TDR-inspection of vast tracts of forests or plants. Tract of plants as an environmental hazard detector

Abstract

A new method to monitor vast tracts of plants and forests was introduced in the former USSR in the 80's and was developed later in the USA. The method is based on a Time Domain Reflectometer, TDR, which deals with propagating a flat electromagnetic wave initiated by an electric pulse traveling along an electric line. While propagating, the pulse experiences reflections from the heterogeneities of the line, which is displayed on the screen of TDR-instrument.