2 - Data Fusion—A Review

Abstract

Data fusion refers to the systematic integration of multisensor information. The aim of data fusion is to combine as well as manage multisensory data through the integration of information from various sources. This is done to obtain a more complete evaluation of the environment in which the sensors operate. Multisensor data integration and fusion can be described as the synergistic use of information from different sources to measure evidence or combine decisions and assist in the overall understanding of a phenomenon. This chapter gives a broad overview of what has been achieved to date and shows the potential of the data-fusion technique by presenting a resume of a number of data-fusion implementation areas. The chapter also discusses the most common methodologies and the basic principles of data fusion. The chapter also includes a survey of the most frequent data-fusion systems along with the uses as well as limitations of some of the techniques.