A large part of political decisions are taken considering the spatial data, which are the basis for the knowledge of the land, of the built areas as well as support to the urban development planning and to the engineering design.
Human activities require then to know position and to be able to navigate to acquire 3D data in a kinematic way either to reach a location or to follow a route. Even in everyday life, products such as Google Earth are becoming increasingly popular and used as they allow to plan and organize activities.
The acquisition, processing and representation techniques for spatial data significantly evolved in the last two decades, thanks to the increased use of technologies coming from the ICT sector. Techniques of 3D data acquisition and instrumentation, have been improved thanks to the use of Global Navigation Satellite systems (GNSS) as the GPS, Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems, digital images and inertial systems. Furthermore, novel processing techniques allow to optimally integrate sensors and led to improve the representation of the land and the management of data related to it through GIS (Geographic Information System) techniques.
The ICT field must then interface with skilled users who work on georeferencing, processing and plotting of spatial data. It is often necessary to develop software or firmware that meet the requirements of positioning, representation and the organization of databases of geo-referenced data, or at least to become skilled users of these technologies.
This course provides the basic principles of the techniques of acquisition, processing, plotting and representation of spatial data, to create ICT professionals that know how to interface with the operators in the Geomatics field, supporting the knowledge and control of the land and built areas.
A significant portion of political decisions is made based on spatial data, which provide essential knowledge about the land and built areas, as well as support for urban development planning and engineering processes. Human activities require positioning information and navigation capabilities to acquire 3D data in real-time for location finding or route tracking. Even in daily life, popular products like Google Earth are increasingly used for activity planning and organization.
In the last two decades, the acquisition, processing, and representation techniques for spatial data have undergone significant advancements, thanks to the increased use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Methodologies involving 3D data acquisition and instrumentation have improved due to the adoption of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) like GPS, integrated inertial systems, satellite remote sensing, and earth observation technologies such as those featured by the Copernicus program. Digital images, largely collected by aircraft and drones, have also contributed to these advancements. Furthermore, novel processing techniques allow for the optimal integration of sensors, resulting in unprecedented land representation and data management using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques.
The ICT field must interface with skilled experts who work with georeferencing, processing, and visualizing spatial data. It is often necessary to develop software or firmware that meets the requirements of positioning/georeferencing accuracy, representation, and database organization for georeferenced data.
This course provides the fundamental principles of acquisition, processing, plotting, and representation of spatial data to create ICT professionals capable of interacting with operators in the Geomatics field, supporting their knowledge and control of land and building areas.
The lectures aim at providing the theoretical principles of the different measurement and spatial data acquisition techniques, the knowledge of statistical data analysis, the applications of Geomatics techniques for the land surveying, buildings and civil engineering activities, mapping, monitoring and protection of the land.
The practical parts are focused to develop the operational skills on the basis of the theoretical knowledge. The student will be trained to perform spatial measurements by means of the most up-to-date surveying techniques and to manage the different techniques for acquisition of positioning data, while assessing the robustness in presence of intentional and unintentional disturbances.
In this course abilities of data processing of on-field measurements will be developed. Practical problems will be proposed: the student will be required to autonomously develop computational procedures for the implementation of Geomatics applications, in particular concerning the monitoring and representation of the land and of the built areas.
The student will have to achieve the ability to exploit the skills acquired in the ICT domain to the fields of navigation and mapping. He will develop the ability to implement calculation tools and procedures for positioning, representation and visualization of spatial data for land and built areas monitoring.
The lectures cover theoretical principles of various measurement and spatial data acquisition techniques, statistical data analysis, and applications of Geomatics techniques in land surveying, building and civil engineering activities, mapping, monitoring, and land protection.
The practical parts focus on developing operational skills based on theoretical knowledge. Students will learn to perform spatial measurements using the most up-to-date surveying techniques and manage various methods for acquiring positioning and navigation data while assessing their robustness against intrinsic impairments as well as unexpected intentional and unintentional disturbances.
In this course, students will develop the ability to process on-field measurements. They will be presented with practical problems and required to autonomously develop computational procedures for implementing Geomatics applications, particularly those related to land and built area monitoring and representation.
Students will acquire the skills to apply the knowledge gained in the ICT domain to navigation and mapping. They will develop the ability to implement calculation tools and procedures for positioning, representation, and visualization of spatial data in land and built area monitoring.
Signal processing, statistical data processing, software development
Signal analysis and processing, statistical data processing, software development, Python or Matlab basic programming skills
• Fundamental Principles of satellite-based and terrestrial positioning
• Description of the positioning systems, focusing on GNSS receivers. Analysis of the performance of these systems both under static and kinematic conditions, considering the operating scenario, both in nominal conditions and in the presence of external impairments or anomalies
• Georeferencing methods based on GNSS measurement, digital images, LiDAR, IMU and their integration.
• Data processing and representation of 3D data
• Data representation, surveying databases, digital terrain model and GIS.
• Practical sessions on measurement techniques, data processing and plotting both on the field and in the LAB.
