A Low-Cost Portable Mobile Mapping (PMM) System Integrating GPS, Attitude Sensors, and a Digital Camera

Naser El-Sheimy, Cameron Ellum and Adel Tabsh

Abstract:	A low-cost Portable Mobile Mapping (PMM) system (MMS) has been developed in the department of Geomatics Engineering at the University of Calgary. Mobile Mapping Systems (MMS) are multi-sensor systems that integrate various navigation and remote sensing technologies together on a common land-based or aerial platform. The systems capitalize on the strengths of the individual technologies in order to increase the efficiency of spatial data collection. Unfortunately, current mobile mapping systems are costly, large, and complex, and consequently their use have been restricted to large companies and governmental organizations. The PMM system overcomes the disadvantages of current MMS, and satisfies the demand for a mobile mapping system for less-specialized users. The system integrates a dual-frequency GPS receiver, attitude sensors (a digital magnetic compass/inclinometer), and a consumer digital camera. The GPS provides estimates of the camera's position at the exposure stations and the attitude sensors provide estimates of the camera's attitude. These estimates are then used as weighted parameter observations in a photogrammetric bundle adjustment. The GPS is also used to precisely time-tag the attitude angles and the times of exposure. The navigation data is stored in a logging computer, while the digital images are stored in the digital camera itself. In this paper a brief description of the sensor integration and the essential features of the system design will be given. Data collected in the test network of the University of Calgary will be used to assess the feasibility of the system in terms of accuracy and reliability. The effect of including additional constraints and different imaging configurations was also examined.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2001) September 11 - 14, 2001 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	464 - 472
Cite this article:	El-Sheimy, Naser, Ellum, Cameron, Tabsh, Adel, "A Low-Cost Portable Mobile Mapping (PMM) System Integrating GPS, Attitude Sensors, and a Digital Camera," Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2001), Salt Lake City, UT, September 2001, pp. 464-472.
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