Proposal

Mobile mapping is a technology of using a mobile platform to map the environment in real-time or by post-processing. The most common mobile platforms are human, truck and drones. The Sensors, such as GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers, cameras, laser scanners, and Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) consisting of 3 gyros and 3 accelerometers, are bolted in the platform to record and map the environment in the vicinity. The mapping environment can be either indoor or outdoor. Funding is requested to build such a mobile mapping system consisting of a light weight laser scanner, compact GPS/IMU integrated unit and a multi-camera stereo imaging system, and supporting accessories. These sensors will be installed on a truck or golf cart to collect accurate 3D positions and images of the environment on the go.

The acquisition of mobile mapping system will help Geomatics Engineering faculty to provide hands –on experience to the students through existing and new courses. This opportunity to learn mobile mapping technology at FAU will also increase the career chances of our graduates as the mapping industry uses it widely. The concept of mobile mapping technology first started in the early 1990’s, and full-fledged commercial systems evolved in early 2000’s. The fast, accurate and detailed data extracted from the mobile mapping systems attract the surveying and mapping industry as it is several thousand times faster than conventional techniques. In an effort to save cost in a longer run, the state agencies and consulting companies use the technology in their projects.  

The Geomatics Engineering courses Photogrammetry, Engineering and Construction Surveying, Satellite Positioning, and the newly created Terrestrial Laser Scanning course currently have static mapping labs now. The dynamic mapping theory and practices will be incorporated in these courses upon successful acquisition of the mobile mapping system. The system will also be used in Geomatics, Civil, Ocean, Mechanical Engineering and computer science design projects. The data acquired from mobile mapping system will be beneficial to students in other schools and departments, especially Geosciences and Urban planning at FAU. Apart from instructional benefits, which will enhance and strengthen undergraduate and graduate education, the system will be beneficial for the faculty and students to perform interdisciplinary research.

This proposal requests funding for a compact laser scanner, a GPS/IMU integrated unit, and multiple cameras. For the laser scanner, we wish to obtain a Velodyne HDL 32-E that weighs less than 2 kg with 360° horizontal field of view and 40° vertical field of view to make it compatible for mobile mapping. It collects 3D position of the environment at a rate of 700,000 points per second and provides centimeter level accuracy for a range up to 100 meters.

The multi-camera imaging system to be acquired with this grant consists of eight cameras aligned and bolted next to each other for continuous and 360° stereo coverage of the environment. The cameras have resolution of 5 megapixels or more with quantization level of 12 bit or better to facilitate automatic feature extraction and matching. 

The third important component of the mobile mapping system proposed to be acquired with this grant is a GPS/IMU integrated unit. The sensors in the mobile platform will go through perturbations as they collect data. These movements and orientation changes have to be accurately measured for any meaningful mapping applications. The GPS/IMU unit measures these changes of the platform at a rate higher than 100 Hz to make mobile mapping possible.

The funds requested will also purchase a high processing Dell laptop computer, storage devices and a metal platform. The laptop will be used to collect, store and process the data. The metal platform is where the laser scanner, cameras and GPU/IMU units will be mounted on.

This project aligns well with Goal 1 and Goal2 of FAU’s strategic plan. 

Goal 1: Enrich the Educational Experience: With mobile mapping system the students will better understand the theory and applications of the latest surveying and mapping technique, dynamic mapping.

Goal 2: Inspire Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity: Working with the mobile technology will open up research opportunities for students and faculty by applying it in various problems such as highway and railroad maintenance, pavement crack mapping,  structural deformation detection, roadside waste classification, pervious and impervious surface classification, power line mapping, road design grade accuracy estimation, urban scape mapping, forest biomass change detection, storm surge monitoring, sea level rise monitoring, emergency evacuation planning, indoor navigation, industrial structures maintenance and monitoring, mapping of underground mines and tunnels, etc. It is anticipated that this mobile mapping system, if acquired, will be well suited for QEP student research projects.

Fall 2014: Acquisition of laser scanner, cameras and GPS/IMU unit

Spring 2015: Have the mobile mapping system built and tested

Fall 2015: Incorporation of mobile mapping system in Geomatics Engineering courses