A Comprehensive Review on Deep Learning-Based Data Fusion

The rapid progress in sensor technology and computational capabilities has significantly improved real-time data collection, enabling precise monitoring of various phenomena and industrial processes. However, the volume and complexity of heterogeneous data present substantial processing challenges. Traditional data-processing techniques, such as data aggregation, filtering, and statistical analysis, are increasingly supplemented by data fusion methods. These methods can be broadly categorised into traditional analytics-based approaches, like the Kalman Filter and Particle Filter, and learning-based approaches, utilising machine learning and deep learning techniques such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). These techniques combine data from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive and accurate representation of information, which is critical in number of fields. Despite this, a comprehensive review of learning-based, particularly deep learning-based, data fusion strategies is lacking. This paper presents a thorough review of deep learning-based data fusion methodologies across various fields, examining their evolution over the past five years. It highlights applications in remote sensing, healthcare, industrial fault diagnosis, intelligent transportation, and other domains. The paper categories fusion strategies into early-level, intermediate-level, late-level, and hybrid fusion, emphasising their synergies, challenges, and suitability. It outlines significant advancements, the comparative advantages of deep learning-based methods over traditional approaches, and emerging trends and future directions. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, the review is structured using the ProKnow-C methodology, a rigorous selection process that focuses on relevant literature from recent years.