Indoor Positioning Systems

Use Cases Transportation Indoor Positioning Systems

	Indoor Positioning Systems

Overview	An indoor positioning system (IPS) is a network of devices used to locate people or objects where GPS and other satellite technologies lack precision or fail entirely, such as inside multistory buildings, airports, parking garages, and underground locations. A large variety of techniques and devices are used to provide indoor positioning ranging from reconfigured devices already deployed such as smartphones, WiFi and Bluetooth antennas, digital cameras, and clocks; to purpose built installations with relays and Beacons strategically placed throughout a defined space. IPS has broad applications in commercial, military, retail, and inventory Tracking industries. There are several commercial systems on the market, but no standards for an IPS system. Instead each installation is tailored to spatial dimensions, building materials, accuracy needs, and budget constraints. Lights, radio waves, magnetic fields, acoustic signals, and behavioral analytics are all used in IPS networks. Indoor positioning systems use different technologies, including distance measurement to nearby anchor nodes (nodes with known fixed positions, e.g. WiFi / LiFi Access Points, Bluetooth beacons or Ultra-Wideband beacons), magnetic positioning, and dead reckoning. They either actively locate mobile devices and tags or provide ambient location or environmental context for devices. Read More
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Overview

An indoor positioning system (IPS) is a network of devices used to locate people or objects where GPS and other satellite technologies lack precision or fail entirely, such as inside multistory buildings, airports, parking garages, and underground locations. A large variety of techniques and devices are used to provide indoor positioning ranging from reconfigured devices already deployed such as smartphones, WiFi and Bluetooth antennas, digital cameras, and clocks; to purpose built installations with relays and Beacons strategically placed throughout a defined space. IPS has broad applications in commercial, military, retail, and inventory Tracking industries. There are several commercial systems on the market, but no standards for an IPS system. Instead each installation is tailored to spatial dimensions, building materials, accuracy needs, and budget constraints. Lights, radio waves, magnetic fields, acoustic signals, and behavioral analytics are all used in IPS networks. Indoor positioning systems use different technologies, including distance measurement to nearby anchor nodes (nodes with known fixed positions, e.g. WiFi / LiFi Access Points, Bluetooth beacons or Ultra-Wideband beacons), magnetic positioning, and dead reckoning. They either actively locate mobile devices and tags or provide ambient location or environmental context for devices.

Transportation

Discrete Manufacturing
Logistics & Warehousing
Case Studies (1)

How Sirqul’s IoT Platform is Crafting Carrefour’s New In-Store Experiences

Carrefour Taiwan’s goal is to be completely digital by end of 2018. Out-dated manual methods for analysis and assumptions limited Carrefour’s ability to change the customer experience and were void of real-time decision-making capabilities. Rather than relying solely on sales data, assumptions, and disparate systems, Carrefour Taiwan’s CEO led an initiative to find a connected IoT solution that could give the team the ability to make real-time changes and more informed decisions. Prior to implementing, Carrefour struggled to address their conversion rates and did not have the proper insights into the customer decision-making process nor how to make an immediate impact without losing customer confidence.

Enabling Patient Care Through Connection Solutions

The client faced challenges in their attempt to improve patient care through objective data gathered from smart products such as Apple Watch, Fitbit, Carbon, and Samsung Gear which relates to patient compliance with prescribed medication regimen and their lifestyle patterns. The client was searching for an appropriate analytics algorithm which would help them gain actionable insights from the unstructured data. The backend came with a hive table which helped import data to the Hadoop environment. The company faced roadblocks in extracting behavioural context over time to tailor treatment according to the needs of patients with Serious Mental Illnesses (SMI). They aimed at developing a passive sensing mobile application which would enable full control and surveillance of the patients.

the IPS market is expected to grow from EUR 0.9 billion in 2014 to EUR 4.2 billion by 2019, at a CAGR of 36% between 2014 and 2019. Source: SIEMENS Log in to view content

the IPS market is expected to grow from EUR 0.9 billion in 2014 to EUR 4.2 billion by 2019, at a CAGR of 36% between 2014 and 2019.

Source: SIEMENS

How does Indoor Positioning impact an organization’s performance? Most facilities nowadays have some form of networking. There is minimal additional infrastructure that is needed to support this type of system. These systems typically consist of Bluetooth beacons placed throughout a facility that would emit a signal and then it looks for these signals and measures the strength and usage. Where is the “edge” of the Indoor Positioning solution deployed? The edge of indoor positioning may vary depending on the type of system. If it is an ultrawide banned network, it may be better in accuracy but it requires custom hardware infrastructure. If it is Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, then it may already be installed and no additional infrastructure is needed. Log in to view content

How does Indoor Positioning impact an organization’s performance?

