april 26, 2005location awareness infrastructure at virginia tech using place lab 1 location...

April 26, 2005 Location Awareness Infrastructure at Virginia Tech Using Place Lab

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Location Awareness at VT Using Place Lab

Triiip BowenTim Buennemeyer

Ingrid BurbeyVinit Joshi

ECE5564 Semester Project

http://www.vt.edu/

http://www.placelab.org/


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Agenda

• Problem Statement• Background• Topology• Methodology• Application Approach• Challenges

Encountered

• Successes Achieved• Resulting Applications• Recommendations

and Future Work• Project Artifacts• Conclusion• Questions

http://www.vt.edu/



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Problem Statement

• Can location determination be achieved using existing RF signals at VT and the surrounding community?

• If so, then employ the technology to develop and enhance location applications.

http://www.vt.edu/



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Location Awareness Background• 802.11B/G wireless access points are a key

component of today’s network infrastructure

• Immature ubiquitous systems are emerging in the public and private sectors

• Changes in information technology and networking industry have led to location awareness technologies that hinge on mapping signal strengths of wireless access points.

http://www.vt.edu/



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Place Lab Background• Developmental, general-area location estimation tool

suite using WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM, & GPS• Limited documentation and NO PL user’s guide• 2 methods to map access points:

– “PlaceLabStumbler” can discover and map access points by measuring signal strengths

– Use known access point locations

• Logs are uploaded to the global PL database• Downloaded “Beacons” used to estimate user location

http://www.vt.edu/



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Place Lab Topology

http://www.vt.edu/



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Methodology

• Understand the Software• Gain Foothold Presence at

VT and Area– Place Lab Stumbling– Mapping

• Application Development• Create Users Guide

http://www.vt.edu/



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Evolutionary Application Approach

• Indoor Location Awareness– Torgersen

• Outdoor Location Awareness– Downtown Guide

• Indoor/Outdoor Location Awareness– Assistive Technology Accessible Points

• Mapwad Creation Utility

http://www.vt.edu/



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Challenges Encountered• Uncommented Code and NO Java Expert in Group• Permission to Upload VT_WLAN Logs• Quirky PL Software Errors• No SW Support• PL Stumbling Crashes

http://www.vt.edu/



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Successes Achieved

• 3000+ Beacons Discovered & Uploaded• PL Capability Established at VT & Local Area• Numerous Maps Geo-Referenced (mapwads)• Applications Implemented• Utilities In-Progress

http://www.vt.edu/



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Successes Achieved

http://www.vt.edu/



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Resulting Applications

• Downtown Guide• Assistive Technology Guide (NE Campus)• Where am I? Landmark Guide• Utilities

– Mapwad Builder– Scene Analysis (Fingerprint)

http://www.vt.edu/



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Recommendationsand Future Work

• Identify Accurate Mapping Source• Refine Utilities• “Stumble” Using GSM and Bluetooth Modes• Expand Across Campus• Use Known Access Point Locations• Scale Application for Use on PDA• Refine Application and Team w/ VT for Use and Data

Collection (VT Marketing and Campus Tour Guide)• Potential New Applications:

– Network Security– Track Visitors– Campus Police

http://www.vt.edu/



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Project Artifacts

• Mapwads with “Places”– Montgomery County– Blacksburg– Downtown– NE Campus– ADA Access on Campus– Torgersen

http://www.vt.edu/



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Project Artifacts (2)

• User’s Guide• 3000+ Beacons Uploaded to PL & Wigle Net• “Where Am I” Tour (Driving & Torgersen)• Basic Fingerprint Code Developed & Tested• Merged PL Stumbler & “Where Am I”

– Middleware Layer – Graphical Front End for Location Application

• Mapwad Builder Utility

http://www.vt.edu/



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Conclusion

• PL does NOT provide accuracy required for Indoor Navigation

• Location Error is Directly tied to Mapping Source, Procedure, and Human Error

• PL baseline has been established!!• Lots of work still to be done• Available for YOU to work on over the

Summer! (It can be done in a week….)

http://www.vt.edu/



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Questions

http://www.vt.edu/


april 26, 2005location awareness infrastructure at virginia tech using place lab 1 location...

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