Scope & limitations
This note explains typical behavior, not a site-specific forecast. Final interpretive statements belong in your scoped deliverable.
Dielectric contrast and attenuation. Wet clays increase attenuation; energy dies off faster with depth. That can shrink the depth window where we confidently image a utility echo, even when the antenna is technically “capable” of deeper penetration in dry sand.
Seasonal swings. Freeze–thaw, spring saturation, and irrigation changes alter the shallow profile week to week. We document conditions we observe—not a laboratory curve for your soil series.
Standards and further reading
Our hub collects practice-oriented references under standards & reading. Use them to understand how industry guidance frames quality, limits, and reporting—not to substitute for your engineer-of-record.
Pair with antenna choice
When cover is shallow and resolution matters, higher-frequency antennas can excel; when you need more penetration in favorable soils, lower-frequency antennas trade resolution for reach. See antenna frequency tradeoffs for a PM-level overview.