Kinematic survey with low cost integrated sensors for vehicle tracking

The paper describes the most recent experiences of the DICA Laboratory of Geomatics on integrated positioning systems based on low cost sensors. The study is finalised to an application for the real time monitoring and managing of a fleet of buses for public and scholastic transport service. The hardware and software components selected for the implementation on the vehicles have been tested to verify the correct operation of the system. The results have been compared with those of more advanced and complex systems including inertial sensors, carrier phase, GLONASS, code and code/phase RTCM corrections supplied by a GNSS permanent network, and post processing solutions. The tests have been performed in critical environment such as urban areas and roads with vegetation on the borders. The results of the tests permit to analyse the problem of the GNSS outages due to physical obstructions, and their reduction by means of low cost inertial devices (MEMS).