The course content encompasses two interconnected disciplines: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Geomatics (GEO).
Within this framework, lectures will cover the following topics:
• Fundamental principles of satellite-based and terrestrial radionavigation systems, with a focus on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)
• Detailed descriptions of GNSS systems, emphasizing GNSS receiver architecture and data
• Analysis of system performance in both static and kinematic conditions, considering operational scenarios in both nominal conditions and in the presence of external impairments or anomalies
• Georeferencing methods utilizing GNSS measurements, digital images, earth observation/remote sensing products, IMUs, and their integration
• Data processing and 3D data representation
• Surveying databases, digital terrain models, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Practical sessions on measurement techniques, data processing, and plotting, conducted both in the field and in the laboratory
The course will be based on lectures and practical exercises using on-field measurement and both static and kinematic acquisition, data processing, data plotting and 3D visualization and spatial data management. The exercises will both use Geomatics instruments in outdoor environments, as well as in the LAB, either with commercial and open source software or software ad-hoc developed by the students.
The course structure is designed to provide adequate knowledge in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Geomatics (GEO).
Each discipline is covered over 30 hours, divided as follows:
• ICT: 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of laboratory and field activities
• GEO: 18 hours of lectures and 12 hours of laboratory and field activities
The lectures include both theoretical and practical exercises, including the post-processing of on-field GNSS measurements in both static and kinematic conditions, data processing, data plotting, and 3D visualization, as well as the management of spatial data. The exercises will utilize Geomatics instruments in outdoor environments and in the laboratory, using both commercial and open-source software or scripts developed ad hoc by the students.
The motto of this course is "LEARNING by DOING," where each student understands the theory while becoming capable of applying it to real use cases.
Suggested books:
• Hofmann-Wellenhof et al (2008) – GNSS Global Navigation Satellite system. Springer – New York.
• Leick (2003) - Gps Satellite Surveying - J. Wiley – Canada. III Edizione.
• Misra P., Enge P. Global Positioning System: Signals, Measurements, and Performance, Ganga-Jamuna press
• F. Dovis, D. Margaria, P. Mulassano, F. Dominici, "Overview of Global Positioning Systems," in Handbook of Position Location: Theory, Practice, and Advances , IEEE, 2019, pp.655-705 doi: 10.1002/9781119434610.ch20
• L. Lo Presti, M. Fantino, M.Pini, "Digital Signal Processing for GNSS Receivers," in Handbook of Position Location: Theory, Practice, and Advances , IEEE, 2019, pp.707-761 doi: 10.1002/9781119434610.ch21
• N. Linty, F.Dovis "An overview on Global Positioning Techniques for Harsh Environments," in Handbook of Position Location: Theory, Practice, and Advances, IEEE, 2019, pp.839-881 doi: 10.1002/9781119434610.ch23
• Lecture notes and slides provided during the course, available on the website of teaching
In-Depth - books
• Cina, A. (2014). Dal GPS al GNSS per la geomatica. CELID, Torino. ISBN 978-8867890200
• Cina, A. (2002). Trattamento delle misure topografiche. CELID, Torino. ISBN 88-7661-534-2
• Comoglio, G. (2008). Topografia e cartografia. CELID, Torino
• Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Signal, Theory and Applications, edited by Shuanggen Jin, ISBN 978-953-307-843-4, 438 pages, Publisher: InTech, (http://www.intechopen.com/books/global-navigation-satellite-systems-signal-theory-and-applications)
• E. Falletti, G. Falco "Kalman Filter‐based Approaches for Positioning: Integrating Global Positioning with Inertial Sensors," in Handbook of Position Location: Theory, Practice, and Advances, IEEE, 2019, pp.763-838 doi: 10.1002/9781119434610.ch22
• Satellite Positioning - Methods, Models and Applications, Edited by Shuanggen Jin, ISBN 978-953-51-1738-4, 212 pages, Publisher: InTech, (http://www.intechopen.com/books/satellite-positioning-methods-models-and-applications
• Fabio Dovis (ed), "GNSS Interference Threats and Countermeasures", Artech House, 2014, ISBN: 978-1-60807-810-3
Suggested books:
• Hofmann-Wellenhof et al (2008) – GNSS Global Navigation Satellite system. Springer – New York.
• Leick (2003) - Gps Satellite Surveying - J. Wiley – Canada. III Edizione.
