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SLAM and Multi-Sensor Fusion for Robotics, Low-Altitude Remote Sensing, and 3D Applications

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 288

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Interests: multi-sensor fusion; SLAM; UAV LiDAR; low-altitude remote sensing; 3D mapping

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) has become a key technology in robotics, autonomous systems, and remote sensing. With the rapid development of low-altitude platforms such as UAVs, backpack and helmet systems, and compact robotic platforms, there is an increasing demand for robust SLAM and multi-sensor fusion approaches that enable accurate 3D perception in both structured and unstructured environments.

This Special Issue seeks to collect contributions that explore novel methods, system integration, and real-world applications of SLAM in robotics and low-altitude remote sensing. Emphasis will be placed on advancing theories and techniques that support autonomous navigation, environmental monitoring, and 3D mapping across diverse scenarios, from urban and indoor spaces to forestry and underground environments.

Suggested themes include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • SLAM algorithms with LiDAR, vision, radar, GNSS, and IMU;
  • Multi-sensor calibration, synchronization, and fusion;
  • Low-altitude remote sensing and UAV-based 3D mapping;
  • Wearable/mobile mapping systems and field applications;
  • Semantic SLAM and 3D data analysis for environmental monitoring;
  • Applications in forestry, smart cities, underground spaces, and autonomous delivery;
  • Benchmark datasets and evaluation for large-scale SLAM.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Jianping Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • SLAM
  • multi-sensor fusion
  • low-altitude remote sensing
  • UAV LiDAR
  • robotics
  • 3D mapping
  • semantic point cloud
  • GNSS-denied environments
  • environmental applications

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 4676 KB  
Article
A Dual-Frame SLAM Framework for Simulation-Based Pre-Adjustment of Ballastless Track Geometry
by Bin Cui, Ran An, Zhao Tan, Chunyu Qi, Debin Shi and Qian Zhao
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 1148; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16021148 (registering DOI) - 22 Jan 2026
Abstract
The geometric precision of ballastless tracks critically determines the performance and safety of high-speed railways. Traditional manual fine adjustment methods remain labor-intensive, iterative, and sensitive to human expertise, making it difficult to achieve sub-millimeter accuracy and global consistency. To address these challenges, this [...] Read more.
The geometric precision of ballastless tracks critically determines the performance and safety of high-speed railways. Traditional manual fine adjustment methods remain labor-intensive, iterative, and sensitive to human expertise, making it difficult to achieve sub-millimeter accuracy and global consistency. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a virtual-model–enabled pre-adjustment framework for high-speed ballastless track construction. The framework integrates a dual-frame SLAM-based and multi-sensor measurement system based on RC-SLAM principles and a local attitude compensation model, enabling accurate 3D mapping and reconstruction of long-track segments under extended-range and GNSS-denied conditions typical of linear infrastructure scenarios. A constraint-based global optimization algorithm is further developed to transform empirical fine adjustment into a computable geometric control problem, generating executable adjustment configurations with engineering feasibility. Field validation on a 1 km railway section demonstrates that the proposed method achieves sub-millimeter measurement accuracy, improves adjustment efficiency by over eight times compared with manual operations, and reduces material waste by $2800–$7000 per kilometer. This paper demonstrates a previously unexplored execution-level workflow for long-rail fine adjustment, establishing a closed-loop paradigm from measurement to predictive optimization and paving the way for SLAM-driven, simulation-based, and multi-sensor–integrated precision control in next-generation railway construction. Full article
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