Wi-Fi for indoor positioning and navigation

In recent years Wi-Fi positioning system (WPS) has found more and more application in many spheres. It is used not only outside but also inside buildings where GPS navigation can’t work properly because of signal blocking, multiplicity of paths and a number of other reasons. Wi-Fi provides the exact location of objects and persons, which helps to optimize business processes and increase company’s profit.

How Wi-Fi indoor positioning system works

The wireless indoor positioning system works by defining coordinates using Wi-Fi points that can transmit certain data. Using the RSSI (received signal strength indicator) and MAC-address (media access control), the system can define exactly the current location of the user’s device. The accuracy of calculations depends on the number of access points.

Depending on whether the device is connected to the Wi-Fi network or not, localization can be influenced by various restrictions. Because of accidentally generated MAC-addresses (MAC randomization), the smart device or the actual number of devices in the access zone might not be always defined correctly. If Wi-Fi is not switched on, the delay time of up to 5 min is the result of random sending of “trial request” (scanning for available access points) that is controlled by a mobile operating system. If the smartphone is connected to the Wi-Fi network, the delay time will be considerably low.

Advantages of indoor navigation using Wi-Fi

The exact location by Wi-Fi is becoming more and more actual against the development of numerous mobile applications for monitoring and tracking persons at enterprises. The choice in favor of the WiFi tracking technology is resulted from its advantages:

• using a wide range of different types of existing Wi-Fi access points;
• possibility to scale practically without manual intervention;
• high signal range – up to 150 m;
• no necessity in additional equipment and infrastructure maintenance;
• possibility to combine with other positioning technologies for improving accuracy and flexible deployment.

Spheres of Wi-Fi indoor positioning and navigation application

Indoor location tracking WiFi is used in many spheres – from transport and logistics to industry, offices, exhibitions and museums.

Transport

The technology helps to optimize transport processes and lets passengers quickly find the route to the necessary place inside airports, railway stations. Using this system, it becomes possible to make interactive maps with points of interest, track people’s flows, ensure staff navigation in traffic centers. Constant monitoring of passenger transportation enables to quickly react to changing conditions and improve the quality of passenger services.

Logistics and warehouses

The companies, which specialize in logistics and warehousing, can use WPS for tracking vehicles and cargos. The system provides detailed information on asset location and helps to automate many warehousing operations. Thanks to constant navigation of the warehouse staff, it is possible to adjust daily tasks in real time, increase efficiency, and timely react to emergency situations.

Industry

The Wi-Fi indoor navigation system is an optimal means of tracking moving objects at industrial enterprises. Its implementation allows solving many important tasks:

• increase staff safety;
• reduce costs on vehicle downtime;
• decrease the number of emergency situations;
• adjust the routes of special vehicles in real time;
• perform analytics for taking effective management decisions.

Offices

Wi-Fi can be successfully implemented in indoor positioning at large administrative buildings. The system can build step-by-step routes to the required office, send notifications and tips that depend on the person’s location. Thanks to continuous gathering of information on movements in an office, it’s possible to perform exact analytics and optimize the work of office systems.

Museums and exhibitions

By means of Wi-Fi, you can create guides and mobile applications that will improve the performance of exhibitions and museums. The indoor wireless positioning system helps to build interactive maps of halls, develop the easiest and best routes to the required exhibit. The exhibition organizers can collect geodata on visitors and carefully study their behavior in order to plan expositions rationally.

Navigine offers a technological solution for indoor navigation systems using WiFi. With our help you get an accurate and functional tool for positioning that can be effectively implemented in your mobile applications.