Part II – Additional Information A. LIST OF EXPERTS A.1 In this sub-section, a list of experts is given. They are sorted by Country. They have been consulted during the drafting of the proposal and have already confirmed interest in participating in the Action. For the experts that might be part of the Management Committee, full contact details are reported. For the others, only name and title, institution and e-mail are reported. COST Countries AUSTRIA Name and title: Immo Trinks, Ph.D. (Cantab), Dipl. Geophys., Head of Research and Development Institution: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology Address: Hohe Warte 38, A-1190 Vienna, Austria E-mail: immo.trinks@archpro.lbg.ac.at Telephone: +43 699 1520 6508 Name and title: Wolfgang Neubauer, Prof., Dr., Director Institution: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology Address: Hohe Warte 38, A-1190 Vienna, Austria E-mail: wolfgang.neubauer@archpro.lbg.ac.at Telephone: +43 664 60277 40304 Name and title: Alois Hinterleitner, Eng. Institution: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology E-mail: alois.hinterleitner@archpro.lbg.ac.at BELGIUM Name and title: Sébastien Lambot, Associate Professor Institution: Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Faculté d'ingénierie biologique, agronomique et environnementale - Earth and Life Institute, Environmental Sciences Address: ELIE - Croix du Sud, 2 bte L7.05.02 à 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium E-mail: sebastien.lambot@uclouvain.be Telephone: +32 10 47 37 11 Fax: +32 10 47 37 84 Name and title: Christophe Craeye, Associate Professor 1 Institution: Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Laboratoire de Télécommunications et Télédétection Address: ELIE - Croix du Sud, 2 bte L7.05.02 à 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Brussels, Belgium E-mail: christophe.craeye@uclouvain.be Telephone: +32 10 472311 Fax : +32 10 472089 Name and title: Colette Grégoire, Dr. Institution: Centre de Recherche Routière (CRR), Brussels, Belgium Email: c.gregoire@brrc.be Name and title: Frédéric Nguyen, Professor Institution: Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium Email: F.Nguyen@ulg.ac.be Name and title: Marc Van Meirvenne, Professor Institution: Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Email: Marc.VanMeirvenne@UGent.be Name and title: Hichem Sahli, Professor Institution: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium Email: hsahli@etro.vub.ac.be CZECH REPUBLIC Name and title: Josef Stryk, Dr., Head of the Department of Management Systems, Technologies and Diagnostics Institution: Transport Research Centre (TRC), Infrastructure and Environment Division, Department of Management Systems, Technologies and Diagnostics Address: Lisenska 33a, 636 00 Brno, Czech Republic E-mail: josef.stryk@cdv.cz Telephone: +420 549 429 330 Fax: +420 549 429 343 Name and title: Radek Matula, MSc., Researcher Institution: Transport Research Centre (TRC), Infrastructure and Environment Division, Department of Management Systems, Technologies and Diagnostics Address: Lisenska 33a, 636 00 Brno, Czech Republic E-mail: radek.matula@cdv.cz Telephone: +420 549 429 330 Fax: +420 549 429 343 Name and title: Vit Gregor, Dr., President of GF Instruments Ltd. Institution: GF Instruments Ltd. (Small – Medium Enterprise) E-mail: info@gfinstruments.cz Name and title: Jiri Nedved, Dr., Responsible for GPR Road Diagnostics Institution: ARCADIS Geotechnika (Small – Medium Enterprise) E-mail: diagnostika@inset.com 2 Name and title: Roman Smolik, Dr., Head of the Division of Engineering Structure Diagnostics Institution: INSET Ltd. (Small – Medium Enterprise) E-mail: smolik.roman@atlas.cz Name and title: Michal Varaus, Associate Professor, Head of the Institute of Road Structures Institution: Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Institute of Road Structures E-mail: varaus.m@fce.vutbr.cz Name and title: Ludvik Vebr, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Road Structures Institution: Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Road Structures E-mail: vebr@fsv.cvut.cz FINLAND Name and title: Antti Räisänen, Dr., Professor Institution: Aalto University, Dept. of Radio Science and Engineering, SMARAD Center of Excellence and MilliLab Address: PO Box 13000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland E-mail: antti.raisanen@aalto.fi Telephone:+358 9 470 22241 Name and title: Valeri Mikhnev, Dr. Institution: Aalto University, Dept. of Radio Science and Engineering, Aalto, Finland Email: valeri.mikhnev@aalto.fi Name and title: Pertti Vainikainen, Dr. Institution: Aalto University, Dept. of Radio Science and Engineering, Aalto, Finland Email: pertti.vainikainen@aalto.fi Name and title: Ville Viikari, Dr. Institution: Aalto University, Dept. of Radio Science and Engineering, Aalto, Finland Email: ville.viikari@aalto.fi FRANCE Name and title: Xavier Dérobert, Researcher, Responsible of the “Groupe Auscultation et Imagerie” Institution: Institut Français Sciences Technologies Transports Aménagement Réseaux (IFSTTAR), Département Mesure, Auscultation et Calcul Scientifique Address: CS 04-44344 Bouguenais Cedex, France Email: xavier.derobert@ifsttar.fr Telephone: +33 2 40845911 Fax: +33 2 40845997 Name and title: Jean-Paul Balayssac, Associate Professor Institution: University of Toulouse, Laboratoire Matériaux et Durabilité des Constructions Address: 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France Email: jean-paul.balayssac@insa-tlse.fr 3 Telephone: +33 5 61559934 Fax: +33 5 61559949 Name and title: Vincent Baltazart, Researcher Institution: Institut Français Sciences Technologies Transports Aménagement Réseaux (IFSTTAR), Bouguenais Cedex, France Email: vincent.baltazart@ifsttar.fr Name and title: Maksim Bano, Researcher Institution: École et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre (EOST), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France Email: maksim.bano@unistra.fr Name and title: Cyrille Fauchard, Researcher Institution: Centre d'Etudes Techniques de l'Equipement (CETE) Normandie – Centre, Blois, France Email: cyrille.fauchard@developpement-durable.gouv.fr Name and title: Jean-Luc Garciaz, Researcher Institution: Laboratoire d’Études et de Recherches sur les Matériaux (LERM), Arles Cedex, France Email: jl.garciaz@lerm.fr Name and title: Amine Ihamouten, CE Engineer Institution: Centre d'Etudes Techniques de l'Equipement (CETE) Normandie – Ouest, Rouen, France Email: amine.ihamouten@developpement-durable.gouv.fr Name and title: Gilles Kkyz, Researcher Institution: Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA), Toulouse, France Email: Gilles.klysz@insa-toulouse.fr Name and title: Albane Saintenoy, Maître de conférence Institution: Laboratoires Interactions et Dynamique des Environnements de Surface (IDES), l’Université de Paris-Sud (UPSUD), Paris, France Email: albane.saintenoy@u-psud.fr Name and title: Zoubir-Mehdi Sbartaï, Researcher Institution: Institut de Mécanique et d'Ingénierie