{"id":1046,"date":"2019-03-04T13:55:29","date_gmt":"2019-03-04T18:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sensoft.ca\/gpr\/?p=1046"},"modified":"2019-10-10T12:59:21","modified_gmt":"2019-10-10T16:59:21","slug":"gpr-jargon-how-do-we-say-what-we-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sensoft.ca\/gpr\/gpr-jargon-how-do-we-say-what-we-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"GPR Jargon – How do we say what we mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17″ text_font=”Forza_Book||||||||” custom_css_main_element=”.ol {||style=%22line-height: 1.5em;%22||type=%22a%22||}”]<\/p>\n

In attempting to discuss a topical aspect of GPR, I realized how confusing we have allowed the GPR world to become to the average user.\u00a0 The expanding and advancing of the GPR world means that new uses and terms continuously appear.\u00a0 The characterization of GPR systems is now full of terminology which is often meaningless to the GPR user. While we need some unique technical language to communicate ideas, we seem to have gone overboard on poorly defined jargon.<\/p>\n

As an engineer myself with extensive subject matter knowledge, I can regularly slip into using jargon without thinking. I then inevitably find myself trying to put some piece of jargon into an understandable context for others.\u00a0 This result is both frustrating and a waste of time; how can we do better and make our GPR world more transparent to all members.<\/p>\n

The answers are not simple but there are three obvious steps:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. We need to clearly understand what we are doing and understand our specific technical field subject matter. Those of us who communicate must regularly attempt to be as clear and factual as possible.<\/li>\n
  2. We need to clearly define terms in the GPR context and make sure everyone agrees on the meaning of a term. Published glossaries of terms with definitions must be created, be openly available and updated by the community.<\/li>\n
  3. We all need to call out the improper use or the introduction of new, poorly or undefined, terms when they appear in articles and published materials.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    To illustrate how terminology emerges, we look at defining the goal of GPR measurements.\u00a0 GPR is used to determine subsurface structure and in some cases determine material electrical properties.\u00a0 We accomplish this by using electromagnetic signals in the \u2018radio\u2019 frequency range to remotely interrogate the environment from a distance.<\/p>\n

    Just by defining the goal of GPR, we can already see the slippery slope in words such as \u2018electrical\u2019, \u2018electromagnetic\u2019, \u2018remote\u2019, \u2018radio-frequency\u2019 suggest that GPR is just \u2018electrical engineering\u2019. Given the necessity for complex electronic instrumentation to measure electromagnetic fields, there has been an ever-growing tendency to adopt \u2018electrical engineering-speak\u2019 that is often meaningless in the actual use of GPR.<\/p>\n

    As far as defining terms and supporting a user community I have always been impressed by the leadership of Robert Sheriff who created the \u201cEncyclopedic Dictionary of Exploration Geophysics\u201d.\u00a0 This individual effort started some 60 years ago, primarily addressing a need in exploration seismic, and has evolved continuously to this day.\u00a0 Sheriff\u2019s article from 1991.\u00a0\u201cHow in the world I came to write the Encyclopedic Dictionary\u201d\u00a0(The Leading Edge,\u00a010(4), 41-43)<\/a> echoes some of the concerns and challenges evidenced in this commentary.<\/p>\n

    At Sensors & Software, we have attempted to create glossaries and establish terminology for every new product and project we carry out.\u00a0 Have we been successful all the time? – No.\u00a0 This concept is much harder to execute than it sounds and requires great discipline and perseverance.\u00a0 While imperfect, the discipline of doing this enhances the outcomes of projects and educates all our teams.\u00a0 I wish we did it better!!!<\/p>\n

    As far as calling out proliferation of nonsense terms, we need to encourage the commercial side of the GPR community to be more honest and transparent.\u00a0 The marketing of new products and services often leads to the introduction of terms and the inappropriate use of concepts in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage.\u00a0 Using some fancy term or some deep technical word to make a product or service sound important or better without adequate explanation or, in some cases dishonestly, does the GPR community no good.\u00a0 If there is good solid evidence of benefit and it can be explained, then have at it; if not, then follow an ethical course.<\/p>\n

    As I said at the start of the commentary, my intent was to address a GPR topic that seemed to be confusing the GPR community.\u00a0 As I contemplated the subject, I realized that I was quickly becoming embroiled in jargon and fuzzy thinking. To craft a clear cogent discussion was becoming extremely challenging and required a trip back to the fundamentals. Hence this rant and expression of concern about jargon and poorly defined concepts.<\/p>\n

    In future blogs, I will offer some guidance to help the average GPR user navigate through this often-meaningless jargon. In the meantime, this blog has led us to review and update the glossary of GPR terms<\/a> on our website, in the hope that this will be beneficial to all GPR users.<\/p>\n

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    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> In attempting to discuss a topical aspect of GPR, I realized how confusing we have allowed the GPR world to become to the average user.\u00a0 The expanding and advancing of the GPR world means that new uses and terms continuously appear.\u00a0 The characterization of GPR systems is now full of terminology which is often […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1052,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[34,25],"tags":[20],"class_list":["post-1046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ground-radar","category-recent","tag-ground-scanning-radar"],"yoast_head":"\nGPR Jargon - How do we say what we mean? - Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sensoft.ca\/gpr\/gpr-jargon-how-do-we-say-what-we-mean\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"GPR Jargon - How do we say what we mean? 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