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10th EC GI & GIS Workshop, ESDI State of the Art, Warsaw, Poland, 23-25 June 2004

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A PERSPECTIVE OVER THE LOCATION-BASED

APPLICATIONS/SERVICES LBS/LBA

Mircea BdutO.J.C.G.C. Vlcea; Romania; [email protected]

ABSTRACT: This paperwork brings into the attention of the GIS and IT&C specialists a newbranch of geographic information systems, represented by the Location-Based Services (LBS) and

Location-Based Applications (LBA). The real-time geo-location is based on satellite reporting

positioning (GPS) or on mobile telephony cellular networks, and can be used in a large variety ofapplications.

KEYWORDS: GIS, LBS, LBA, GPS, GSM, GPRS; location-based services/applications; on-line

tracking; real-time locating.

INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION

Referring to those information technology and telecommunication applications whoseessence is the dynamic geo-spatial locating, the LBS/LBA acronyms (Location Based

Services/Applications) denominate a new but vigorous branch of the GIS domain. The LBS and

LBA have in common the fact that both establish, in real-time, the location/position of some

entities, so being appropriate for mobile application (dissimilar to classical GIS, where the entities positioning is off-line obtained, only after certain input data processing, and the entities are

usually very immobile.) On the other hand, the LBS if different from LBA in that the first are

constituted as services, in a client/server relation (services offered by the providers to somecustomers, and at least one of these parts is mobile and has a very desired geo-spatial

location), but the LBA generically designate the IT applications based on geo-spatial locating. Yetwe can observe that this is a conjunctural and even conventional discrimination, because an LBS

can contain LBAs, but we can consider that an LBA partially/integrally includes LBS systems. Ifwe appeal to statistics to clarify this terminology matter, we find that between the two the

dominant acronym is LBS.

Under the tendency to clarify these things, I propose the following functional definition:

LBS (Location-Based Services) refers to the automated services able to dynamically

provide/supply information about a certain geo-spatial position: returning the actual location

(of the user), or the position of a traced/followed objective (person, automobile, maritime/aerial

ship, cargo, building, object) relative to the current position of the user.

Even though in the poor- and developing- countries the geo-spatial location-based

services do not appear convinced yet, LBS will obviously form a distinct industry.


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Figure 1: Symbolic cumulus of LBS connections

SOME DETAILS ABOUT LBS"

The location-based services combine GIS applications with mobile devices (cellular

phones, PDA, GPS

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receivers, notebooks, etc), creating profound links betweentelecommunications and applied informatics (geo-database) industries. This is why most GIS

software producers are determined to enter this new market, cooperating with different

telecommunications providers.

This new domain has manifested itself in conjunction with the Internet (sometimes being

referred to as Internet Mobile Services/Applications). The worldwide digital network often provides the communication infrastructure (or, at least, a model for the interoperability of the

involved devices/applications).

In most cases, the chain for supplying such services requires:

telecommunication mobile devices;

locating infrastructure (means for spatial/geographical locating, such as GPS receivers, theGSM/CMDA mobile phone cellular network, and other technologies);

the geographic information system (GIS), containing the map of the respective zone but also

having the spatial analysis tools (the network analysis features being of prime importance,especially for telematics applications);

the final application (serving the end-user with the informational contents profiled/customized

on hereof demands).

We primarily retain that the location-based services are dependent of devices and of

networks. Secondly, they can operate via wireless devices (communication through dedicatedelectromagnetic waves), or via Web (Internet), SMS, MSM/EMS, PDA, or even through voice

telephony.

Figure 2: LBS chain

1 GPS helps the localization at ground level by correlating the positioning vectorial informationsimultaneously received from many specialized satellites.


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A generic LBS consists in a trustful telecommunication system, plugging a locatingsystem (based on GPS mobile receivers, or on cellular positioning in the mobile-phone network,

or on radar, or on any other method) able to furnish somehow geo-spatial positions, a digital

coherent map of a covered zone, and of course an application (software+hardware) capable of

representing the respective location (usually on the map, or by other conventions/means) to be

read by the human operator.

Now I have to insist on the cartographic issue, because especially in the poor- and

developing- countries, where not all the territory is digitally and consistently mapped it still

constitutes a hiatus, and I will explain what I mean by coherent map: digital map (vectorial preferred) as a homogenous representation of the region (city, county,

district, country);

without discontinuities and consistency disparities: the map density/resolution conformed tothe reference scale term should be as uniform as possible (because the map of a large zone can

be obtained from many adjacent/contigous source maps); should be integrally transposed in a common coordinate/projection system, whether this a localone (the conventional system of each country) or a widespread system such as UTM-WGS84

(the coordinate/projection system in which the GPS receivers works natively).

Figure 3: Telematics application

TO WHOM IT IS USEFUL AND HOW

Starting from domestic applications (such as where is the nearest/closest ATM, which

is the optimal route from A to B locations which the GIS familiarized people can recognize,only that here it is about real-time assistance, and not about an off-line queried application), we

arrive at professional appliances, like sales/distribution agents management (SFA Sales ForceAutomation), fleet administration, or mobile resource supervising. Here we frame particular

implementation but also the standardized services provided by telecommunication companies.


