Audible and visual representations of the signals from a seismic landmine detection system

Abstract

A system using high frequency seismic waves to detect buried landmines is being investigated using both experimental and numerical models. The simplest detection cue for the localization of buried landmines has been found to be resonances of the trigger mechanism and overlying soil as these resonances create substantial localized surface displacements over the buried landmine in comparison to other buried objects such as rocks, sticks, and manmade clutter. The prototype system utilizes a noncontact radar sensor to detect surface–normal displacements and a remotely-located surface-contacting source to generate seismic waves in the ground. Processing of the measured data shows the location of mines both graphically and audibly, either of which could be used as inputs for automatic target recognition algorithms. Visual images created by a wavenumber-domain signal processing algorithm and audible representations will be compared for landmines and typical clutter objects. [Work supported by ONR and ARO.]