A low-cost room-level indoor localization system with easy setup for medical applications

Abstract

Indoor localization systems have already wide applications for providing localized information and directions. They can also be very useful in medical applications, as an individual’s indoor movements can be indicative of his/her clinical status. Research for indoor localization systems is ongoing and there are numerous solutions with different hardware or algorithmic approaches, for different use cases. Ease of setup and cost are significant factors when using indoor localization systems for medical applications. This paper proposes an indoor localization system with room-level accuracy, focusing on an easy installation procedure that can be easily followed from non-technical staff, as well as on low cost, so that it can be widely adopted. The proposed system has been mainly designed for behavioural monitoring of adults in an indoor environment. The system operates by tracking a carried device based on the processing of RSS (Received Signal Strength) measurements from Bluetooth Low Energy beacons placed in the area. The proposed system has been evaluated in realistic settings and and achieves an accuracy of 95.31% in room estimation.