Accurate Position Location Information in GPS-Denied Forests and Jungle Environments

Maintaining accurate position location information (PLI) during operational missions is a critical requirement for the dismounted soldier. This requirement is unmet in heavily forested and jungle environments where GPS reception is unavailable due to dense canopy cover. In such environments, soldiers must determine their location by using visual landmarks, or by seeking open clearings where Global Positioning System (GPS) reception can be re-established. Alternatively, dead-reckoning systems that rely on Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors can help soldiers maintain PLI over moderate distances, but these devices cannot retain positional accuracy over extended ranges. Creare proposes to address this critical Army need by developing the Tree-Based Positioning System (TPS). This technological solution will combine a laser-based metrology system for determining local tree patterns, and geolocalization algorithms that will provide accurate PLI through spatial pattern matching of local tree maps against a georegistered reference tree map of the operational area.