White PaperIndoor Positioning & Services2Content1 The Basics of Indoor Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1.1 Quick Start – Client- and Server-Based Indoor Positioning . . . . . . . . . 4 1.2 Technology Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1.2.1 Wi-Fi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1.2.2 Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1.2.3 Ultra-wideband (UWB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 1.2.4 RFID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Hardware for Indoor Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 2.1 infsoft Locator Nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 2.2 infsoft Locator Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Solutions & Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 3.1 Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 3.1.1 Indoor Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 3.1.2 Indoor Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 3.1.3 Indoor Analytics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 3.1.4 Geo-Based Processes & Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 3.2 infsoft Software Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 3.2.1 Setup of Indoor Localization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 3.2.2 Administration of Indoor Localization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 3.2.3 Data & Output – Analytics, Tracking, Geotriggers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 3.2.4 SDKs & Web Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Industries & Examples of Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 4.1 Industrial Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 4.2 Airports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 4.3 Railway Stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 4.4 Health & Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 4.5 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 4.6 Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 4.7 Retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 4.8 Trade Fairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303EditorialDear readers,The field of indoor positioning and indoor navigation has been undergoing sustainable changes and expe-riencing exciting new developments since I founded infsoft in 2005. Over the years, we successfully demonstrated our ability to adapt fast to new trends and circumstances, anticipating and inventing new ways to connect locations. Today, positioning and navigation solutions for indoor contexts include technologies based on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), and RFID, just to name a few. We intend to build on this momentum, combining fundamental concepts in hybrid approaches to aim for more accurate, precise, and efficient solutions. There is always plenty of space for improvement and innovation, and I am very excited for what is yet to come!With this white paper, we want to provide you with a guideline to help you find a way through the complex topic of indoor positioning and related services. You can use it to get an overview of the different positioning techniques, learn more about the wide range of possible applications, and get to know our products and solutions. If you want to dig deeper, you can always have a look at our website, or our indoor navigation wiki.If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.Would you prefer to reach out to us via Facebook or Twitter? No problem, please stay connected and let us in on your thoughts!All the best,Tobias DonaubauerCEO Tobias Donaubauer41 | The Basics of Indoor PositioningIndoor positioning systems (IPS) enable you to locate the position of objects and people within buildings. GPS, however, is not available in interior spaces, because there is no visual contact with the GPS satellites. Furthermore, with GPS, it is not possible to determine the floor level a device is located on. That is why an IPS has to rely on other localization methods. There are two approaches to put such an “indoor GPS” into practice.Quick Start – Client- and Server- Based Indoor PositioningIndoor positioning is based on a transmitter- receiver model where there are two possibilities to determine the current location of a person or asset indoors: client- and server-based approaches.Client-based:A client-based technology is used to keep track of individuals that might require a back channel for further information exchange (visualization of own position on a map, location-based alerts, task management etc.) and for navigation purposes. Hence, a smart device with a specific application is handling the indoor positioning based on external signalers such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in combination with the internal smartphone sensors (e. g. accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetic field sensor etc.). The position is determined on the smart device but can also be transferred continuously to a backend to provide supervisors with the user’s current location. Therefore, the device requires a network connection. Client-based and server-based indoor positioning5Server-based:A server-based technology is used to keep track of assets and persons and comes with a typical one-way communication towards the receiver. In most use cases, there is no back channel to the transmitting device. The receiver hardware is installed within the client’s premise to capture the signals of the transmitters/senders and to transfer the data to a backend engine. infsoft can set up interfaces for indoor positioning from third-party providers such as Cisco, HP Aruba and Xirrus to visualize the position data within our Analytics and Tracking engine. Technology OverviewTo meet the requirements of a client with regard to the requested accuracy, there are several potential sensor technologies available: Wi-FiInside buildings, Wi-Fi is a good alternative to GPS. In most cases it is easy to install a Wi-Fi positioning system (WPS), since existing Wi-Fi infrastructure can be used (e.g. cash register systems, public hotspots, access points of shops or exhibitors). The user doesn’t necessarily have to connect with the Wi-Fi, it is sufficient to have Wi-Fi enabled.For positioning, the so-called fingerprinting method is used. The strength of the Wi-Fi signals (received signal strength indication, RSSI) and the MAC address (media access control) are significant. There must be a corresponding app installed on the smart-phone which calculates the current position based on these data. If a server-based solution is more suitable for the project, infsoft’s self-developed hardware – the Locator Nodes – can be used. In this case no app is required, all Wi-Fi capable devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets, Wi-Fi tags) are detected and asset tracking is possible. Comparison of different technologies for server-based indoor positioningTechnologyAccuracyRangeCross-PlatformWi-Fi5-15 m< 150 mBLE1-3 m< 30 mComparison of Wi-Fi and BLE for client-based indoor positioning6Accuracy depends on multiple factors, such as the number of available access points, reflections for example in corridors and last but not least shield-ing through walls, ceilings, and your own body. The accuracy of Wi-Fi used for indoor positioning varies from 5 to 15 meters – depending on the precondi-tions. Sensor fusion (the use of smartphone