Environment-Aware and 3D Map-Aided PNT

The city becomes part of the navigation system. We use 3D city models, LiDAR maps, sky visibility, building geometry, ray tracing, digital twins, and environmental context to predict GNSS visibility, identify NLOS and multipath conditions, improve positioning accuracy, and assess reliability.

The urban environment is not only an obstacle; it can become prior information for trustworthy navigation. This pillar grew out of Prof. Hsu’s postdoc work in Tokyo and the founding ION/IAG Working Group on Positioning at Asian Urban Canyons, and it is the technical core behind both the US12123961B2 patent on 3D LiDAR Aided GNSS NLOS Detection and Correction and the long-running Huawei collaboration on 3DMA GNSS for mobile devices.