de Bordeaux (I2M), University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France Email: zm.sbartai@i2m.u-bordeaux1.fr GERMANY Name and title: Thomas Kind, Eng. Institution: Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Division 8.2 – NonDestructive Damage Assessment and Environmental Measurement Methods Address: Unter den Eichen 87, D- 12205 Berlin, Germany Email: Thomas.kind@bam.de Telephone: +49 30 8104 3225, 4 Fax: +49 30 8104 1447 Name and title: Christiane Trela, Dr. Institution: Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Division 8.2 – NonDestructive Damage Assessment and Environmental Measurement Methods Address: Unter den Eichen 87, D- 12205 Berlin, Germany Email: christiane.trela@bam.de Telephone: +49 30 8104 4271, Fax: +49 30 8104 1447 GREECE Name and title: Andreas Loizos, Full Professor Institution: National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Laboratory of Highway Engineering Address: 5 Iroon Polytechniou Street, 15773 Athens, Zografou, Greece Email: aloizos@central.ntua.gr Telephone: +30 210 7721341 Fax: +30 210 8078692 Name and title: Christina Plati, Dr. Institution: National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Laboratory of Highway Engineering Address: 5 Iroon Polytechniou Street, 15773 Athens, Zografou, Greece Email: cplati@central.ntua.gr Telephone: +30 210 7721363 Fax: +30 210 7724254 Name and title: Nectaria Diamanti, Dr. Institution: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Geology, Exploration Geophysics Laboratory E-mail: ndiamant@geo.auth.gr Name and title: Klisthenis Dimitriadis, Dr. Institution: GEOSERVICE, Geological and Geophysical Consultants & Contractors (Small – Medium Enterprise) E-mail: workst@geoservice.gr Name and title: Nikos Economou, Dr. Institution: Technical University of Crete, Mineral Resources Engineering Department, Applied Geophysics Laboratory E-mail: neconom@mred.tuc.gr Name and title: Yannis Konstantakis, Electronics Engineer Institution: GEOSERVICE, Geological and Geophysical Consultants & Contractors (Small – Medium Enterprise) Email: vallaoras@yahoo.com Name and title: George Kritikakis, Dr. Institution: Technical University of Crete, Mineral Resources Engineering Department 5 Email: gkritik@mred.tuc.gr Name and title: Nikos Spanoudakis, Dr. Institution: Technical University of Crete, Mineral Resources Engineering Department Email: nspanoud@mred.tuc.gr Name and title: Michael Styllas, Ph.D. Geologist – Sedimentologist Institution: GEOSERVICE, Geological and Geophysical Consultants & Contractors (Small – Medium Enterprise) Email: mstyllas@gmail.com Name and title: Antonis Vafidis, Professor Institution: Technical University of Crete, Mineral Resources Engineering Department Email: vafidis@mred.tuc.gr Name and title: Dimitrios Xirouchakis, Ph.D. Geologist Institution: GEOTERRA, Geomechanics and Quality Control Laboratory (Small – Medium Enterprise) Email: dxirouch@gmail.com ITALY Name and title: Lara Pajewski, Ph.D., Eng., Assistant Professor Institution: “Roma Tre” University, Applied Electronics Department Address: via Vasca Navale 84, 00146 Rome, Italy E-mail: pajewski@uniroma3.it Telephone: +39 06 57337095 Fax: +39 06 57337026 Name and title: Andrea Benedetto, Ph.D., Eng., Associate Professor Institution: “Roma Tre” University, Sciences of Civil Engineering Department Address: via V. Volterra 60, 00146 Rome, Italy E-mail: benedet@uniroma3.it Telephone: +39 06 57333543 Fax: +39 06 57333441 Name and title: Guido Manacorda, Eng., Engineering Manager of Georadar Division Institution: IDS Ingegneria dei Sistemi SpA (Small – Medium Enterprise), Pisa Headquarters Address: Via Enrica Calabresi 24, 56121 Pisa, Italy E-mail: g.manacorda@idscorporation.com Telephone: +39 0503124363 Fax: +39 0503124205 Name and title: Maria Rosaria De Blasiis, Ph.D., Full Professor Institution: “Roma Tre” University, Sciences of Civil Engineering Department Email: deblas@uniroma3.it Name and title: Fabrizio Frezza, Ph.D., Full Professor Institution: “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications 6 Email: fabrizio.frezza@uniroma1.it Name and title: Matteo Pastorino, Ph.D., Full Professor and Department Director Institution: University of Genoa, Department of Naval, Electrical, Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering Email: matteo.pastorino@unige.it Name and title: Cristina Ponti, Ph.D., Researcher Institution: “Roma Tre” University, Applied Electronics Department Email: cponti@uniroma3.it Name and title: Giuseppe Schettini, Ph.D., Eng., Full Professor, “Roma Tre” University, Applied Electronics Department, Rome, Italy Email: giuseppe.schettini@uniroma3.it Name and title: Francesco Soldovieri, Ph.D., Researcher Institution: National Research Centre, Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment, Naples Email: soldovieri.f@irea.cnr.it Name and title: Fabio Tosti, Ph.D. Student Institution: “Roma Tre” University, Sciences of Civil Engineering Department Email: tosti.fabio@inwind.it Name and title: Dr. Carmelo Tulumello, Director of Roads Division, Province of Rieti, and Commander of the Rieti Provincial Police Institution: Province of Rieti Email: c.tulumello@provincia.rieti.it Name and title: Francesco F. Valeri, Dr., Eng., Department Director Institution: Province of Rome, XI Department: Support to Local Bodies for the design and construction of public works in the road sector - Actions on road safety Email: f.valeri@provincia.roma.it THE NETHERLANDS Name and title: Evert Slob, Full Professor Institution: Delft University of Technology, Geotechnology Department Address: Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands Email: e.c.slob@tudelft.nl Telephone: +31 15 27 88732 Fax: +31 15 27 81189 Name and title: Claudio Patriarca, Ph.D. Student Institution: Delft University of Technology, Geotechnology Department Address: Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands Email: c.patriarca@tudelft.nl Telephone: +31 15 27 87961 POLAND 7 Name and title: Lech Krysiński, Dr., Ph.D., Researcher Institution: Road and Bridge Research Institute, Pavement Diagnostic Division Address: 1 Instytutowa Street, 03-302 Warsaw, Poland E-mail: lkrysinski@ibdim.edu.pl Telephone: +48 22 3900208 Fax: +48 22 8145028 Name and title: Marian Marciniak, Dr., Ph.D., Full Professor Institution: National Institute of Telecommunications Address: 1 Szachowa Street, 04-894 Warsaw, Poland E-mail: M.Marciniak@itl.waw.pl Telephone: +48 22 5128715 Fax: +48 22 5128347 Name and title: Tomisław Gołębiowski, Ph.D., Eng., Professor Institution: AGH University of Science and Technology (Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza im. Stanisława Staszica w Krakowie), Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environment Protection, Department of Geophysics, Cracow Email: tomgoleb@agh.edu.pl Name and title: Jerzy Karczewski, Ph.D., Eng. Institution: AGH University of Science and Technology (Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza im. Stanisława Staszica w Krakowie), Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environment