Sensor Fusion Fuels Innovation in Geospatial Industry

Although improvements to sensor technology have been driving the geospatial industry forward for as long as there has been a geospatial industry, only recently have advancements in sensor technology become more mainstream, thanks in large part to innovation in the consumer product segment.

Today, sensor fusion – combining data from multiple, and in some cases various types of sensors – is spurring several industries forward, including autonomous vehicles, consumer electronics, home automation, gaming, and our very own geospatial technology development.

Sensor fusion is on our minds every day as we walk the halls of Trimble and work to develop the leading edge of geospatial technology. By combining data from a more sophisticated and wider variety of sensors, users can reduce costs, get better positioning accuracy, and increase the overall reliability and robustness of data.

While GNSS needs direct access to satellites, IMUs do not. What IMUs lack in stability, GPS makes up for with its slower uptake but steady reliability, and LiDAR and cameras are becoming increasingly important for mobile mapping and driverless vehicles. 

By leveraging the strengths of different types of sensors and then fusing the data from them all, we are able to harness that data in powerful new ways. Combined with software that can help get the most out of that data, sensor fusion can help solve some of today’s biggest business problems. 

To read more about how sensor fusion is driving advances in geospatial technology, check out this recent article written by Trimble engineer Shawn Weisenburger and published by LiDAR magazine.