.S. DOE’s Special Technologies Laboratory (STL) staff has conducted a ground penetrating radar<br>(GPR) survey of the site with its stepped FM-CW GPR. Additionally, STL contracted several other geophysical<br>tests. These include an airborne GPR survey incorporating a “chirped” FM-CW GPR system and a magnetic survey<br>with a surfaced-towed magnetometer array unit. Ground-based and aerial video and still frame pictures were also<br>acquired. STL compiled and analyzed all of the geophysical maps and created a site characterization database.<br>This paper discusses the results of the multi-sensor geophysical studies performed at Rabbit Valley and the<br>future plans for the site.