Protection, Department of Geophysics, Cracow Email: karcz@agh.edu.pl Name and title: Jacek Sudyka, M.Sc., Eng. Institution: Road and Bridge Research Institute, Pavement Diagnostic Division, Warsaw, Email: jsudyka@ibdim.edu.pl PORTUGAL Name and title: Jorge C. Pais, Ph.D., Associate Professor Institution: University of Minho, Department of Civil Engineering Address: Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal Email: jpais@civil.uminho.pt Telephone: +351 253 510 208 Fax: +351 253 510 217 Name and title: Francisco M. Fernandes, Ph.D., Researcher Institution: University of Minho, Department of Civil Engineering Address: Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal Email: fmcpf@civil.uminho.pt Telephone: +351 962 562 940 Fax: +351 253 510 217 SPAIN Name and title: Alfredo Garcia, Professor of Highway Engineering 8 Institution: Universitat Politècnica de València, Civil Engineering School, Department of Transportation, Highway Engineering Research Group Address: Camino de Vera, s/n, Building 4A, 46071, Valencia, Spain Email: agarciag@tra.upv.es Telephone: +34 963 877374 Fax: +34 963 877379 Name and title: Henrique Lorenzo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Geomatic Techniques Institution: Universidade de Vigo, Close-Range Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Research Group, Forestry Engineering School Adress: Campus A Xunqueira, s/n (36005) Pontevedra, Spain Email: hlorenzo@uvigo.es Telephone: +34 986 801 0905 Fax: +34 986 801 907 Name and title: Pedro Arias, Dr. Institution: Universidade de Vigo, Close-Range Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Research Group, Minning Engineering School, Pontevedra Email: parias@uvigo.es Name and title: Joaquin Andreu, Ph.D., Professor of Water Resources Engineering. Institution: Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering School, Valencia Email: ximoand@upv.es Name and title: Luis Pallarés, Ph.D., Associate Professor Institution: Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Institute of Concrete Science and Technology, Civil Engineering School E-mail: luipalru@cst.upv.es Name and title: Raul Mínguez, Geologist, Technical Manager Institution: Geofísica Consultores, S.L. (Small – Medium Enterprise) Email: r.minguez@geofisica-consultores.es Name and title: Gracia Vega Pérez, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Mechanic Systems Institution: GIES - Geophysics and Earthquake Engineering Research Group, Escola Universitària d'Enginyeria Tècnica Industrial de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain E-mail: vega.perez@upc.edu SWITZERLAND Name and title: Johannes Hugenschmidt, Senior Scientist Institution: EMPA, Road Engineering/Sealing Components Unit Address: Ueberlandstr. 129, CH-8600 Duebendorf, ZH, Switzerland Email: Johannes.Hugenschmidt@empa.ch Telephone: +41 587654318 Nuova affiliazione: Rapperswil University of Applied Science Oberseestrasse 10, CH-8640 Rapperswil, Switzerland 9 +41 55 222 47 95 jhugensc@hsr.ch, Johannes.hugenschmidt@hsr.ch Name and title: Andrea Salvadè, Professor, Responsible of the Telecommunications, Telematics and High Frequency Laboratory, Managing Director of TIsolutions Sagl (Small – Medium Enterprise) Institution: Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI), Department of Innovative Technology Address: Galleria 2, CH-6928 Lugano-Manno, Switzerland Email: asalvade@supsi.ch Telephone: +41 58 666 6537 Name and title: Luca Gamma, Researcher Institution: Università Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI), Department of Innovative Technology, Lugano-Manno, Switzerland Email: luca.gamma@supsi.ch Name and title: Daniele Inaudi, Eng. Institution: Smartec (Small – Medium Enterprise), Manno, Switzerland Email: daniele.inaudi@smartec.ch Name and title: Manuel Luescher, Researcher Institution: Università Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI), Department of Environment, Construction and Design, Lugano-Manno, Switzerland Email: manuel.luescher@supsi.ch Name and title: Riccardo Monleone, Engineer Institution: Meet Electronic Engineering (Small – Medium Enterprise), Switzerland Email: info@meet-electronics.com Name and title: Samuel Poretti, Researcher Institution: Università Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI), Department of Innovative Technology, Lugano-Manno, Switzerland Email: samuel.poretti@supsi.ch TURKEY Name and title: Selma Kadioglu, Associate Professor Institution: Ankara University, Faculty of Engineering, Geophysical Engineering Department, Earth Sciences and Research Center Address: Degol Street, Tandogan, 06100 Ankara, Turkey E-mail: Selma.Kadioglu@ankara.edu.tr Telephone: +90 312 2033380 Fax: +90 312 2120071, +90 312 2138970 Name and title: Yusuf K. Kadioglu, Full Professor, Director of Earth Sciences and Research Center (YEBIM) Institution: Ankara University, Faculty of Engineering, Geophysical Engineering Department, Earth Sciences and Research Center Address: Degol Street, Tandogan, 06100 Ankara, Turkey 10 E-mail: kadi@ankara.edu.tr Telephone: +90 312 2033347 Fax: +90 312 2138970, +90 312 2150487 Name and title: Kiymet Deniz, PhD Student and Research Assistant Institution: Ankara University, Faculty of Engineering, Geological Engineering Department Email: deniz.kiymet@gmail.com Name and title: Cumhur Ozcan Kilic, Research Assistant Institution: Ankara University, Faculty of Engineering, Geological Engineering Department Email: cokilic@eng.ankara.edu.tr UNITED KINGDOM Name and title: Antonis Giannopoulos, Dr., Senior Lecturer Institution: University of Edinburgh, School of Engineering, Institute for Infrastructure and Environment Address: WR Building, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH9 3JL, UK Email: A.Giannopoulos@ed.ac.uk Telephone: +44 131 6505728 Fax: +44 131 6506781 Name and title: Amir Morteza Alani, Full Professor, BSc. (Hons), MSc., Ph.D., Civil Eng., FIMechE, FHEA, MCIHT, Head of Department of Civil Engineering, The Bridge Wardens' Chair in Bridge and Tunnel Engineering Institution: University of Greenwich, Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering Address: Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK Email: m.alani@gre.ac.uk Telephone: +44 1634 883293 Fax: +44 1634 883153 Name and title: Morteza Aboutalebi, Dr., Researcher Institution: University of Greenwich, Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Kent, UK Email: aboutalebi.morteza@gmail.com Name and title: Alex Birtwisle, Engineer Institution: Atlas Geophysical Limited (Small – Medium Enterprise), Garden House, Heol Giedd, Ystradgynlais, Powys, UK Email: info@atlasgeo.co.uk Name and title: Nigel Cassidy, Reader, Director of Postgraduate Research in the Research Institute for the Environment, Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics (EPSAM), Research Training Programme Leader in EPSAM - Module Leader: Engineering Geology & Hydrology Institution: EPSAM, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK Email: n.j.cassidy@esci.keele.ac.uk Name