Civil Engineering

Geomatics Research

Optimal GPS/INS Integration for Multibeam Echo-Sounding Surveys

A. El-Rabbany

Multibeam echo-sounding (MBES) is an emerging technology, which has the potential of providing digital hydrographic data at a relatively high accuracy and reliability levels. MBES systems employ multiple sounding waves propagating at varying angles, which allow whole swaths of acoustic information to be collected on both sides of the track lines. Unlike the single beam echo sounders, MBES systems provide near-full coverage of the seabed, avoiding large uncertainties associated with the undetected depth anomalies. Unfortunately, however, because of their wide-swath, multibeam echo sounders require accurate positioning, 3-axis attitude (roll, pitch and heading), and heave information to compensate for the vessel motion. This research develops an optimal GPS/INS integration so that a reliable complete navigation solution is obtained. To meet this objective, an inertially aided RTK GPS positioning and orientation system (tightly coupled mechanization) will be developed using Kalman Filtering technique, which takes into account the various errors and biases including the heave error. As well, a neural network-based model is developed in this research for reliable prediction of the tidal characteristics over a certain region using tide data series collected at the tide gauges and buoys.

(Funding Agency: NSERC, 2002)


Developing an Integrated Navigational Chart System for Ice Navigation

A. El-Rabbany

Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) was introduced over a decade ago to provide the mariners with the required information for efficient and safe marine navigation. ECDIS is not only capable of displaying the navigation-related information in real-time but also supporting other advanced functions, such as rout planning, rout monitoring and automatic alarms. Unfortunately, ECDIS, in its current phase, cannot be used as a standalone navigation system in ice-infested waters, as it lacks information about the ice conditions. To overcome this limitation, it is necessary that the ice information be integrated into ECDIS. This research project develops an integrated navigational chart system, which combines sea ice information and ECDIS. It has three distinct, albeit linked, objectives: (1) to develop a neural network-based model for reliable prediction of the sea ice conditions; (2) to integrate sea ice information into ECDIS through the development of IHO-compliant ECDIS standards for the ice information (i.e., extension of S-57 and S-52 standards); and (3) to develop an integrated navigational chart system, which automatically recommends optimal navigation routes based on informed decision.

(Funding Agency: CRESTech, 200?)


Next Generation MEMS-based Navigation System for Vehicles and Personal Location and Navigation

A. El-Rabbany

This research aims at developing a new, integrated vehicular navigation and guidance system that is not only low-cost but also small in size. The development will be based on the newly emerging Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS). The integration of a GPS receiver chip and several MEMS-based IMU sensors on a single integrated circuit (IC) board should result in a system that could be used in general vehicle navigation application. Supported by efficient on-board data fusion and processing methodologies to be developed in this research, high performance position and attitude information can be maintained ensuring system accuracy and robustness.

(Funding Agency: GEOIDE, 200?)


Stochastic Modelling of Heave Error for Multibeam Echo-sounding Surveys

A. El-Rabbany

The heave error is considered to be the principal limiting factor that degrades the accuracy of the multibeam echo-sounding surveys (MBES). This research aims at modelling the heave error stochastically through the development of a set of empirical covariance functions, based on the analysis of INS and RTK GPS data collected under various dynamic sea conditions. As the heave signal is a band-limited signal, which depends on the dynamic sea conditions, it is expected that the signal will have an autocorrelation function that can be represented by an exponential function, i.e., a first-order Gauss-Markov process. This means that the heave signal can be modelled stochastically through the development of a set of empirical autocovariance functions, which reflect the various dynamic sea conditions. This can be achieved through the analysis of the height component of GPS data series (with low frequency trend removed) collected under various dynamic sea conditions.

(Funding Agency: Arab Academy for Science and Technology, ????)


An Innovative Active-Vision-Based Approach for Integrated Transit and Traffic Surveillance and Control

A. El-Rabbany

The objective of this research project is to develop a GPS-assisted mobile, bus-mounted machine vision technology for transit and traffic monitoring in urban corridors, as required by Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). In contrast to earlier machine vision technologies used for traffic management, which mainly rely on simple algorithms to detect certain traffic characteristics, this research makes use of a recent trend in computer vision research; namely the active vision paradigm.

(Funding Agency: CITO, ????)


Real-Time Bus Location, Passenger Information and Scheduling for Public Transportation

A. El-Rabbany

This research project focuses on one area of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), namely Advanced Public Transportation Systems. The research has three distinct, albeit linked, objectives. First, it aims at improving the accuracy and reliability of real-time bus location using a hybrid AVL system that consists of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Signpost/Odometer (SO) system. The second objective of this research is to develop a passenger information system for the provision of real-time bus arrival times at bus stops, using information on real-time bus location and real-time scheduling. The third objective is to develop a model and an algorithm for real-time scheduling based on real-time bus location and expected arrival times at bus stops.

(Funding Agency: GEOIDE, ????)


Enhancing Photogrammetric Mapping using Airborne GPS and Softcopy

M. A. Chapman, J. J. Li

(Funding Agencies: Ministry of Transportation Ontario and Ryerson University, 2003)


High Accuracy Image Metrology from Mobile Image Sequences

M. A. Chapman, J. J. Li

(Funding Agencies: Ministry of Transportation Ontario and Ryerson University, 2003)


Biometrology for Informed Decisions in Medical Diagnoses, Procedures and Treatment Evaluations

M. A. Chapman

(Funding Agencies: GEOIDE, 2002)


Automated Extraction of Urban Transportation Networks from High-resolution Satellite Imagery

J. J. Li

(Funding Agencies: NSERC, 2003)


New Collaborative Geographic Visualization Methods and Tools for Right-of-way Corridor Location

S. Li

Urban, utility, and transportation developments depend largely on innovative information technologies required for supporting their design/planning processes in order to achieve beneficial economic, social and environmental outcomes. In contrast to traditional planning processes which involve a relatively small group of experts, a democratic process has emerged requiring input from a large group of diverse stakeholders including the public. Collaborative geographic visualization (CGVis), incorporating the principle of computer supported cooperative work (CSCW), provides methods and tools to facilitate this process to maximize the above benefits and minimizing potential impact on the environment. The potential application areas of CGVis include planning new highways, utility lines, urban blocks and environment facilities, and evaluating alternatives of the planned artifacts. CGVis, however, requires careful research and design to develop methods and tools to address data requirements, representation forms, and interfaces required to support interaction with domain specific data (mostly produced by domain computation and decision models/tools) in a shared environment. The objective of this research is to develop new CGVis methods, processes, and software tools that can be used to support such design/planning process, especially in various corridor location applications.

(Funding Agencies: NSERC, 2003)


Past PROJECTS (since 2000)