Broadband sensor array measurements, signal processing, detection and classification of rare events

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The research program is in the area of extracting and using information from multichannel data measured using sensor arrays, both acoustic (hydrophones) and electromagnetic (antennas), including detection and classification of rare events. The information we seek includes both the messages in communications signals and environmental data from radar signals or natural signal sources. A major focus is to obtain and interpret observational data to discover rare events for social benefits as well as opportunities for building useful systems. The context includes infra-sonic and audio frequencies, low radio frequencies where the environment includes the ionosphere as well as higher radio frequencies used for local wireless communications.  We wish to explore the application of array processing algorithms originally developed for wideband acoustic signals to wideband electromagnetic signals, imaging and radio camera algorithms as well as to explore deep learning as a means to extract information. The research program takes advantage of the applicant's experience in audio, radio, signal processing, taking measurements, and using measured data recently gathered. The research program comprises several themes: 1.rare event detection in hydrophone data, including marine mammal, shipping and environmental sounds.  This work takes advantage of the hydrophone data available from cabled undersea observatories such as Ocean Networks Canada. 2.rare event detection in broadband radio signals, including signals intelligence (SIGINT), unauthorized transmissions, and radio astronomy sources.  This work takes advantage of new very wideband software-defined radio receivers using analog-to-digital converters operating up to 10 GigaHz. 3.rare event detection in ionospheric radio propagation, including earthquake and pre-earthquake signatures.  This work builds upon data recently gathered using the ionosphere as a sensor to detect ionospheric waves that may be caused by earth-disturbing events. The research program will have an impact on Canadian activities in ocean acoustic monitoring and protection, wireless communications and radar, surveillance of the radio spectrum, environmental monitoring, earthquake detection and radio astronomy. The research program supports the training of 4 PhD students, 2 Masters students and 5 undergraduate students.  The students will develop theoretical and practical skills in learning algorithms, signal processing and radio frequency engineering.  These general and transferable skills are in demand by Canadian industry.