sensors) can improve accuracy in client-based applications.Wi-Fi at a glance: Pros: • existing Wi-Fi infrastructure can be used • enabled Wi-Fi is sufficient • large range (up to 150 m) • detects floor levelCons: • relatively inaccurate (5-15 m) compared to BLE/RFID • no latency guarantees • use of randomized MAC address if smart- phone is not connected to Wi-Fi network • client-based positioning is not possible with iOS devicesEXAMPLES OF USE: • occupancy analysis of office buildings • utilization analysis in rail trafficBluetooth Low Energy (BLE) BeaconsBeacons are small radio trans-mitters that broadcast signals using Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth Smart) in a radius of up to 70 meters. These signals are detected by a mobile device (e.g. smartphone) in a client-based approach or by a specific hardware (infsoft Locator Nodes) in a server- based approach.The underlying technology is using a signal strength (RSSI) measurement to determine the beacon’s position.BLE beacons are cost-effective and energy-efficient components that can run on button cells up to five years and more.For calibrating the position determination in a client- based approach, infsoft provides a calibration app, by which clients can work independently. infsoft also offers a beacon management tool to monitor battery levels and set up business logics to replace batches in certain areas.During installation and parameterization, atten-uation properties of different materials have to be taken into account (e.g. wood or glass with low attenuation properties as opposed to metal or water with high attenuation properties).Indoor positioning using Wi-Fi7BLE beacons at a glance: Pros: • cost-effective, unobtrusive hardware • low energy consumption • flexible integration into the existing in- frastructure (battery-powered or power supply via lamps and the domestic electri- cal system) • works where other positioning techniques do not have a signal • compatible with iOS and Android • high accuracy compared to Wi-Fi (up to 1 m) Cons: • additional hardware • relatively small range (up to 70 m) • instability with layout changes and radio interferencesEXAMPLES OF USE: • condition monitoring • tracking of security guards • inventory of economic assetsBluetooth beacons normally do not affect other radio networks and they also do not interfere with medical devices. However, BLE and Wi-Fi share the same frequency range (2.4 GHz). Interferences can be easily avoided by not using channels 2, 3, 4, 13 and 14 when configuring the Wi-Fi and using 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 instead. Bluetooth uses the remaining available channels to capacity in a uniform manner (frequency hopping). Advertising channels that are used for positioning are marked in red in the graphic. The blue-colored channels are reserved for additional functions such as a tempera-ture sensor. The infsoft beacon calculator can help get a rough idea of the number of beacons required for a client- based indoor positioning project.BLE beacons are available from numerous suppli-ers and come in various shapes and sizes. infsoft solutions are compatible with beacons of all manufacturers.Various beacon models (picture shows products of Kontakt.io)Optimal channel utilization for simultaneous use of BLE and Wi-Fi8Ultra-wideband (UWB)Ultra-wideband is a short-range radio technology that is mainly used in industrial environ-ments with high precision needs. With less than 30 cm, the accu-racy is considerably better than when working with beacons or Wi-Fi. Also, height differences can be measured accurately. Another advantage can be the low latency times with position updates up to 100 times / second. In contrast to Bluetooth Low Energy and Wi-Fi, the position is determined by a transit time method (Time of Flight, ToF) instead of a measurement of signal strengths (Receive Signal Strength Indicator, RSSI). This method measures the running time of light between an object and several receivers (infsoft Locator Nodes).The asset to be tracked is equipped with a small UWB tag (infsoft Locator Tag) which runs on battery power or can draw its power via a forklift, for example. The tag sends data (ID, ToF, timestamp) to the infsoft Locator Nodes. They have a fixed position in the infrastructure and can use the running time of light to calculate the distance of the asset. If the positioning data should be immediately dis-played on a mobile device (smartphone), the infsoft Locator Tags can directly communicate with the smartphone via Bluetooth or USB interface. UWB at a glance: Pros: • high accuracy • low latency times • almost no interferences Cons: • cost-intensive • shorter battery lifetime than BLE beaconsEXAMPLES OF USE: • rail wagon tracking • process optimization in automotive manufacturing • positioning of overhead cranes Due to the usage of extremely wide frequency bands with a bandwidth of at least 500 MHz, there are almost no interferences. UWB is one of the preferred solutions when it comes to the tracking of a modest number of assets in large industrial areas. However, the price per unit is significantly higher and the battery lifetime is shorter compared to BLE beacons. Server-based positioning with UWB Locator TagAsset tracking based on Ultra-widebandUWB9RFIDRFID stands for “Radio-Fre-quency Identification” and describes systems that use radio waves to identify objects or persons. In a passive RFID system, there is a transponder (“RFID tag”) on whose microchip data (usually a serial number) are stored, which can be forwarded wirelessly to a reader. The reading unit (infsoft Locator Node) generates an energy field that activates the RFID tag. In order to enable information exchange, the distance between Locator Node and transponder must be less than one meter (remote-coupling).No matter which industry you are thinking of – since it is a very versatile technology, RFID can be used almost everywhere. Common applications are systems for access control, time recording or inven-tory control in logistics. Since reliable identification of products or objects is required in many indus-tries, RFID is particularly suitable as an asset track-ing solution.Since passive transponders do not have their own energy source, they are almost maintenance-free. As a result, initial acquisition costs will pay off in the long term in most cases. RFID tags do not require visual contact with the reader, and they are durable against impact and environmental factors.RFID at a glance: Pros: • very high accuracy • immunity to interferences • no battery neededCons: • short range (< 1 m) • only providing a “point-in-time” location • installation requires significant planning • infrastructure can be expensiveEXAMPLES OF USE: • analysis of consumer behavior in a supermarket • asset tracking in logisticsCombining RFID systems with other positioning tech-nologies can solve the biggest problem of passive RFID technology: objects equipped with RFID tags can only be located at a specific point – namely exactly where RFID hardware (e.g. Locator Nodes) has been installed. However, if for example a fork-lift truck is equipped with an infsoft Locator Node, whose sensors not only respond to RFID, but also to Ultra-wideband (UWB), a link between the position data of the forklift truck and the identification times of RFID-tagged goods can be established.Combination of RFID and UWB for identification and localization of goodsNext >