Compressive Subsurface Radar Imaging: fast and smart detection of buried explosive threats

目前全球约有1亿个爆炸威胁被掩埋(2019年至少造成5554人伤亡)，但仍不存在准确和快速检测它们的系统。这一跨学科项目旨在开发一种创新的地下雷达技术，能够清晰、高效和快速地检测埋藏的爆炸物威胁，如地雷和简易爆炸装置(IED)。为了实现这一点，这项研究将首次开发一种能够在介质介质中工作的压缩传感(CS)技术，该技术利用信号处理层和物理层的压缩。依靠CS，创建地下雷达图像所需的雷达测量将少得多。该项目旨在为应对人道主义排雷这一世界性问题发挥重要作用，在社会上产生广泛影响。因此，其范围符合联合国《2030年议程》中确立的第16个可持续发展目标，该目标旨在促进和平社会，并符合地平线欧洲组3(社会公民安全)。该研究员在探测埋藏威胁的地下成像方面的研究经验，以及主管在具有挑战性的CS雷达成像领域的杰出专业知识，使这一应用成为实施突破性研究项目、交付高影响力成果并促进卓有成效的长期合作的绝佳机会。由于来自不同国家和背景的专家的共同努力、贝尔法斯特女王大学的优良设施以及现场专业知识的支持，这种协同作用将确保雷达系统研究处于世界领先地位。这一行动对于这位研究员来说是及时的，因为她敏锐地关注技术转让，追求研究的独立性和科学上的卓越，成为国际公认的雷达成像领域的领导者，并通过计划中的培训活动提高她的研究和可移植技能。

Around 100 million explosive threats are currently buried all over the world (causing at least 5,554 casualties in 2019) and a system to accurately and fast detect them still does not exist. This interdisciplinary project aims to develop an innovative subsurface radar technology, able to provide a clear, efficient, and fast detection of buried explosive threats such as landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). To achieve this, for the first time, this research will develop a Compressive Sensing (CS) technology able to work in dielectric media exploiting compression at both the signal processing and physical layers. Relying on CS, far fewer radar measurements will be needed to create the subsurface radar images. The project aims to play a major role in combatting the worldwide problem of humanitarian demining, having a broad impact in the society. Therefore, its scope is in alignment with the 16th Sustainable Development Goal established in the United Nations' 2030 Agenda, which seeks to promote peaceful societies, and with Horizon Europe Cluster 3 (Civil Security for Society). The fellow's research experience in subsurface imaging for the detection of buried threats together with the outstanding expertise of the supervisor in the challenging area of CS radar imaging turn this application into a great opportunity to carry out a groundbreaking research project, deliver high-impact results and foster a fruitful and long-lasting collaboration. This synergy will ensure world-leading research in radar systems due to the combined efforts of experts from different countries and backgrounds, excellent facilities at Queen's University Belfast and support from expertise on-site. This action is timely for the fellow to pursue research independence and scientific excellence with a keen eye on technology transfer, to become an internationally recognized leader in radar imaging and to enhance her research and transferable skills thanks to the planned training activities.