Image Processing Integration into Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry to Remotely Sense Freshwater Surface

Abstract

Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) is a technique that detects signals reflected off the surface and analyzes the reflected signals to obtain surface characteristics. This technique was used to differentiate between surface ice and water condition of Lake Michigan in Chicago. To confirm GNSS-R results validity, a separate reference is needed to compare with. A sensor fusion of camera and a lidar was used to reconstruct the lake surface. This reconstructed surface was as a reference to compare with GNSS-R results. Since the current camera frames rate being used to reconstruct the lake surface using the sensor fusion of camera and lidar is two frames per minute, this research explores the effect of increasing the camera frames rate on the reconstructed surface.