High-Precision Urban Positioning: GNSS and Multi-Sensor Fusion Technologies

Dear Colleagues,

Urban environments present unique challenges for high-precision positioning due to factors such as signal obstruction, multipath effects, and GNSS signal degradation caused by buildings and infrastructure. While Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) have become a cornerstone for positioning and navigation, their performance in dense urban settings is often compromised. To overcome these limitations, there has been increasing interest in integrating GNSSs with complementary sensing technologies—such as inertial measurement units (IMUs), LiDAR, cameras, 5G signals, and maps—through advanced multi-sensor fusion methods.

From a remote sensing perspective, accurate geolocation is a critical prerequisite for a wide range of applications, including mobile mapping, UAV-based data acquisition, remote sensing image registration, change detection, and spatiotemporal monitoring. The fusion of GNSS with other sensors enhances the accuracy and reliability of spatial referencing, which directly affects the quality of Earth observation and geospatial data products. Additionally, emerging research explores how remote sensing data itself (e.g., 3D building models, high-resolution aerial imagery, or DEMs) can assist in GNSS correction, positioning constraints, and non-line-of-sight detection—illustrating a growing synergy between the two disciplines.

The goal of this Special Issue is to present the latest developments, methodologies, and applications in the field of high-precision urban positioning with a focus on GNSS and multi-sensor fusion technologies. We aim to bring together contributions that address the theoretical foundations, system design, data processing techniques, and real-world applications of these technologies in complex urban settings.

This Special Issue aligns closely with the scope of Remote Sensing, which emphasizes the development and application of sensing technologies and geospatial data processing. Contributions are expected to leverage remote sensing data or techniques, with an emphasis on high-precision, urban-oriented methods and systems.

• GNSS positioning in urban environments;
• Multi-source fusion for navigation (e.g., GNSS + IMU, LiDAR, camera, UWB, 5G, Map);
• Positioning in GNSS-challenged or -denied environments;
• Sensor Integration Technology;
• Real-time kinematic (RTK) and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) improvements;
• Machine learning and AI for urban positioning enhancement;
• Integration of crowdsourced geospatial data for improved positioning;
• Integration of remote sensing products and positioning techniques;
• Urban feature extraction or 3D reconstruction enhanced by precise positioning;
• Novel GNSS-based methodologies for geospatial data acquisition and analysis;
• Remote sensing for urban mobility and smart city applications.

Dr. Hongjuan Zhang
Prof. Dr. Bijun Li
Guest Editors

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