MAP-X: Massive Field Data Processing for Real-Time Wide-Area Mapping Using High-Altitude Platforms with MIMO

H.-J. Moon, H. Yoo, C.-B. Chae, K. Huang, R. W. Heath Jr.
Early Access, IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, Sep, 2025

Abstract
In this paper, we propose Massive Aerial Processing for $X$ (MAP-$X$), an innovative framework for reconstructing spatially correlated ground information, where $X$ represents arbitrary types of geographically referenced sensing data. MAP-$X$ leverages distributed sensors and a high altitude platform (HAP) equipped with a planar antenna array that captures radio frequency signals transmitted simultaneously from ground sensors. MAP-$X$ incorporates two key techniques that provide significant advantages over conventional terrestrial wireless sensor network (WSN)-based methods. First, MAP-$X$ enables all sensors to transmit concurrently within a single subframe, resulting in the random superposition of signals at the receiver. This non-orthogonal transmission approach enhances estimation accuracy as the number of devices increases, addressing the limitations of restricted orthogonal channel availability. Second, MAP-$X$ introduces a novel waveform design that enhances angular resolution at the receiver. Combined with linear and machine learning (ML)-based post-processing techniques implemented at the HAP, this approach significantly improves the accuracy of field-data reconstruction. This paper details the signal model, waveform design, and efficient post-processing techniques underlying MAP-$X$. Simulation results demonstrate that our framework surpasses the upper bound performance of orthogonal data collection combined with optimal covariance-based signal reconstruction, achieving superior latency reduction and estimation accuracy.