and title: Michael Gordon, Principal Engineer Institution: Infrastructure Services – Mouchel (Small – Medium Enterprise), Edinburgh, UK Email: michael.gordon@mouchel.com 11 Name and title: Gokhan Kilic, Dr., Researcher Institution: University of Greenwich, Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Kent, UK Email: gkilic@hotmail.co.uk Name and title: Craig Warren, Dr., Researcher Institution: University of Edinburgh, School of Engineering, Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, Edinburgh, UK Email: Craig.Warren@ed.ac.uk Non-COST Countries, having signed reciprocal agreements with COST AUSTRALIA Name and title: Wayne Muller, Eng. Institution: Queensland Department of Main Roads, Structures Division, Brisbane, Queensland Email: wayne.b.muller@mainroads.qld.gov.au Other non-COST Countries UNITED STATES of AMERICA Name and title: Paul M. Goggans, Dr., Professor of Electrical Engineering Institution: University of Mississippi, Department of Electrical Engineering, Mississippi, MS Email: goggans@olemiss.edu Name and title: David R. Luhr, Dr., PE, State Pavement Management Engineer Institution: Washington State Department of Transportation, Olympia, WA Email: LuhrD@wsdot.wa.gov Name and title: A.T. Papagiannakis, Dr., PE, F.ASCE, R.F. McDermott Professor, Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Institution: University of Texas, San Antonio, TX Email: AT.Papagiannakis@utsa.edu Name and title: Devendra Parmar, Dr., Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering Institution: Hampton University, Hampton, VA Email: Devendra.Parmar@Hamptonu.Edu Name and title: Rafiqul A. Tarefder, Dr., PE, Associate Professor and Regent's Lecturer Institution: University of New Mexico, Department of Civil Engineering, Albuquerque, New Mexico Email: tarefder@unm.edu Name and title: Waheed Uddin, Dr., Professor of Civil Engineering, Director of the Center for Advanced Infrastructure Technology of the University of Mississippi, Associate Research Director of the USDOT’s National Center of Intermodal Transportation for Economic Competitiveness Institution: University of Mississippi, Mississippi, MS 12 Email: cvuddin@gmail.com Name and title: John P. Zaniewski, Dr., PE, Asphalt Technology Professor, Director of the Harley O. Staggers National Transportation Center Institution: West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV Email: John.Zaniewski@mail.wvu.edu A.2 In this sub-section, a second list of experts from COST Countries is given. They might be interested in participating in the Action, but have not yet been contacted, or have not yet replied, during the pre-proposal planning. FINLAND Martti Hallikainen, Full Professor, Aalto University, School of Electrical Engineering, Department of Radio Science and Engineering, Aalto (martti.hallikainen@aalto.fi) Janne Poikajärvi, Senior Lecturer, Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences, School of Technology, Rovaniemi (janne.poikajarvi@ramk.fi) Timo Saarenketo, Ph.D., Managing Director, Roadscanners Oy, Rovaniemi (timo.saarenketo@roadscanners.com) GERMANY Leonhard Reindl, Professor, University of Freiburg, Department of Microsystems Engineering, Freiburg (reindl@imtek.de) IRELAND Thomas J. Brazil, Ph.D, Professor of Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublim (tom.brazil@ucd.ie) SPAIN Lluis Jofre, Professor, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Escola T.S. Enginyeria de Telecomunicació, Dept. Teoria del Senyal i Comunicacions (E-mail: luis.jofre@upc.es) 13 B. HISTORY OF THE PROPOSAL The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) field is rapidly developing and it has seen a great advancement over the past 15 years. The GPR progress spans aspects of geophysics, technology, electromagnetics, data processing and of a really wide range of scientific and engineering applications. In Civil Engineering (CE), this non-destructive and non-invasive imaging technique can be applied to inspection of structures and infrastructures, location of buried services, detection of voids and cavities and many other tasks. Hundreds of research papers and special issues of Journals are devoted to the GPR theory, technology and to the applications in CE. There have been important international initiatives: the introduction, by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, of a code regulating the GPR use and its emissions of electromagnetic radiation; the issuing of a Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment directive that applies to GPR equipment; the development of some projects in the EU Framework Programme. However, there is a very high fragmentation of research efforts in the GPR area. The need of restructuring the GPR studies, integrating and coordinating local initiatives within Europe, is deeply felt. It is also important that the European research on GPR becomes more open to cooperation worldwide. Concerted objectives have to be established and realized. A European network of University researchers, software developers, NDT equipment designers and producers, geophysics experts and end users, would strengthen the European scientific and technological excellence in the GPR area and would permit to structure and shape the way that research is carried out on this topic. In this framework, the initial idea of presenting a proposal for a new COST Action on CE application of GPR was born during the European Microwave Week held in Paris from the 26th of September through the 1st of October 2010; inter alia, the Proposer could participate to this international event thanks to a COST Conference Grant for early-stage researchers (she was a participant of the COST Action MP0702). The initiating partners of the proposal were civil and electronic engineers, physicists, geophysicists and geologists from the academic world (Universities and Research Institutes), Small and Medium Enterprises and Public Agencies; the involved Countries were Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and United Kingdom. In that period, most of the partners were already submitting a proposal to the FP7 Program for a Collaborative Project called DROMOS (Development of ground-penetrating radar Road Monitoring techniqueS); this project hadn’t been financed but received a very good assessment. In March 2011, the Proposer and her partners submitted to COST their first preliminary proposal. The proposal wasn’t among the top-ranked of the TUD Domain, but the reviewer comments were encouraging and the assessment was high (25.83). In the meanwhile, most of the partners met in April in Vienna, Austria, during the 2011 European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU GA), where some of them organized a Session with the same title as the proposed COST Action; this meeting turned out to be an excellent occasion to get and develop new ideas concerning the COST Action. During Summer 2011 the proposal has been improved and it was re-submitted in September 2011. The second preliminary proposal wasn’t, again, among the top-ranked of the