The Hilbert-Huang Transform
Dr. Norden Huang
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Date:
Time:
Location: 322 Votey
Abstract
The Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) technology is a highly efficient, adaptive, and user-friendly set of algorithms capable of analyzing time-varying processes. Designed specifically for nonlinear and nonstationary signals, HHT can be used to analyze data in a wide variety of applications. The algorithms also provide increased accuracy when used to analyze linear and stationary signals. When linear, stationary datasets are used, HHT provides the same solution as the Fast Fourier Transform. However, Fourier Transforms are unsuitable for applications that use nonlinear and/or nonstationary signals. In addition, other technologies, such as wavelet transforms, cannot resolve intra-wave frequency modulation, which occurs in signal systems composed of multiple varying signals. HHT can be used in these applications to provide an accurate method for analyzing nonlinear and/or nonstationary signals or data.
Speaker bio: Dr. Huang’s recent research has concentrated in the
development of a new method, the Hilbert Huang Transform, specifically to
process nonstationary and nonlinear time series. Over
the last few years, he has applied this method to analyze data in a variety of
areas covering nonlinear ocean wave evolution data; earthquake signals and
structure responses; bridge and structural health monitoring; biomedical
signals such as blood pressure fluctuations; long term environmental data such
as global temperature variations, Antarctic ice extents records, and solar irradiance
variance; hydro-machinery design, machine vibration data, speech analysis, and
musical signal enhancement. His current
research interests are in the above areas.
This invention has been filed by NASA in five different Patents covering
nonlinear and nonstationary data analysis in
geophysics, biomechanics, acoustics, and engineering. For this invention, he was awarded the 1998
NASA Special Space Act Award with the citation, ‘[Dr. Huang’s new method] is
one of the most important discoveries in the field of applied mathematics in
NASA history.’ He was also the winner of
the 1999 Federal Government Technical Leadership Award, and the 2001 Federal
Laboratory Consortium Technology Development Award. Dr. Huang obtained his B. S. en Civil
Engineering from National Taiwan University in 1960 and his Ph.D. in Fluid
Mechanics from