GPS is widely used today, but it has an issue with its inability to pinpoint locations inside buildings; electromagnetic interference and interference from WiFi, walls, and steel infrastructure can block signals and make the technology near impossible to use indoors. However, researchers are working on using a new technology to improve the quality of GPS.
“Simply knowing there are many shoppers in a mall or travelers in an airport isn’t enough; in an emergency, real-time information on precisely where in the building each individual is situated can make a life-or-death difference. Adding an element of communication significantly improves the efficacy of the solution, such as enabling individuals in an office building to inform law enforcement officials of where a shooter is located inside a building, along with other critical details of the unfolding situation. If the communication is bi-directional, more risk can be eliminated as people can be guided or directed through safe passageways to reach shelter or to exit the facility,” according to researchers.
Researchers are currently working on a new approach to locating people inside buildings. IPS technology, also known as indoor positioning system, can identify where an individual is inside of a building – even as precise as what floor the person is on and in what room of the building.
“The most accurate indoor positioning systems today often utilize a blend of technologies to ensure the highest levels of precision, broadest range of device support and affordability. Today’s IPS technologies include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, distributed antenna systems (DAS), LED lighting that emits modulated light specific to an indoor location, magnetic field energy readings from the Earth and embedded sensors in mobile devices,” according to researchers.
Wi-Fi and BLE beacons can create an indoor location map using three different methods known as signal fingerprinting, direction association and triangulation. Each of these methods relies on individuals carrying smartphones, which is very common today.
This upcoming IPS technology is ideal for use in security applications. During acts of terror, such as shootings or bombings, security and police officials need to be able to determine where people are located inside buildings to safely rescue victims. Also in other emergencies such as fires, floods, tornados, storms etc., firemen need to know how many people are in the building in order to safely rescue all individuals in dangerous situations.
IPS can also be used for commercial use – allowing shoppers in a mall to use the technology to find particular stores they plan to visit.
IPS technologies offer high accuracy, flexibility and low cost. Not only can they provide a safer environment but they are easy to install or integrate into existing security systems.
“For the incidents that are occurring with growing frequency in shopping malls, office buildings, schools and even government facilities, hybrid IPS technologies combining Wi-Fi and beacons offer the best methodology available to protect individuals, reduce injuries and prevent loss of life,” researchers said.
