A novel algorithm for the decomposition of non-stationary multidimensional and multivariate signals

Abstract: The decomposition of a signal is a fundamental tool in many fields of research, including signal processing, geophysics, astrophysics, engineering, medicine, and many more. By breaking down complex signals into simpler oscillatory components we can enhance the understanding and processing of the data, unveiling hidden information contained in them. Traditional methods, such as Fourier analysis and wavelet transforms, which are effective in handling mono-dimensional stationary signals struggle with non-stationary data sets and they require, this is the case of the wavelet, the selection of predefined basis functions. In contrast, the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) method and its variants, such as Iterative Filtering (IF), have emerged as effective nonlinear approaches, adapting to signals without any need for a priori assumptions. To accelerate these methods, the Fast Iterative Filtering (FIF) algorithm was developed, and further extensions, such as Multivariate FIF (MvFIF) and Multidimensional FIF (FIF2), have been proposed to handle higher-dimensional data. In this work, we introduce the Multidimensional and Multivariate Fast Iterative Filtering (MdMvFIF) technique, an innovative method that extends FIF to handle data that vary simultaneously in space and time. This new algorithm is capable of extracting Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) from complex signals that vary in both space and time, overcoming limitations found in prior methods. The potentiality of the proposed method is demonstrated through applications to artificial and real-life signals, highlighting its versatility and effectiveness in decomposing multidimensional and multivariate nonstationary signals. The MdMvFIF method offers a powerful tool for advanced signal analysis across many scientific and engineering disciplines.