A proposed Cost-Effective approach using smartphones for capturing descriptive data for geographic information systems

Abstract

Nowadays, achieving precise positioning accuracy may be accomplished by using an expensive geodetic receiver (GNSS). Moreover, some applications do not need such exact positional precision. In recent times, smartphones have included Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to determine their location, particularly for collecting descriptive data to update the attribute data of geographic information systems (GIS). This process does not require high levels of positional precision. The present study comprises two experiments. The first experiment is conducted in a small, unobstructed local region that provides optimal circumstances. Its purpose is to demonstrate the varying levels of precision in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for precise point positioning (PPP). Both single- and dual-frequency devices are used, and the International GNSS Service (IGS) correction is applied to highlight the fact that high accuracy is not necessarily required. Conversely, the second proposal proposes a cost-effective idea for an application that may be developed utilizing a smartphone to update attribute data instead of relying on a personal digital assistant (PDA) device and PPP. The accuracy ranges were determined by applying PPP, GNSS, and IGS adjustments. For single frequency, the range was 0.054 m to 0.330 m, while for dual frequency; it was 0.053 m to 0.280 m. The accuracy of location utilizing a single-frequency GNSS on a smartphone ranged from 1.2 m to 1.6 m, as shown by the revised descriptive data in GIS applications.