MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    Data fusion for low-cost sensors: A systematic literature review


    Oduori, Gabriel, Cocco, Chaira, Sajadi, Payam and Pilla, Francesco (2026) Data fusion for low-cost sensors: A systematic literature review. Information Fusion, 131. p. 104124. ISSN 1566-2535

    Abstract

    Data fusion (DF) addresses the challenge of integrating heterogeneous data sources to improve decision-making and inference. Although DF has been widely explored, no prior systematic review has specifically focused on its application to low-cost sensor (LCS) data in environmental monitoring. To address this gap, we conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) following the PRISMA framework, synthesising findings from 82 peer-reviewed articles. The review addresses three key questions: (1) What fusion methodologies are employed in conjunction with LCS data? (2) In what environmental contexts are these methods applied? (3) What are the methodological challenges and research gaps? Our analysis reveals that geostatistical and machine learning approaches dominate current practice, with air quality monitoring emerging as the primary application domain. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods are increasingly used to integrate spatial, temporal, and multimodal data. However, limitations persist in uncertainty quantification, validation standards, and the generalisability of fusion frameworks. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current techniques and outlines key directions for future research, including the development of robust, uncertainty-aware fusion methods and broader application to less-studied environmental variables.
    Item Type: Article
    Additional Information: This research has received funding from the European Union, Hori-zon Europe research and innovation programme under CitiObs project, (grant agreement 101086421), and University College Dublin.
    Keywords: Data fusion; Low-cost sensors; Environmental monitoring; Systemic Literature review; satellite imagery; geostatistics; machine learning; spatio-temporal data; uncertainty quantification;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography
    Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS
    Item ID: 21297
    Identification Number: 10.1016/j.inffus.2026.104124
    Depositing User: ICARUS Geography
    Date Deposited: 10 Mar 2026 15:16
    Journal or Publication Title: Information Fusion
    Publisher: Elsevier
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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