Detection, Estimation, and Modulation Theory. Part I: Detection, Estimation, and Linear Modulation Theory (Part 1) [Hardcover]

Harry L. Van Trees (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1968 | ISBN-10: 0471899550 | ISBN-13: 978-0471899556 | Edition: 1st

• Highly readable paperback reprint of one of the great time-tested classics in the field of signal processing
• Together with the reprint of Part III and the new Part IV, this will be the most complete treatment of the subject available
• As imperative today as it was when it originally published
• Has important applications in radar, sonar, communications, seismology, biomedical engineering, and astronomy
• Includes section summaries, examples, and a large number of problems

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The respected classic, now in a handy paperback edition

Originally published in 1968, Harry Van Trees's Detection, Estimation, and Modulation Theory, Part I is one of the great time-tested classics in the field of signal processing. Highly readable and practically organized, it is as imperative today for professionals, researchers, and students in optimum signal processing as it was over thirty years ago.

With a wide range of applications such as radar, sonar, communications, seismology, biomedical engineering, and radar astronomy, among others, the important field of detection and estimation has rarely been given such expert treatment as it is here. Each chapter includes section summaries, realistic examples, and a large number of challenging problems that provide excellent study material. All of the results are still applicable to current systems.

For students in signal processing or professionals looking for a reliable refresher course, Detection, Estimation, and Modulation Theory, Part I provides authoritative, practical coverage by one of the most renowned figures in the field. Part I also provides necessary background for Optimum Array Processing, Part IV of Detection, Estimation, and Modulation Theory. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

HARRY L. VAN TREES, ScD, was Professor of Electrical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He served as Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force, Chief Scientist of the Defense Communications Agency, and Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for C3I. He was President of M/A-Com-Linkabit Government Systems and a cofounder of CommQuest Technologies. He is currently Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Director of the C3I Center of Excellence at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 697 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; 1st edition (January 15, 1968)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471899550
• ISBN-13: 978-0471899556
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #879,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Text, May 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Detection, Estimation, and Modulation Theory, Part I (Paperback)

I have just taken this course from Dr. Van Trees at GMU. Est&Det organized many concepts taught in other graduate engineering courses into a coherent philosophy. The result is not only a rich understanding of estimation and detection, but also random processes, Wiener filtering, Kalman filtering, radar and communications theory etc.

The course was taught directly from the text with little outside material. Very little has become obsolete in the 30+ years since it was written.

The strong positives of this book are the philosophical organization, clear concise writing, and incredibly well conceived homework problems.

The only negative of the book is that there are many proofs done in great detail. This provides the necessary foundation for the material, but also makes it easy for the student to lose track of the bigger picture.

Dr. Van Trees tends to try to drive home the higher level concepts while glossing over many of the details when he is lecturing. The exercise problems then force the student to give the necessary attention to pertinent details. In my opinion, this is an excellent approach to teaching the material.

Overall, this course was as good as any I've every taken. The text is as important and useful as any other I have.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old is GOLD! Remarkable collection of topics and problems..., April 4, 2006

By 

Good_Authors_Are_Retired (Sunnyvale, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Detection, Estimation, and Modulation Theory, Part I (Paperback)

Van Trees, Part I (together with Wozencraft/Jacobs' Principles of Communication Engineering, and Gallager's Information Theory) is a must read to establish a solid background in detection/estimation theory and form connections to applications such as communications engineering and information theory.

Although most recent graduate education uses Kay's book (which is also a remarkable book), there are still a lot of details in which Van Trees, Part I excels. Especially, the exercise problems are actually lectures by themselves, and first time reader is encouraged at least to look at selected problems listed at the end of the book. Note that there is a solution manual floating around for these selected problems.

A good comparison between Kay and Van Trees, and their complementary nature, can be established how they treat the description of the Cramer-Rao bound, Kay emphasizes the recent developments and derivations (mostly of arithmetic and bookkeeping nature, results from post 1968 papers), whereas Van Trees goes leaps and bounds and discusses other bounds which apply when Cramer-Rao does not. I appreciate having both books as a result.

It is interesting to note that after almost 20 years using Van Trees in a couple of courses, I can still navigate my way through the book with ease since it well organized and methodical.

RECOMMENDATION: BEST BUY.

But dont stop here, and buy Wozencraft/Jacobs and Gallager as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Use Text for a Must-Have Course, December 23, 2008

By 

Rajesh S. Raghavan (Baltimore, MD 21234) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Detection, Estimation, and Modulation Theory, Part I (Paperback)

The title of Van Trees' "Detection, Estimation, and Modulation" theory essentially covers the topics of Volumes I & II of the series, with Volume II covering Modulation--specifically analog modulation which has been overtaken by digital techniques.

Volume I--the text being reviewed--however, is necessary background for anyone wishing to understand communication receivers, or radar or sonar, or the related necessary signal processing topics. Yes, there are other books on these topics such as those by Stephen Kay. However, having taken a one day course from Dr. Kay himself, I can say that nothing beats the content of Van Trees' classic work.

First take a course in Detection & Estimation using Volume I of Van Trees. Then proceed to more advanced and specialized courses in related areas.

Chapters 4 & 5, covering nearly 230 pages, are the heart and soul of Volume I. However, I even found Chapter 3 on Random Processes useful, including a description of Gaussian Processes (including jointly Gaussian processes) that I have not seen elsewhere. If the reader or student masters Chapter 4 on Detection of Signals (in noise or with unwanted parameters), and Chapter 5 on Estimation of Continuous Waveforms, that individual will be well-positioned to do well in follow on courses in Digital Communications, Radar & Sonar, or applications of Adaptive Signal Processing.