Classification of landmine-like metal targets using wideband electromagnetic induction

Our previous work has indicated that the careful application of signal detection theory can dramatically improve detectability of landmines using time-domain electromagnetic induction (EMI) data. In this paper, classification of various metal targets via signal detection theory is investigated using a prototype wideband frequency-domain EMI sensor. An algorithm that incorporates both the uncertainties regarding the target-sensor orientation and a theoretical model of the response of such a sensor is developed. The performance of this approach is evaluated using both simulated and experimental data. The results show that this approach affords substantial classification performance gains over the traditional matched filter approach, on average by 60%.