Statistical method to detect subsurface objects using array ground-penetrating radar data

We introduce a combination of high-dimensional analysis of variance (HANOVA) and sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) to detect buried objects from an array ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveying a region of interest in a progressive manner. Using HANOVA, we exploit the transient characteristic of GPR signals in the time domain to extract information about buried objects at fixed positions of the array. Based on the output of the HANOVA, the SPRT is employed to make detection decisions recursively as the array moves downtrack. The method is on-line implementable and of low computational complexity. Our approach is validated using field-data from two quite different GPR sensing systems designed for landmine detection applications.

[1]  S. Kay Fundamentals of statistical signal processing: estimation theory , 1993 .

[2]  Michèle Basseville,et al.  Detection of abrupt changes: theory and application , 1993 .

[3]  Peyman Milanfar,et al.  Forward-looking high-resolution GPR system , 1999, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[4]  Jianqing Fan,et al.  Test of Signiicance When Data Are Curves , 1998 .

[5]  Michael D. Duncan,et al.  Mine detection with a multichannel stepped-frequency ground-penetrating radar , 1999, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[6]  R. Khan,et al.  Sequential Tests of Statistical Hypotheses. , 1972 .

[7]  K. Demarest,et al.  An FDTD near- to far-zone transformation for scatterers buried in stratified grounds , 1996 .

[8]  Ezekiel Bahar Full-wave solutions for the depolarization of the scattered radiation fields by rough surfaces of arbitrary slope , 1981 .

[9]  Jianqing Fan Test of Significance Based on Wavelet Thresholding and Neyman's Truncation , 1996 .

[10]  Peter Willett,et al.  Some methods to evaluate the performance of Page's test as used to detect transient signals , 1999, IEEE Trans. Signal Process..

[11]  Eric L. Miller,et al.  Combined high-dimensional analysis of variance (HANOVA) and sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) to detect buried mines , 2000, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[12]  Leslie M. Collins,et al.  Improving detection of low-metallic content landmines using EMI data , 2000, IGARSS 2000. IEEE 2000 International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium. Taking the Pulse of the Planet: The Role of Remote Sensing in Managing the Environment. Proceedings (Cat. No.00CH37120).

[13]  D. Siegmund Sequential Analysis: Tests and Confidence Intervals , 1985 .

[14]  Lawrence Carin,et al.  Time-domain sensing of targets buried under a rough air-ground interface , 1998, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[15]  Carey M. Rappaport,et al.  Quantifying the effects of different rough surface statistics for mine detection using the FDTD technique , 2000, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[16]  A. M. Mathai,et al.  Tests of Statistical Hypotheses , 1977 .

[17]  Paul D. Gader,et al.  Correlation-based land mine detection using GPR , 2000, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[18]  Stephen G. Azevedo,et al.  Hand-held forward-looking focused array mine detection with plane wave excitation , 2000, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[19]  Xiaoyin Xu,et al.  Statistically based sequential detection of buried mines from array ground-penetrating radar data , 1999, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[20]  Carl W. Helstrom,et al.  Elements of signal detection and estimation , 1994 .

[21]  Hichem Sahli,et al.  Primary study in adaptive clutter reduction and buried minelike target enhancement from GPR data , 2000, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[22]  Leslie M. Collins,et al.  Improving detection of low-metallic-content land mines using EMI data , 2000, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[23]  Jianqing Fan,et al.  Test of Significance When Data Are Curves , 1998 .

[24]  Eric L. Miller,et al.  Baseband Weiner filter processing for mine detection from scanned laser-induced acoustic data , 1999, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[25]  Lawrence Carin,et al.  Time-domain sensing of targets buried under a rough air-ground interface , 1998 .

[26]  S. Port Theoretical Probability for Applications , 1993 .

[27]  Glenn S. Smith,et al.  A fully three-dimensional simulation of a ground-penetrating radar: FDTD theory compared with experiment , 1996, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote. Sens..

[28]  Paul D. Gader,et al.  New results in fuzzy-set-based detection of land mines with GPR , 1999, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[29]  L. Peters,et al.  Ground penetrating radar as a subsurface environmental sensing tool , 1994, Proc. IEEE.