Date: Friday,

1

Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer
Science IEEE Dallas Chapter of Signal
Processing Society
Distinguished Lecturer Series 2008
Professor Moeness Amin Villanova University
P r e s e n t
Challenges in Through Wall Imaging

Electromagnetic waves passing through a medium
are subject to amplitude and phase distortion.
There is an increasing need to develop algorithms
to combat wall impairing effects, permitting
detection, classification, and location of
objects and humans behind walls. Seeing
optically obscured objects behind obstacles such
as walls, doors, and other visually opaque
materials is a powerful tool for a variety of
civilian and law enforcement. Through-the-wall
imaging (TWI) has been recently sought out in
rescue missions, behind-the-wall target
detection, surveillance and reconnaissance. TWI
technology is used in rescue mission to search
for earthquake and avalanche victims, and can aid
fire fighters looking for survivors. The
technology can also be employed for detection and
surveillance of suspected criminals and outlaws.
The technology of choice is based on emission and
reception of radio frequency (RF). RF signal
waveforms below the S-band are capable of
penetrating through building walls, but the
resulting observations are sensitive to a wide
range of factors, including layout geometry,
interior and exterior wall thicknesses, and wall
EM scattering signatures, existence of doors and
windows, and clutter objects within the building.
The locations of the RF sensors outside and
around buildings can be optimally selected based
on desired performance as well as standoff safety
and operation logistics factors and requirements.
In this talk, we discuss the different
challenges facing the problem of achieving
reliable indoor imaging of targets behind walls.
Stationary and moving targets are considered.
Localization techniques for animate and inanimate
objects are presented. We argue for an
interdisciplinary approach for development of an
effective imaging TWI system. Specifically, we
show that statistical signal processing, array
processing, time-frequency analysis, image
processing, antenna design, an electromagnetic
propagation and modeling must all be considered
in devising credible solutions.
Professor Moeness Amin has been on the Faculty of
Villanova University since 1985, where is now a
Professor in the Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering and the Director of the
Center for Advanced Communications. Dr. Amin is a
Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Fellow of the
International Society of Optical Engineers
Recipient of the IEEE Third Millennium Medal
Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Signal
Processing Society for 2003 Member of the
Franklin Institute Committee on Science and the
Arts Recipient of the 1997 Villanova University
Outstanding Faculty Research Award Recipient of
the 1997 IEEE Philadelphia Section Service Award
Dr. Amin has over 350 publications in the areas
of Wireless Communications, Time-Frequency
Analysis, Smart Antennas, Interference
Cancellation in Broadband Communication
Platforms, Direction Finding, Over the Horizon
Radar, Radar Imaging, and Channel Equalizations.
He has expertise in array processing for radar
and wireless communications, anti-jam GPS,
nonstationary signal analysis and processing,
MIMO systems, and space-time coding.
Date Friday, April 11, 2008 Time 1100
a.m. Place ECSS 2.102 TI Auditorium
Engineering and Computer Science Complex, UTD
Campus
Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer
Science The University of Texas at Dallas 800 W.
Campbell Road Richardson, TX 75080-3021
For more information Phone [phone] www.utd
allas.edu