A Survey on Seismic Sensor based Target Detection, Localization, Identification, and Activity Recognition

Current sensor technologies facilitate device-free and non-invasive monitoring of target activities and infrastructures to ensure a safe and inhabitable environment. Device-free techniques for sensing the surrounding environment are an emerging area of research where a target does not need to carry or attach any device to provide information about its motion or the surrounding environment. Consequently, there has been an increasing interest in device-free sensing. Seismic sensors are extremely effective tools for gathering target motion information. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of the seismic sensor-based device-free sensing process and highlight the key techniques within the research field. We classify the existing literature into three categories, viz., (i) target detection, (ii) target localization, and (iii) target identification, and activity recognition. The techniques in each category are divided into multiple subcategories in a structured manner to comprehensively discuss the details. We also discuss the challenges associated with contemporary cutting-edge research and suggest potential solutions.