TUD Domain, but the reviewer comments were very good and the assessment was higher than the previous one (27.75). In April 2012, the partners met again in Vienna, Austria, during the annual EGU GA, where the same session as in 2011 was organized; in this occasion, they expressed their vital interest in constituting a EU network on the GPR application in CE and they discussed some new ideas. The Action pre-proposal has been further refined and in March 2012 it was submitted to COST. It received an even better assessment than the second pre-proposal (29.40) and very 14 positive reviewer comments. The third pre-proposal has been selected for the submission of a full proposal (this one!). An intense contacting activity has been performed during the last two months, in order to involve in this project new laboratories, research groups, individuals, commercial companies and end users, originating both from COST Countries and from overseas. During the full proposal drafting, all newly recruited partners were encouraged to actively participate, joining the discussions and helping with the writing process. This proposal is supported by individuals representing 15 COST Countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom), Australia and the US (Massachusetts, New Mexico, Texas, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia). All of them have confirmed their willingness to join the Action and we expect further accessions after the Summer holiday period. C. PRELIMINARY WORK PROGRAMME Year 1 - Founding Conference - Foundation of the Action Management Structure. - Collection and sharing of information about state-of-the-art, ongoing studies and open problems, in the field of CE applications of GPR. - Definition and coordination of test scenarios, representing both typical and unusual situations that may occur in CE applications, for an advanced comparison of available GPR equipment, inspection techniques, EM methods and data-processing algorithms, to be performed during the next year of activity. - Creation of end-user database (to be always integrated as new expressions of interests will come). - Set-up of an advanced communication system, for partnership integration and dissemination of results. - Set-up of the Action website (to be always kept up-to-date). - Short-Term Scientific Missions - Annual Conference Year 2 - Multidisciplinary and multinational application and comparison of GPR equipment, inspection practice, EM and data-processing algorithms. - Strong human exchange: numerous Short-Term Scientific Missions, mostly involving Ph.D. students and young researchers. - Sharing of instrumentation and other resources. - First Training School - Annual Conference Year3 - Outline and test of innovative inspection procedures, on the basis of the activity carried out during the previous years. - Codification and development of new EM algorithms, for a full-wave characterization of 3D GPR scenarios and of new methods for an effective data-processing with accurate estimation of geometrical and geophysical parameters. - Assessment for the design of novel GPR equipment and prototype realization. - Short-Term Scientific Missions - Annual Conference 15 - Second Training School Year 4 - Critical study and review of results obtained during preceding years. - Coordination and elaboration of a handbook with protocols and guidelines at EU level. - Optimization of the new EM and data-processing codes. Realization of graphical user interface and manuals. Releasing freeware software for the benefit of GPR community. - Test and optimization of the new GPR equipment. - Short-Term Scientific Missions - Annual Conference - Third Training School After the completion of the Action: Final Conference. Final Report. D. RECENT PUBLICATIONS The applicants have reported more than 200 publications on international peer-reviewed journals, books and conferences, addressing the Action’s topics of interest and dated last three years. A selection of this bibliography is presented below. The first references are of general interest for this Action, others are thematically sorted in the four Working Groups. In each Subsection, references are listed in chronological order, starting from the most recent. References of General Interest for the Action [1] Taylor & Francis Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation, Special Issue on “Civil Engineering Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar,” L. Pajewski and A. Benedetto, Guest Eds., 2012. [2] IEEE Journal on Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, Special Issue on “Ground Penetrating Radar: Modeling Tools, Imaging Methods and Systems Concepts,” M. Pieraccini, M. Sato and F. Soldovieri, Guest Eds., 2011. [3] International Journal of Geophysics, Special Issue on “Noninvasive Sensing Techniques and Geophysical Methods for Cultural Heritage and Civil Infrastructures Monitoring,” F. Soldovieri, J. Dumoulin, N. Masini and E. Utsi, Guest Eds., 2011. [4] Near Surface Geophysics, Special Issue on “Advanced Methods and Modelling for GPR Applications,” L. Crocco and E. Slob, Guest Eds., 2011. [5] The outline of GPR method, Jerzy Karczewski, Łukasz Ortyl, Mateusz Pasternak, AGH University of Science and Technology Press, Cracow, PL, 2nd Ed., 2011, 345 pp.. [6] Ground Penetrating Radar: Theory and Applications, H. M. Jol, Ed., Elsevier Science, Oxford, UK, 2009, 544 pp.. References for WG1 – Novel GPR instrumentation [1.1] J. Hugenschmidt, P. Fürholz, “ATRAS – Automated GPR System for Data Acquisition and Storage for Roads and Bridges”, Proc. 14th Int. Conference on Ground Penetrating radar, Shangai, China, June 2012. [1.2] F. Parrini, R. Persico, M. Pieraccini, A. Spinetti, G. Macaluso, M. Fratini, D. Dei, G. Manacorda, “A Reconfigurable Stepped Frequency GPR (GPR-R)”, Proc. IGARSS 2011, Vancouver, Canada, July 2011. [1.3] T. Kind, “GPR Antenna Array for the Inspection of Railway Ballast,” Proc. NDE 2011 ISNT, Chennai, India 2011. [1.4] Y. Maksimovitch, V. Mikhnev, P. Vainikainen, “UWB antenna design concept for near field applications,” Proc. VIII Int. Conf. Antenna Theory and Techniques (ICATT), Kyiv, Ukraine, September 2011. 