Cai said GPR provides a nondestructive technique to locate pipes by analyzing the electromagnetic wave reflections and resulting hyperbolic reflections. But it often overlooks inherent uncertainties and issues related to data quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur uncertainty-aware model compensates for this gap by robustly quantifying uncertainty in order to create a buffer zone,\u201d he said. \u201cWith this improvement, construction contractors, utility-locating service providers and excavator manufacturers can better interpret GPR data, supporting safer and more effective underground utility mapping.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cai and Zhang\u2019s research has been published in the January 2026 issue of Advanced Engineering Informatics<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They disclosed the innovation to the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization<\/a>, which has applied for a patent to protect the intellectual property. Industry partners interested in developing or commercializing the algorithm should contact Parag Vasekar, business development and licensing manager \u2014 physical sciences, at psvasekar@prf.org<\/a> about track code 71294<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n Cai and Zhang\u2019s research uses a Bayesian framework for quantifying uncertainty in estimating underground pipe depth, horizontal position, orientation and radius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA forward model was developed for predicting electromagnetic wave travel times from 3D pipe geometries,\u201d Cai said. \u201cWe also created a statistical inference framework for quantifying uncertainties in estimated pipe parameters. The framework was shown to output credible intervals and provide measures of estimation reliability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cai and Zhang also developed diagnostic metrics for GPR data quality, including quantitative measures of completeness and consistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe forward model achieves an RMSE (root mean square error) of 0.454 ns when validated against high-fidelity simulations, demonstrating strong predictive accuracy with reduced computational cost,\u201d Cai said. \u201cAmong all configurations, the VI+MCMC (Variational Inference and Markov Chain Monte Carlo) approach using a normal likelihood model yielded the highest average coverage rates \u2014 97.5% on simulated data and 77.5% on field data \u2014 validating the effectiveness of the framework.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The National Science Foundation supported Cai and Zhang\u2019s work with a grant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zhang said the Common Ground Alliance estimated in 2019 that the annual total social costs of underground infrastructure damage in the United States reached approximately $30 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAccording to the 2022 Damage Information Reporting Tool, 87.84% of these incidents resulted from inaccurate location information,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The lack of complete and reliable records also creates a bottleneck in transportation project delivery attributed to utility conflicts, construction activities or phasing, existing utilities, or failing to comply with accommodation policies and safety regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFailure to promptly identify and resolve utility conflicts leads to cost overruns, schedule delays, public safety hazards and service outages,\u201d Zhang said. \u201cTherefore, effective tools for locating underground pipelines are the first step toward building a digital twin of the massive underground infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization<\/a> operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university\u2019s academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. In fiscal year 2025, the office reported 161 deals executed with 269 technologies licensed, 479 invention disclosures received, and 267 U.S. and international patents received. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org<\/a> for more information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue\u2019s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap \u2014 including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative \u2014 at https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/president\/strategic-initiatives<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HuboCai-Secondary2.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
Validating the Purdue solution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The cost of damaged underground pipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
About Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
About Purdue University<\/h2>\n\n\n\n