Accuracy analysis of BLE beacon-based localization in smart buildings

Abstract

The majority of services that deliver personalized content in smart buildings require accurate localization of their clients. This article presents an analysis of the localization accuracy using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons. The aim is to present an approach to create accurate Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS) using algorithms that can be implemented in real time on platforms with low computing power. Parameters on which the localization accuracy mostly depends are analyzed: localization algorithm, beacons’ density, deployment strategy, and noise in the BLE channels. An adaptive algorithm for pre-processing the signals from the beacons is proposed, which aims to reduce noise in beacon’s data and to capture visitor’s dynamics. The accuracy of five range-based localization algorithms in different use case scenarios is analyzed. Three of these algorithms are specially designed to be less sensitive to noise in radio channels and require little computing power. Experiments conducted in a simulated and real environment show that using proposed algorithms the localization accuracy less than 1 m can be obtained.