Performance of GNSS/IMS Integration Methoads in Context of a Near Real-Time Airbone Mapping Platform

The Institute of Digital Image Processing of the Joanneum Research has set up a lowcost airborne platform which provides high flexibility with respect to data acquisition and data processing. Applications being typically envisaged are mapping of disasters which often require near ‘realtime’ image processing. For the direct georeferencing of each image, the parameters of the exterior orientation have to be determined with sufficient accuracy in realtime. Today the determination of the trajectory of a moving platform is increasingly based on the integration of satellitebased positioning and inertial measurement systems. The best GPS and IMU combination for the above mentioned application will be identified within a study of the Institute of Navigation and Satellite Geodesy of the Graz University of Technology. Within these tasks GPS receivers and IMUs of different quality and price classes are tested. In this paper preliminary results of the comprehensive investigation of diverse types of GNSS/IMS integration are presented. Moreover these results were used to analyse the 2D mapping potential of the lowcost airborne platform.