Recent advances and perspectives for accurate positioning with low-cost smart devices

Abstract

Nowadays, satellite-based positioning systems have become the most widely used method for fast, reliable and accurate positioning in many different areas. With this method, 3D position of fixed or moving objects can be determined in the range of meters to cm level depending on the method used and the experimental setups. Among them, when it is possible to determine the position in meters with code measurements using a single GNSS receiver, this accuracy can reach cm (even mm) levels in case the carrier phase measurements are used. With the conventional GNSS positioning approach, it is sufficient to use receivers of a few hundred USD for the first method, however, the second group that requires high accuracy should use geodetic-grade receivers with prices about 10,000 USD or more. Recently, several low-cost systems have been used as an alternative to highly expensive geodetic GNSS receivers for precise positioning. The most prominent of these are hand-held GNSS receiver, smart-phones / tablets, and OEM-type GNSS receivers, and these devices are widely used in many fields, including geodetic applications. In this study, the usability of these different mobile devices in geodetic measurements was reviewed and shared in the light of the literature.