Theoretical performance bounds for the estimation of target parameters from electromagnetic induction data

Abstract

Cramer-Rao lower bounds are derived and analyzed for the unknown target parameters associated with frequency-domain electromagnetic induction measurements of a target. The target parameters include the target’s tensors, relaxation frequencies, and its location. The estimation of these parameters is critical for successfully identifying and mitigating buried landmines amongst other buried metallic objects in humanitarian demining applications of electromagnetic induction systems. The derivation of these bounds provides a framework for assessing the theoretical performance of current and future frequency-domain electromagnetic induction systems as it relates to estimating these parameters. These bounds also serve as a benchmark against which estimators of these target parameters can be compared. The framework and corresponding analysis of the bounds provide a better understanding of the factors that influence these bounds, giving researchers additional insights and tools for developing better signal processing algorithms, sensors, and electromagnetic induction systems.