16 [1.5] G. Manacorda, M. Miniati, S. Bracciali, D. Dei, E. Koch, H.F. Scott, S. Murgier, D. Pinchbeck, “Development of a Bore-Head GPR for Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) equipment”, Proc. 13th Int. Conference on Ground Penetrating radar, Lecce, Italy, June 2010. [1.6] I. Trinks, B. Johansson, J. Gustafsson, J. Emilsson, J. Friborg, C. Gustafsson, J. Nissen, “Efficient, large-scale archaeological prospection using a true 3D GPR array system,” Archaeological Prospection, Vol. 17, pp. 175–186, 2010. [1.7] J. Stryk, R. Matula, Report on “Czech utility model No. 20706: Mobile Device for Road Diagnostics (Two-Channel System for In-Situ Measurement of Dowel- and Tie-Bar Position in Rigid Pavements)”, 2010. [1.8] T. Kind, S. Feistkorn, C. Trela, J. Wöstmann, “Pulse radar for damage-free core drilling on prestressed concrete bridges”, Beton- und Stahlbetonbau, Berlin Ernst (Wiley), vol. 104, pp. 876-881, 2009. References for WG2 – GPR surveying of pavements, bridges, tunnels and buildings; underground utility and void sensing [2.1] A. Benedetto, A. Simi, G. Manacorda, “Bridge Deck Survey with High Resolution Ground Penetrating Radar”, Proc. 14th Int. Conference on Ground Penetrating radar, Shangai, China, June 2012. [2.2] C. Trela, T. Kind, M. Schubert, “Positioning accuracy of an automatic scanning system for GPR measurements on concrete structures”, Proc. 14th Int. Conference on Ground Penetrating radar, Shangai, China, June 2012. [2.3] A. M. Alani, M. Aboutalebi, “Analysis of the Subgrade Stiffness Effect on the Behaviour of Ground Supported Concrete Slabs,” Journal of Structural Concrete, vol. 13, pp. 102–108, 2012. [2.4] A. M. Alani, D. Beckett, “Investigation of the Mechanical Behaviour of a Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete Ground Slab,” Magazine of Concrete Research, vol. 64, pp. 593 –604, 2012. [2.5] R. Helmerich, E. Niederleithinger, C. Trela, J. Bien, T. Kaminski, G. Bernardini, “Multi-tool inspection and numerical analysis of an old masonry arch bridge”, Taylor & Francis Structure and Infrastructure Eng., vol. 8, pp. 27-39, 2012. [2.6] J. Sudyka, L. Krysiński, “Radar Technique Application in Structural Analysis and Identification of Interlayer Bounding”, Int. J. Pavement Research and Technology, vol. 4, pp. 176-184, 2011. [2.7] A. Benedetto, F. Tosti, G. Schettini, C. Twizere, “Evaluation of Geotechnical Stability of Roads Using GPR”, Proc. Int. Workshop on Advanced Ground Penetrating Radar, Aachen, Germany, June 2011. [2.8] W.L. Lai, T. Kind, H. Wiggenhauser, “Frequency-dependent dispersion of high-frequency ground penetrating radar wave in concrete,” NDT&E International, vol. 44, pp. 267-273, 2011. [2.9] W.L. Lai, T. Kind, H. Wiggenhauser, “Using ground penetrating radar and time-frequency analysis to characterize construction materials,” NDT&E International, vol. 44, pp. 111-120, 2011. [2.10] P.J.S. Cruz, L. Topczewski, F.M. Fernandes, C. Trela, P.B. Lourenco, “Application of radar techniques to the verification of design plans and the detection of defects in concrete bridges”, Taylor & Francis Structure and Infrastructure Eng., vol. 6, pp. 395-407, 2010 [2.11] J. Stryk, K. Pospìšil, P. Koteš, et al., Systematic Decision Making Processes Associated with Maintenance and Reconstruction of Bridges, 1st ed., Brno: Centrum Dopravního Výzkumu, 2009, 174 pp.. [2.12] A. Benedetto, “Water Content Evaluation in Unsaturated Soil Using GPR Signal Analysis in the Frequency Domain”, J. Appl. Geophys., vol. 71, pp. 26-35, 2010. [2.13] L. Lo Monte, D. Erricolo, F . Soldovieri, M.C. Wicks, “Radio Frequency Tomography for Tunnel Detection”, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., Vol. 48, pp. 1128-1137, 2010. [2.14] Upgrade of technical specifications of Ministry of Transport in Czech Republic, dealing with rigid pavements – TP 62: Catalogue of defects, TP 92: Maintenance and repair, 2010. [2.15] J. Stryk, R. Matula, “Ground Penetrating Radar as a Tool for Diagnostics of Concrete Pavements”, Transactions on Transport Sciences, Vol. 2, pp. 180-187, 2009. References for WG3 – EM methods for near-field scattering problems by buried structures; data processing techniques 17 [3.1] International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, Special Issue on “Propagation Models and Inversion Approaches for Subsurface and Through-Wall Imaging,” D. Erricolo, W. C. Chew and F. Soldovieri, Guest Eds., 2012. [3.2] F. Frezza, L. Pajewski, C. Ponti, G. Schettini, N. Tedeschi, “Electromagnetic Scattering by a Metallic Cylinder Buried in a Lossy Medium with the Cylindrical Wave Approach,” IEEE Geosci. Remote Sens. Lett., Vol. 9, pp.179-183, 2012. [3.3] A. Giannopoulos, “Unsplit Implementation of Higher Order PMLs,” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 60, pp. 1479-1485, 2012. [3.4] A. Ihamouten, G. Villain, X. Dérobert, “Complex permittivity frequency variations from multioffset GPR data: hydraulic concrete characterization,” IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 61, pp. 16361648, 2012. [3.5] M. A. Fiaz, F. Frezza, L. Pajewski, C. Ponti, G. Schettini, “Scattering by a Circular Cylinder Buried under a slightly Rough Surface: the Cylindrical-Wave Approach,” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 60, pp. 2834-2842, 2012. [3.6] N. Economou, A. Vafidis, “GPR Data Time-Varying Deconvolution by Kurtosis Maximization”, J. Appl. Geophys., vol. 81, pp. 117-121, 2012. [3.7] V. Mikhnev, P. Vainikainen, “Subsurface Imaging Technique Using Simultaneous Reconstruction of Amplitude and Phase Profiles,” Proc. 6th EUropean Conf. Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), Prague, Czech Republic, March 2012. [3.8] A. Benedetto, F. Benedetto, “Rayleigh Scattering Analysis of GPR Spectra for Moisture Content Evaluation”, IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 11, p. 2432-2441, 2011. [3.9] K. Chahine, V. Baltazart, Y. Wang, “Parameter Estimation of Damped Power-Law Phase Signals via a Recursive and Alternately Projected Matrix Pencil Method,” IEEE Trans. Ant. Propagation, Vol. 59, pp 1207-16, 2011. [3.10] F. Frezza, L. Pajewski, C. Ponti, G. Schettini, “Scattering by Dielectric Circular Cylinders in a Dielectric Slab,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, Vol. 27, pp. 687-695, 2010. [3.11] M. Donelli, A. Massa, G. Oliveri, M. Pastorino, A. Randazzo, "The Use of the Differential Evolution Method for the Solution of Electromagnetic Inverse Problems," in A. Qing and C. K. Lee, Eds., Differential Evolution in Electromagnetics, Springer, Berlin, 2010. [3.12] J. Hugenschmidt, A. Kalogeropoulos, F. Soldovieri, G. Prisco “Processing Strategies for HighResolution GPR Concrete Inspections”, NDT & E International, vol. 43, pp. 334-342, 2010. [3.13] N. Economou, A. Vafidis, “Spectral Balancing GPR Data Using Time Variant Band-Width in t-f domain”, Geophysics, vol. 75, pp. J19-J27, 2010. [3.14] W.L. Lai, T. Kind, H. Wiggenhauser, “A Study of Concrete Hydration and Dielectric Relaxation Mechanism using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT),” J. Advance in Signal Processing, EURASIP (European Association for Signal Processing), vol. 2010, Article ID 317216, 2010. [3.15] F. Frezza, L. Pajewski, C. Ponti, G. Schettini, “Scattering by Perfectly-Conducting Cylinders Buried in a Dielectric Slab through the Cylindrical Wave Approach,” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., vol. 57, pp. 1208-1217, 2009. [3.16] O. Brandt, K. Langley, A. Gioannopoulos, S.