The linear sampling method for GPR surveys in humanitarian demining: A feasibility assessment towards experimental on-site demonstration

The linear sampling method (LSM) is a model based inverse scattering approach to image the shape of an unknown target, which does not require approximations and it is effective from a computational point of view. In particular, it provides quasi real-time images of even large regions, thus being very attractive for applications. On the downside, the LSM cannot be applied to traditional GPR multi-monostatic, or multi-bistatic configurations. This contribution considers the application of the LSM to mine clearance, taking advantage of an international research effort aimed at developing an integrated demining system, which will include a multi-view multi-static GPR device. However, the peculiar configuration adopted by the system is different from the canonical ones so far considered to validate LSM in subsurface imaging scenarios. As such, the feasibility of LSM in these working conditions has to be preliminary proved before tackling the experiments. To address this issue, we present the outcomes of a numerical study that demonstrates that LSM can be successfully applied to the forthcoming on-site demonstration.