GIS Data Collection Using the GPSVan Supported by a GPS/Inertial Mapping System

Josef Coetsee, Alison Brown, and John Bossler

Abstract:	GPS has attracted a lot of interest recently as an aid for collecting data for Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GPS provides an automated method for generating digital maps and also for “tagging” these maps with locations of interest to the database. Applications include: collecting digital road survey data by tracking the path of a vehicle; collecting locations of directional and safety signs and other roadside features for use in highway planning; collecting locations of utilities such as power transformers, fire hydrants, etc. The GPSVan, operated by Ohio State University’s Center for Mapping, is a vehicle designed to map highway infrastructure features at normal traffic speeds with an accuracy of l-3 meters. The GPSVan system includes a satellite receiving station which determines the vehicle’s geographic position by using GPS in differential mode. Inertial navigation instruments and a wheel counter system are also included to keep track of the vehicle’s position when GPS signals are temporarily lost. The van carries a Super VHS camera system which captures a photo log of the surveyed route. Video frames are time tagged and geodetic coordinates are assigned to the images. During post-processing, coordinate positions of objects such as road edges and centerlines, curbs, street signs, mile markers, etc are measured. Latitude and longitude positions are then assigned to objects in view and the data is converted for entry into GIS databases. From a single GPSVan survey, the precise position of all highway infrastructure elements within view of the cameras can be made available for a wide variety of GIS applications. This paper discusses the GPSVan system and some of the improvements currently under development. Updated features of the GPSVan system include the integration of a direct digital camera as well as a low cost, full inertial navigation system tightly coupled with the GPS receiver. A modular system is being developed that will allow easy portability of the GPS/lnertial Mapping (GIM) system between different survey vehicles such as four wheel drive vehicles, railroad cars, or watercraft, as the application may demand.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 7th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1994) September 20 - 23, 1994 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	85 - 93
Cite this article:	Coetsee, Josef, Brown, Alison, Bossler, John, "GIS Data Collection Using the GPSVan Supported by a GPS/Inertial Mapping System," Proceedings of the 7th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1994), Salt Lake City, UT, September 1994, pp. 85-93.
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