Scientists, engineers and researchers using and developing Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology will gather at Northumbria University for the 21st International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) 2026.
The four-day event is aimed at exploring the latest advancements in the technology which is a powerful subsurface exploration tool that uses electromagnetic waves to detect and map objects and structures.
GPR is used globally to support the monitoring and maintenance of key infrastructure, including buildings, bridges and roads. GPR is also widely used for sensing and imaging buried utilities and soil characterisation.
The GPR 2026 event at Northumbria University will mark the 40th year since this prestigious biennial conference series began with GPR 1986 in Georgia, USA.
The global event has been hosted in North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia, and is returning to the UK for the first time since 2008. It will be the first time the conference has been hosted in the north of England and Newcastle upon Tyne.
Dr Craig Warren, associate professor in Civil Engineering at Northumbria University, travelled to China in 2024 to take part in a bidding process which involved a panel of previous conference chairs voting on where the conference should be hosted next.
Professor John Woodward, pro-vice chancellor (International), at Northumbria University said: “As an anchor institution of knowledge, innovation and opportunity, I’m proud that Northumbria has secured the honour of hosting another globally significant conference in our region.
Laura Freer, assistant director of Visitor Economy, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “The world-leading research taking place at our city’s universities continue attract global conferences here and Northumbria’s expertise in GPR is another example of this.”
The 21st International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR 2026) will be hosted by Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom from 23-26 June 2026.