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Among the generic clients of the geo-spatial location applications/services we can

enumerate: international carriers; utility and infrastructure networks operators(telecommunications, rail-ways, electrical power, water/wastewater, gas); mobile operators/agents;

police, ambulance, army; crisis situation management cells; sales departments of big companies,

etc.

The same LBS denominates the assistance which can be supplied by a mobile phone

operator for locating in critical situations a missing person whose phone is still working. Ofcourse, in such situation the location precision is low (tens-hundreds meters, in a GSM cell

perimeter) but this can be enough for saving a life. (For a sharper geo-location can be used several

advanced technologies which radially/circularly sector the network cell: "Cell-ID plus TimingAdvance" CGI+TA; "Enhanced Cell-ID; "Time Difference of Arrival" TDOA; "Enhanced

Observed Time Difference" E-OTD.)

Figure 4: Cellular sectoring

LBS PRODUCTS AND PRODUCERS

There is already a substantial collection of companies involved in this relatively new

market (a very potent and growable market), such as hardware providers (mobile devices, GPS

receivers, telecommunication equipment), services suppliers (Internet, digital

cartography/mapping, telecommunication), and software providers (GIS data/applications,

Internet, database, applications), from which we can choose several names (in alphabetical order:@Road, AT&T, Autodesk, Blue Marble Geographics, Cambridge Positioning Systems, Compaq,

GeoConcept, DataLogic, Ericsson, ESRI, Ford Motor, Garmin, IBM, Intel, Intergraph, Leica,

Locate Networks, LocatioNet, Lucent Technologies, Magellan Systems, MapInfo, Microsoft,Motorola, Navigation Technologies (NavTech), Nikon, Nokia, Nortel, ObjectFX, Openwave,

Palm, Qualcomm, Samsung, Siemens IC Mobile, SignalSoft, SiRF Technology, Tele Atlas,

TeleCommunication Systems, Texas Instruments, Trimble, TruePosition, Verizon Wireless,

Visteon, Webraska, and most of the car manufacturers. In the following paragraphs we close upon

some of the solutions/providers.

From ESRI, a GIS leader, we have: ArcLocation Solutions services and tools for LBS application developing and implementation;


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ArcPad a GIS specialized PDA which reunites database access, cartography, GIS and GPS

functions, offering to the field personnel almost the same quality, complexity and performance as aGIS desktop system;

ArcGIS Tablet PC allows the user to run the desktop ArcGIS suite (ArcInfo, ArcEditor,

ArcView, ArcReader) on a mobile PC.

As an Intergraph Corporation division, IntelliWhere is an infrastructure software and solution

provider, oriented to wire-less and LBS industries. From the successes of the IntelliWhereLocationServer - IntelliWhere OnDemand applications we can mention:

mobile workforce automatizing (for workers/operators who use on field information about the

spatially spread facilities/assets); directory services, for the telecommunication companies, for the governmental agencies (here

clients receive relevant information about their location, but also details concerning diverse public

services or even dynamic route assistance to reach the destination); effective and automated touristic guidance for visiting the chosen objectives (relative to their

starting positions).The recent association with Trimble has already led to solid Mobile Resource Managementsolutions.

Autodesk has a division named exactly Autodesk Location Services, through which LBS

complete solutions, or the GIS platform, or particular LBS/LBA are provided:

the Autodesk LocationLogic platform, completed by a specific applications suite, can help theproviders to deploy location-based services;

Traffic Connect, a telematics solution developed together with TargaSys (a division of Fiat

Auto company), and already equipped the Alfa Romeo 147, Fiat Stilo and Lancia Thesiscars, offering real-time European information about the location of the automobile, about weather

conditions forecast, emergency/medical services, car trouble services, the proposed destination,

hotel reservation or touristic objectives, etc (for the start this service is sustained by 800 operators

in 14 languages).

MapInfo have made available the "miAware", an XML platform for the creation of MLS

("Mobile Location Service"), contained in the core of many GIS and LBS technologies andsolutions from MapInfo (APIs, LBS functions, geo-spatial position acquisitions, find nearest

functions, inverse geo-coding, dynamic cartography generation, contents management, etc).

MapInfo also offer packets for rapid implementation of locating services (based on miAware):

"miGuide" and "miConnect". Siemens Mobile, one of the MapInfo partners, use the miAware

"GeoToolBox" in Location Enabling Server an LBS state-of-the-art solution.

Motorola is also strongly involved in telematics (as communication technology in the service

of automobiles, which combines the voice/data services for providing information concerningsecurity, productivity and other necessities of the automobiles drivers and passengers).

The core of a telematic system of an automobile is the TCU (Telematics Communications Unit),

which is on-line connected (by radio waves) with one of the assistance service center. Such

services can include the real-time navigation/routing support, traffic information, ambulancedispatching for crisis/emergency situations, hiring the technical assistance towards the troubled on-

road cars. In extremis, the same TCU (if connected to the board computer) could be used forremote diagnosis of technical failures (as it happens in cars races).