• Misra P., Enge P. Global Positioning System: Signals, Measurements, and Performance, Ganga-Jamuna press
• F. Dovis, D. Margaria, P. Mulassano, F. Dominici, "Overview of Global Positioning Systems," in Handbook of Position Location: Theory, Practice, and Advances , IEEE, 2019, pp.655-705 doi: 10.1002/9781119434610.ch20
• L. Lo Presti, M. Fantino, M.Pini, "Digital Signal Processing for GNSS Receivers," in Handbook of Position Location: Theory, Practice, and Advances , IEEE, 2019, pp.707-761 doi: 10.1002/9781119434610.ch21
• N. Linty, F.Dovis "An overview on Global Positioning Techniques for Harsh Environments," in Handbook of Position Location: Theory, Practice, and Advances, IEEE, 2019, pp.839-881 doi: 10.1002/9781119434610.ch23
• Lecture notes and slides provided during the course, available on the website of teaching
In-depth books
• Cina, A. (2014). Dal GPS al GNSS per la geomatica. CELID, Torino. ISBN 978-8867890200
• Cina, A. (2002). Trattamento delle misure topografiche. CELID, Torino. ISBN 88-7661-534-2
• Comoglio, G. (2008). Topografia e cartografia. CELID, Torino
• Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Signal, Theory and Applications, edited by Shuanggen Jin, ISBN 978-953-307-843-4, 438 pages, Publisher: InTech, (http://www.intechopen.com/books/global-navigation-satellite-systems-signal-theory-and-applications)
• E. Falletti, G. Falco "Kalman Filter‐based Approaches for Positioning: Integrating Global Positioning with Inertial Sensors," in Handbook of Position Location: Theory, Practice, and Advances, IEEE, 2019, pp.763-838 doi: 10.1002/9781119434610.ch22
• Satellite Positioning - Methods, Models and Applications, Edited by Shuanggen Jin, ISBN 978-953-51-1738-4, 212 pages, Publisher: InTech, (http://www.intechopen.com/books/satellite-positioning-methods-models-and-applications
• Dovis F. (ed), "GNSS Interference Threats and Countermeasures", Artech House, 2014, ISBN: 978-1-60807-810-3
Slides; Esercitazioni di laboratorio; Strumenti di simulazione;
Lecture slides; Lab exercises; Simulation tools;
Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato scritto individuale; Prova scritta in aula tramite PC con l'utilizzo della piattaforma di ateneo;
Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Individual essay; Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform;
...
The exam is organized in 2 parts: a preliminary multiple answer test and an oral discussion with the student about the topics explained during the course.
The report on the lab activities contributes to the final grade of the exam.
The multiple answers test is made by 10 questions (5 ICT and 5 Geomatics) on the topics of the course, and it is necessary to have 6 right answers out of 10 in order to proceed to the oral exam.
The questions of the oral exam aim at testing the knowledge of the theoretical concepts on positioning, spatial data acquisition and GIS, as well as the ability to apply them to solve position and navigation problems. The oral exam will be composed at least by two questions on satellite navigation and ICT part, and two questions on Geomatics part of the course. They both contribute for the 50% to the final grade, but it is necessary to achieve a positive mark (>18/30) in each single part.
Each student must deliver a mandatory individual report on the laboratory activities developed during the course
This report will be evaluated on a score range from -1 to +2. These points will be added to the evaluation of the oral exam. The score -1 is given in case either of no delivery or very bad quality of the report, while the other additional points will consider the ability of the student to solve the task required by the lab activities, completeness of the work performed, the quality of the report itself (organization of the content, quality of the figures, correctness of the solution etc..) and the methodology employed.
The report must to be uploaded in the "portale della didattica" within one week after the end of the lessons.
Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.
Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Individual essay; Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform;
The exam is organized into two parts:
• A preliminary multiple-choice test (duration: 30 minutes)
• An oral discussion about the course topics (duration: 20 minutes)
The report on the lab activities contributes to the final grade of the exam.
Study materials such as books, slides, or other resources are NOT allowed during the exams.
Multiple-Choice Test (mandatory)
The multiple-choice test consists of 10 questions (5 on ICT and 5 on Geomatics) covering the course topics. Each correct answer awards 3 points, with penalties for incorrect answers. A minimum of 18 points is required to proceed to the oral exam. The test is conducted using the student's laptop to access the online platform.
Oral Exam (mandatory)
The oral exam assesses knowledge of theoretical concepts in positioning, spatial data acquisition, and GIS, as well as the ability to apply these concepts to solve positioning and navigation problems. The oral exam includes at least two questions on satellite navigation and ICT and two questions on Geomatics. Both sections contribute equally (50%) to the final grade, and a positive mark (>18/30) is required in each section.
Laboratory Report (mandatory)
Each student must submit an individual report on the laboratory activities completed during the course. This report is scored on a scale from -1 to +2 points, which are added to the oral exam score. A score of -1 is given for non-submission or very poor quality, while higher scores consider the student’s ability to solve lab tasks, the completeness of the work, the quality of the report (organization, quality of figures, correctness of solutions, etc.), and the methodology used.
Reports must be uploaded to the "portale della didattica" within one week after the lectures end, following the deadlines set by the teachers. The report is valid until the next academic year's course session.
Final Grade Composition
• Multiple-choice test: 1/3 of the final grade
• Oral exam: 2/3 of the final grade
• Bonus: -1 to +2 additional points for the laboratory report
Laude
Laude is awarded to students who achieve a final grade of 30 or higher and demonstrate excellent proficiency in the course disciplines and topics during the oral discussion.
In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.