Installation of a campus-wide indoor localization system based on Wireless LAN 802.11 in 15 buildings on the university campus (available since 2011).
Motivation
Nowadays, mobile applications using location as decisive contextual information are considered state-of-the-art. The Global Positioning System (GPS) has been the decisive driver for location-based services (LBS) covering outdoor area not least because of the integration of GPS technology into modern mobile devices. However, still no convincing counterpart regarding indoor location acquisition has prevailed in real-life LBS scenarios.
Goals
Recently, commercial WLAN localization products have been introduced following a localization method having the mobile device acting as sensor or even estimating its position itself (client-based). In this research project, we develop a converse system where sensor hardware as well as position estimation is decoupled from the client, but achieved by a backend server combined with WLAN infrastructure within a complex of buildings (infrastructure-based).
Results
A campus-wide tracking system based on wireless local area network infrastructure that is capable of simultaneously tracking numerous and diverse mobile clients (i.e., cell phones, laptops, personal digital assistants and alike) in multistory buildings within a campus facility at a near real time resolution and without client software to be installed. In the course of a real-life project at the campus of the University of Linz (accessible for all students, teachers and visitors), we have demonstrated the feasibility of our tracking system since January 2011.
Partners:
Contact: Wolfgang Narzt
Publications