-E. Hamran, J. Kohler, “Radar Response of Firn Exposed to Seasonal Percolation, Validation Using Cores and FDTD Modeling”, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., Vol. 47, pp. 2773-2786, 2009. References for WG4 – Different applications of GPR and other NDT technologies in CE [4.1] Journal of Infrastructure Systems, Special Issue on “Nondestructive Testing in Civil Engineering,” X. Dérobert, H. Wiggenhauser, O. Abraham, Guest Eds., 2012. [4.2] I. Trinks, M. Kucera, A. Hinterleitner, K. Löcker, E. Nau, W. Neubauer, T. Zitz, “Large-Scale, HighDefinition Ground Penetrating Radar Prospection in Archaeology,” Geophysical Research Abstracts, vol. 14, p. 13447, EGU General Assembly, April 2012. [4.2] G. Manacorda, A.Simi, “Non-Destructive Inspection and Characterization of Track Bed with Microwaves”, Proc. Ground Penetrating Radar Conference, Shanghai, China, June 2012. 18 [4.3] A. Benedetto, F. Tosti, L. Di Domenico, “Elliptic Model for Prediction of Deflections Induced by a Light Falling Weight Deflectometer” J. of Terramechanics, vol. 49, p. 1-12, 2012. [4.4] A. Scozzari, J. Gómez-Enri, S. Vignudelli, F. Soldovieri, “Understanding Target-Like Signals in Coastal Altimetry: Experimentation of a Tomographic Imaging Technique,” Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 39, L02602. [4.5] H.-P. Chen, A. M. Alani, “Reliability and Optimised Maintenance for Coastal Defences,” J. of Maritime Engineering, vol. 165-MA2, pp.51-61, 2012. [4.6] R. Monleone, M. Pastorino, J. Fortuny-Guasch, A. Salvadè, et al., “Impact of Background Noise on Dielectric Reconstructions obtained by a Prototype of Microwave Axial Tomograph”, IEEE Trans. Instrumentation and Measurement, vol. 61, pp. 140-148, 2012. [4.7] T. Kind, J. Wöstmann, “Combined Radar and Ultrasound Investigation for Damage-Free Core Drilling as Part of a Reinforcement Measure”, Beton- und Stahlbetonbau, Berlin Ernst (Wiley), vol. 107, pp. 255-261, 2012. [4.8] S. Kadıoglu, Y.K. Kadıoglu, “Ground Penetrating Radar Work in the İlyas Bey Mosque”, in: Balat İlyas Bey Complex History, Architecture, Restoration, M.B. Tanman, L.K. Elbirlik, Eds., İstanbul, 2011, pp. 223-231 (European Union Prize For Cultural Heritage, Europa Nostra Awards 2012). [4.9] European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Special Issue on “Nondestructive Testing in Civil Engineering”, O. Abraham, X. Dérobert, H. Wiggenhauser, Guest Eds., 2011. [4.10] J. Hugenschmidt, C. Kasa, H. Kato, “GPR for the Inspection of Industrial Railway Tracks”, Proc. Near Surface 2011 – 17th EU Meeting Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Leicester, UK, Sept. 2011. [4.11] J. Stryk, K. Pospíšil, chapter 12.7 “Diagnostic Methods for Concrete and Bridges by Acoustic Emission” in Subsurface Sensing, 1st ed., Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2011, p. 844-860. [4.12] S. Kadioglu, Y.K. Kadioglu, A.A. Akyol, “Monitoring Buried Remains with Transparent 3D Half Bird’s Eye View of Ground Penetrating Radar Data in the Zeynel Bey Tomb in the Ancient City of Hasankeyf - Turkey”, J. Geophysics and Engineering, vol. 8, pp. S61-S75, 2011. [4.13] F. Soldovieri, L. Crocco, A. Brancaccio, R. Solimene, R. Persico, “Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar and Microwave Tomography in Water Monitoring and Management,” Int. Water Technology J., Vol. 1, pp. 78-88, 2011. [4.14] A. Taffe, T. Kind, M. Stoppel, J.H. Kurz, “Scanner for automated and combined application of nondestructive testing methode in civil engineering”, Beton- und Stahlbetonbau, Berlin Ernst (Wiley), Vol. 106, pp. 267-276, 2011. [4.15] G. Oliveri, A. Randazzo, M. Pastorino, A. Massa, "Imaging of Separate Scatterers by Means of a Multiscaling Multiregion Inexact-Newton Approach," Progress in Electromag. Res. (PIER), vol. 18, pp. 247-257, 2011. [4.16] Near Surface Geophysics, Special Issue on “GPR in Archaeology,” N. Masini and F. Soldovieri, Guest Eds., 2010. [4.17] M. Proto, M. Bavusi, R. Bernini, L. Bigagli, et al., “Transport Infrastructure Surveillance and Monitoring by Electromagnetic Sensing: The ISTIMES Project”, Sensors vol. 10, pp. 10620-10639, 2010. [4.18] G. Bozza, M. Brignone, M. Pastorino, M. Piana, A. Randazzo, "Crack Detection in Dielectric Structures by a Linear Sampling Approach," Int. J. Signal and Imaging Syst. Eng. (IJSISE), vol. 3, 2010. [4.19] J. Válek, S. Kruschwitz, J. Wöstmann, T. Kind, J. Valach, et al., “Nondestructive investigation of wet building material: multimethodical approach,” J. Performance of Constructed Facilities, vol. 24, pp. 462-472, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2010. [4.20] M. Balsi, S. Esposito, F. Frezza, P. Nocito, et al., “GPR Measurements and FDTD Simulations for Landmine Detection,” Proc. XIII International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, June 2010. [4.21] J. Hugenschmidt, A. Kalogeropoulos “The Inspection of Retaining Walls Using GPR”, J. Appl. Geophys., vol. 67, pp. 335-344, 2009. E. FURTHER REMARKS • To what extent does the proposed network aim at involving early-stage researchers? 19 It is clearly apparent that the lack of opportunity for early-stage researchers to develop independent careers and to establish research groups under their own responsibility is a serious problem in European research. Therefore, strong efforts will be directed toward an effective involving of early-stage researchers in the activities of this Action. A number of early-stage researchers, including Ph.D. students, are already involved in the proposal. The Action Proposer took her Ph.D. in June 2004 (she was an early-stage researcher at the date of submission of the preliminary proposal). Early-stage researchers will be nominated as Chairs of Working Groups, whenever feasible. The Action will promote the involvement of young researchers in STSMs, Training Schools, Working Group meetings, Workshops and Conferences. The target attendance to a Training School is estimated at 25 persons and most of the admissions will be exclusively reserved for early-stage researchers. The attendance applications of young researchers will be evaluated and approved on the basis of the expected profit for the attendant’s research projects, Ph.D. work development and for her/his scientific career. The Training School young students will be generally supported with travel grants. STSMs will be primarily dedicated to early-stage researchers. An important eligibility criterion will be the expected profit for the applicant projects, in view of collaboration with experienced researchers, learning new theory, technique, or technology already developed at the host laboratory, or using the equipment available there. The Action will always support the attendance of early-stage researchers to Action’s Meetings, Workshops and Conferences and their personal presentation of contributions, as far as the available budget permits. • To what extent does the proposed network aim at being gender balanced? The gender balance is a priority of this network. The Action Proposer is a woman. The proposed Action is already quite well gender balanced, as far as the applicants are concerned and efforts will be made to improve this balance. Moreover, gender balance will be as much as possible pursued in the Management Committee membership and in the nomination of Working-Group Chairs. The Action will take care to ensure that the total of beneficiaries of the STSM scheme is gender-balanced and the same with Training School participants. In order