Most facilities nowadays have some form of networking. There is minimal additional infrastructure that is needed to support this type of system. These systems typically consist of Bluetooth beacons placed throughout a facility that would emit a signal and then it looks for these signals and measures the strength and usage.

Where is the “edge” of the Indoor Positioning solution deployed?

The edge of indoor positioning may vary depending on the type of system. If it is an ultrawide banned network, it may be better in accuracy but it requires custom hardware infrastructure. If it is Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, then it may already be installed and no additional infrastructure is needed.

Which organizations, departments or individuals typically make the investment decisions and allocate the Indoor Positioning budget? Depending on the organization, it can be from the leadership team, IT team or even Logistics department. Which organizations, departments, or individuals are responsible for operating and maintaining Indoor Positioning? Typically it is the IT department. Who are the regular users of Indoor Positioning? The nature of this solution is used in warehouse environments. Log in to view content

Which organizations, departments or individuals typically make the investment decisions and allocate the Indoor Positioning budget?

Depending on the organization, it can be from the leadership team, IT team or even Logistics department.

Which organizations, departments, or individuals are responsible for operating and maintaining Indoor Positioning?

Typically it is the IT department.

Who are the regular users of Indoor Positioning?

The nature of this solution is used in warehouse environments.

What sensors are typically used to provide Indoor Positioning data into the IoT system, and which factors define their deployment? Depends on the infrastructure. If it is a Wi-Fi system then trackers are used along with Bluetooth to transmit data. Another common sensor is the Bluetooth Beacon which doesn't require any wiring. What types of analysis are typically used to transform Indoor Positioning data into actionable information? The data is used to track and locate the objects to give an accurate location. Log in to view content

What sensors are typically used to provide Indoor Positioning data into the IoT system, and which factors define their deployment?

Depends on the infrastructure. If it is a Wi-Fi system then trackers are used along with Bluetooth to transmit data. Another common sensor is the Bluetooth Beacon which doesn't require any wiring.

What types of analysis are typically used to transform Indoor Positioning data into actionable information?

The data is used to track and locate the objects to give an accurate location.

How is data obtained by the Indoor Positioning? Depending on the system it may vary. Typically if it is a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth system, trackers are placed on pallets or other objects that send signals via wi-fi to the system to identify a location. What volume of data is expected from each deployment and Indoor Positioning as a whole? Depends on the situation. However, if a large number of assets are tracked, then it can be a lot of data. Typically once every few seconds. Log in to view content

How is data obtained by the Indoor Positioning?

Depending on the system it may vary. Typically if it is a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth system, trackers are placed on pallets or other objects that send signals via wi-fi to the system to identify a location.

What volume of data is expected from each deployment and Indoor Positioning as a whole?

Depends on the situation. However, if a large number of assets are tracked, then it can be a lot of data. Typically once every few seconds.

What business challenges could impact Indoor Positioning deployment? Depending on the system infrastructure, there may be a high initial cost for installation (such as ultra-high bandwidth) or batteries. What integration challenges could impact Indoor Positioning deployment? One challenge that arises is whether this system should be completely isolated from their existing networks. WIth isolation, it may be more difficult to make use of the data. What installation challenges could impact Indoor Positioning deployment? Determining how to mount your infrastructure such as trainers or servers to support the system. What regulatory challenges could impact Indoor Positioning deployment? Educating the end user by making sure they are aware of all the different applications that can be derived. Log in to view content

What business challenges could impact Indoor Positioning deployment?

Depending on the system infrastructure, there may be a high initial cost for installation (such as ultra-high bandwidth) or batteries.

What integration challenges could impact Indoor Positioning deployment?

One challenge that arises is whether this system should be completely isolated from their existing networks. WIth isolation, it may be more difficult to make use of the data.

What installation challenges could impact Indoor Positioning deployment?

Determining how to mount your infrastructure such as trainers or servers to support the system.

What regulatory challenges could impact Indoor Positioning deployment?

Educating the end user by making sure they are aware of all the different applications that can be derived.

Logan Wendholt

IoT Technical Lead

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Overview

Indoor Positioning Systems

Applicable Industries

Applicable Functions

Case Studies

Market Size

Business Viewpoint

Stakeholder Viewpoint

Technology Viewpoint

Data Viewpoint

Deployment Challenges

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