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another implication of the company in the LBS is that Motorola produce the Instant GPS chip,

designed for real-time GPS-based locating applications. ViaMoto a recently awarded product includes in the same unit more services: a navigation

device (GoViaMoto), a local information guide (FindViaMoto), and a personal assistant

(GetViaMoto). So, the GoViaMoto engages the digital map from NavTech transforming the

mobile phones (GPRS compatibile, or those with GPS capabilities) into navigation systems, and

the FindViaMoto transforms the mobile device (telephone, PDA) into a local information guide,

recommending restaurants, hotels, ATMs, banks, touristic objectives.

I choose from Lucent Technologies an LBS solution based, this time, on the GSM networks.

Using the E-OTD technology (Enhanced Observed Time Difference), the Cursor (developedby Cambridge Positioning Systems) allows mobile phone geo-locating with a precision of 50

meters in the territory covered by the cells/relays/antennas of the mobile telephony operator, and it

exploits the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and EDGE (Enhanced Data for GlobalEvolution) facilities/features.

Not long ago (January 2004) DataLogic International has launched a GPS based solution forautovehicle tracing (as a M2M Machine-to-Machine application). Named Panther, this first

tracing device from DataLogic consists in a GPS receiver and a wireless modem capable to

communicate with GSM, DCS and PCS networks. Once installed on a vehicle, the device allows a

complete control over a cell phone, from a PC or from a landline. Panther can be placed in the

vehicle also without an on-line connection, but in a manner that can allows it to report if thevehicle is stolen or if it was moved from the last parking station.

By using an independent interface, or a web-based one, the users can interrogate the vehicle

concerning its location but also about airbag state, anti-stealing alarm state, speed, direction andstopping-time. In addition, the users can deploy particular functions, such as the remote vehicles

door unlocking by a mobile phone call, or the receiving of an automated customized alert.

The Panther solution points to tracking services and the recuperation of stolen vehicles. Its

applications include: public security, goods distribution/supplying chain management, industrialequipment monitoring, cargo tracking, traffic control, domestic automation.

The GIS software providers are offering (beyond the classic gamut) diverse componentsand tools for dynamic cartography/mapping development (ActiveX controls, displaying DLLs,

coordinates conversion DLLs, GPS information integration DLLs and COM library), designed for

LBS/LBA implementation. As an example, for the rapid and precise displaying of GPS data in

LBS application (under the Windows operating system) the DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange)

messaging will be usually used.

THE FUTURE PERSPECTIVE

According to the Yankee Group and McKinsey analysts, the wire-less telemetry

market, today estimated at USD 1,15 billion, will grow in the USA, Japan and Western Europe

regions to 3,6 milliards in 2006, and then to 100 milliard after the 2010s. It is foreseen that until2006 half the GSM terminals (cellular telephones, M2M transceivers) will be connected to

automobiles, and only 50% will be still used only for voice.


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STANDARDIZATION EFFORTS

The members of the OpenGIS Consortium (OGC being an international organization

constituted for GIS market regulation and for assuring GIS data/application interoperability) have

adopted a series of specifications for geographical location-based services implementation. On

January 20, 2004, at the OGC reunion from the United Nation headquarters, the OpenGIS

Location Services specifications were approved (details about OpenLS can be found at

http://www.opengis.org/specs/?page=specs).

OpenLS implementing specifications define a set of interoperable core interfaces

designed for LBS/LBA implementation. The destination of these interfaces points to: accessingdirectory services (such as yellow pages); route finding; gateways for location finding; geo-

coding (locating geo-spatial positions of some entities based on the descriptive associated

attribute); inverse geo-coding (synthesizing descriptive information from the vectorial data of geo-spatial entities), and also portrayal services using standard web protocols. These interfaces allow

the telecommunication companies, the telematics providers, the traditional GIS companies and theLBS providers to efficiently develop and implement LBS interoperable applications which canaccess multiple data and services through diverse networks and devices around the world.

The organizations that subscribed to the implementation OpenLS specifications are:

Autodesk, ESRI, Image Matters, Intergraph IntelliWhere, MapInfo, Webraska. These

organizations have also appreciated the contribution of other OGC members: Hutchison 3G,IONIC Software SA, Navigation Technologies, Oracle, Sun Microsystems.

TO CONCLUDE

The LBS domain is now developing because of the convergence of five technologies:

data telecommunication services (GPRS, UMTS, 3G); avant-garde mobile devices (GSM/CDMA phones, PDAs, PDA/phone combo)

distribution of Internet documents/information (HTTP, DHTML, XML);

GIS (technology materialized in digital source maps, searching features, etc); GPS (GNSS; GPS receivers).

The spreading of these technologies, their cost decreasing and the rising of their

accessibility, have descended geo-locating applications (which, theoretically, exist from a long

time ago) from their ivory tower.

However, this technological convergence is only happening where it find an

infrastructure developed well enough and an IT wealthiness. But the assimilation speed alsodepends on other conditions/issues (including economical, social and political/legislative).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Badut, M., (2004). GIS fundamente practice, Albastra Publishing House, Cluj-Napoca.

Badut, M., (2003). LBS - servicii bazate pe localizare spatial, article in the NET REPORTmagazine, no.5, pp.72-73

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