to make Schools, Meetings, Workshops and Conferences, more accessible to researchers with family duties, they will be planned outside major school holidays (variations across participant Countries permitting). Information will be provided on venues with appropriate rooms. Requests will be collected from participants, on whether childcare is needed. In case of multiple requests, childcare facilities will be arranged at the event venue, otherwise, in case of individual requests, local childcare options will be selected and advertised. Moreover, participants requesting a childcare support will be provided with local emergency and health services numbers and there will be a contact person to assist on a 24 h basis with local language issues, if needed. Joint activities with IEEE Women in Engineering and EGU Women in Geoscience will be encouraged and promoted. • Does the number of Countries the Applicants come from reflect a wide European dimension? The proposal is supported by individuals representing 15 COST Countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, 20 Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom), complemented by valuable involvement of leading laboratories from overseas: Australia and US. Further COST Countries will be invited to join the Action. Thus the wide European dimension is fully assured and Countries from north as well as from south and eastern and western ones, result well balanced in this Action. • To what extent have provisions been made for monitoring and evaluating the achievement of objectives? The achievement of objectives will be monitored and evaluated by: - A regular reporting of the WG progress to the MC. This will be done after WG meetings, which will be held twice a year in conjunction with MC meetings. The MC will evaluate the progress and take appropriate actions where necessary. - Reporting of STSM results to the MC, in the middle and at the end of each mission. The reports will be evaluated by the MC. - Self-evaluation, by the MC and on a yearly scheme, of the overall progress of the Action and of the achieved results. - Annual Monitoring Progress Reports submitted by the MC to the COST Office. - The three Training Schools that will be organized, are also intended to make the Action progress and results available for the external world. - Organization of Annual Events: the Kick-off Conference, two Annual Conferences, an Annual Strategic Conference and a Final Conference, with a goal to disseminate the results achieved. - Monitoring the publications, patents, released software and experimental apparatus resulting from the network. - Preparation, submission and publication of a Final Report. This will be done during the final year of the Action lifetime. Moreover, the following quantitative information will help to yearly evaluate the Action progress: - The number and kind of trans-national collaborative projects and also of research proposals submitted, focused on the Action topics and including groups participating in the Action. - The number of publications (books, papers on peer-reviewed scientific and technical journals, on conference proceedings and non-technical magazines), on the topics of the Action, resulting from the network. - The number and duration of Short-Term Scientific Missions supported by the Action. - The number of participants from industries and end users in the Action events. - The number of thematic sessions in recognized conferences, organized by each WG. • To what extent have provisions been made for assessing potential application and fostering exploitation, of results? The Action is expected to have an important impact on Standards, at EU level and at wider international level. The handbook published at the end of the Action, with protocols and guidelines for an effective and efficient use of GPR in several CE applications, will constitute a solid basis for the emission of Standards. The capability to format specific results of the project following ad hoc requests from regulatory bodies is built in the project exploitation policy. The GPR community will greatly benefit from the freeware software that will be released at the end of the Action. The electromagnetic simulator will allow an accurate characterization of 3D GPR scenarios. The data-processing algorithms will help in the analysis 21 of experimental results. This software will become a reference tool at international level, to assure its exploitation a graphical user interface will be implemented with particular care, a detailed manual will be written and examples provided. With the novel GPR equipment, it will be possible to construct real-time lane 3D highresolution images of the investigated areas. This is in accordance with the future demands on professional GPR prospection, in civil engineering as well as in archaeology and other fields: the equipment ability to cover large areas in a short time and with low cost, with high spatial resolution and accuracy and with a reduced need of the ‘experienced eye of the geophysicist’ to read the data. Not only CE will take advantage of this Action innovation, but also rover-based planetary exploration, archaeological prospecting and cultural heritage diagnostics, detection of explosive remnants of war and humanitarian demining. Moreover, it is worth noting that a 3D electromagnetic simulator for subsurface scenarios is a valuable tool not only in the GPR area, but also in many other branches of science. It can be very useful in acoustics, microwaves and optics studies and applications. It will be possible to employ the Action simulator to study the communication through the earth, the scattering by composite structures, the electromagnetic behaviour of artificial media, to solve compatibility problems and to investigate chaos and localization phenomena in electromagnetics. Clean-room monitoring and quality control of silicon wafers manufacture could benefit from this software, as well as bioengineering and scattering microscopy. Disseminating and promoting the software in all the potentially interested audience will be part of the project exploitation policy. Liaisons with other projects and international organisations active in the field of the Action will allow a mutual exchange of knowledge and results, facilitated by Short-Term Scientific Missions and organization of workshops and set a pan-European forum, also using web based resources, for discussions on themes related to the Action topics. This will enable other potential applications and exploitation of the Action’s results to be identified. Of course, it is hoped that this Action will inspire the researchers to apply or further develop new GPR techniques and that it will open new areas of research in academia. It is expected that small and medium enterprises will develop new GPR activities and at a higher level, thanks to this Action. During the Action, Public Agencies will be stimulated to make a more extensive use of the GPR in the management and maintenance of structures and infrastructures. 22