Sub-commission 4.1: Multi-sensor Systems

To coordinate research and other activities that address broader areas of multi-sensor system theory and applications, with a special emphasis on integrated guidance, navigation, positioning and orientation of airborne and land-based platforms. The primary sensors of interest will be GNSS and inertial navigation systems; however the important role of other techniques used for indoor and pedestrian navigation environmental monitoring is also recognized. The Sub-commission will carry out its work in close cooperation with other IAG Entities, as well as via linkages with relevant scientific and professional organizations, such as ISPRS, FIG, IEEE, ION.

Steering Committee - 2009

Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska (Ohio State Univ., USA) - President
Naser El-Sheimy (Univ. of Calgary, Canada) - Vice-President
Jinling Wang (Univ. of New South Wales, Australia) - Secretary
Guenther Retscher (Vienna Univ. of Tech., Austria) - Member at Large
Joao Fernando Silva (São Paulo State University, Brazil) - Member at Large

Objectives

· To follow the technical advances in navigation sensors and algorithms, including autonomous vehicle navigation, based on

- positioning sensors and techniques such as GPS (and pseudoliltes), INS, including MEMS IMU, wheel sensors, ultrasonic and magnetic sensors, and

- positioning methods based on cellular networks and their hybrid with GPS

· To follow the technical advances in mapping sensors, such as CCD cameras, laser range finders, laser scanners and radar devices

· To standardize definitions and measurements of sensor related parameters

· To study and report on the performance of stand alone and integrated navigation systems

· Report on the development, possibilities and limitations of new multi-sensor system technologies.

· To stimulate new ideas and innovation in

- navigation algorithms, sensor calibration, synchronization and inter-calibration

- real-time sensor information processing and georeferencing

- sensor and data fusion

- automation techniques for information extraction from multi-sensor systems using expert systems

· To study and monitor the progress in new applications (not limited to conventional mapping) of multi-sensor systems (transportation, engineering, car navigation, environmental monitoring personal navigation, indoor navigation, etc.)

· To promote research collaboration and to organize and to participate in professional workshops, seminars, meetings

· To promote research and collaboration with countries with no or limited access to modern multi-sensor technology

· To establish a web page providing information on the SC 4.1 activities, technology updates, and professional meeting calendar.

Working Groups

WG4.1.1 Alternative integration algorithms

Chair: Dr. Aboelmagd Noureldin (Royal Military College of Canada, Canada)
Co-Chair: Dr. Kai-Wei Chiang (Department of Geomatics, National Cheng Kung University)

Terms of Reference: This working group will focus on developing new methods to replace traditional Kalman filtering (KF) techniques and improves positioning accuracy, especially when using low cost inertial sensors. The “Alterative Integration Algorithms” WG will explore non-linear estimation and information fusion methods including artificial intelligence (AI), spectral estimation, parallel cascade identifiers, hybrid AI/KF modules and particle filters. We will target applications related to land vehicles and airborne navigation.

WG4.1.2 Indoor Navigation Systems

Chair: Guenther Retscher (Vienna University of Technology, Austria)
Co-Chair: Dr. Binghao Li (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia)

Terms of Reference: To promote research and development in the area of indoor navigation using systems, such as WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), UWB (Ultra-wide Band) and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) in combination with dead reckoning (DR) sensors including micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial systems and other low cost positioning sensors; and to integrate these location technologies with GNSS. To report progress on multi-sensor integration and fusion technologies for an optimal estimation of a current users’ location and to develop new self calibration techniques for DR based on fuzzy logic and artificial intelligence.

WG4.1.3 Multi-sensors systems for Environmental Monitoring Applications

Chair: Jan Skaloud (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland)
Co-Chair: Dr. Craig Glennie (Terrapoint, USA)

Terms of Reference: This working group investigates several topics that facilitate extending the mobile mapping concept to environmental monitoring applications. The primary goals are:

· Adaptation of mobile mapping platforms for optimal monitoring on highly inclined terrain (e.g. cliffs, avalanches, landslides debris flow, etc.)

· Introduction of rigorous quality measures into digital terrain models (DTM) derived from multi-sensor mobile platforms.

· Revision of integrity measures used in direct georeferencing of multi-sensor platforms