Common Android Smartphones and Apps for Cost-Efficient GNSS Data Collection: An Overview

Abstract

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors are increasingly considered as major sources of precise Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) information. Android-based smartphones contain inbuilt GNSS sensors, and they now contribute to a major global GNSS market segment. Various hardware and Android-based applications (App) developments are witnessed to best exploit the current multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS environment. Since Android version 7.0 (Nougat) and Location Application Programming Interface (API) 24, recording GNSS raw data in the smartphone became possible. This paper describes the potential of commercial Smartphones and reviews the capabilities of Android Apps for cost-efficient GNSS measurements for the geospatial community and a novel classification of the Apps based on their capabilities and usability. Results on the positioning capability of common smartphones using real-time data show the achievable modest solution precision, and these are suitable for use of the devices in geomatics applications, improved App development, and for IoT-based system and infrastructure development.

KEYWORDS:

• Android application
• App classification
• GNSS
• Position solution
• Smartphones
• Solution quality

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge Integrated Test Range, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) (Project Code: PMD/CARS/050/2020) and University Grants Commission (UGC), India (Project: CAS-II).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Integrated Test Range, DRDO, Chandipur: [Grant Number PMD/CARS/050/2020]; University Grants Commission (UGC): [Grant Number CAS II].

Notes on contributors

Somnath Mahato

Somnath Mahato received BTech., E&CE in 2012, and MTech., in E&CE (Microwaves) in 2014. Presently, he is working as senior research fellow at The University of Burdwan. He is a recipient of the SAIARD Junior Scientist Award and URSI-RCRS Young Scientist Award (2020). He has received Best Paper Presentation awards from the Centre for Environment and Economic Development and Geospatial Conclave (2018, 2020). He is Senior Member of URSI. His research interests include GNSS, satellite communication, radar and navigation systems, and microwave active and passive device design. E-mail: [email protected]

Debipriya Dutta

Debipriya Dutta received BTech. degree in electronics and communication engineering in 2006 from Bankura Unnayani Institute of Engineering, West Bengal, India, and MTech. degree in electronics and communication engineering (Microwaves) in 2008 from The University of Burdwan, India. She presently works as assistant professor in Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Dr B C Roy Engineering College, Durgapur, West Bengal, India. Her research interests include global navigation satellite system, satellite communication, navigation systems, and microwave active and passive device design. E-mail: [email protected]

Moumita Roy

Moumita Roy received the BTech. degree in electronics and communication engineering from West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata, in 2018, and MTech in electronics and communication engineering (Microwaves) from The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, in 2020. Currently, she is working as assistant professor in Brainware University, Kolkata. E-mail: [email protected]

Atanu Santra

Atanu Santra is currently working as a senior research fellow in the GNSS Laboratory, The University of Burdwan, India. He is pursuing PhD in part-time category in electronics and communication engineering at the National institute of Technology, Sikkim, India. He completed BTech and MTech from JIS College of Engineering and TheUniversity of Burdwan, India, respectively. His primary research area is NavIC PNT services, multi-GNSS, and ionosphere irregularity monitoring. E-mail: [email protected]

Sukabya Dan

Sukabya Dan is pursuing PhD degree in electronics and communication engineering from the National Institute of Technology Mizoram. Currently, he is associated with the Department of Physics, The University of Burdwan as senior research fellow. He got his MTech and BTech degrees from Kalyani University and West Bengal University of Technology respectively. His research interests include GNSS positioning techniques, IRNSS, low-cost GNSS modules, development of the prototype for GNSS-based applications. E-mail: [email protected]

Anindya Bose

Anindya Bose, BSc, MSc, MPhil, PhD, FIETE, SMURSI, MASI, MIGNSS, is working as senior scientific officer in the Department of Physics, The University of Burdwan, India. His research career started at Time and Frequency Section, National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, India. He is a recipient of URSI Young Scientist Award. His research interest includes GNSS and he leads the GNSS Laboratory Burdwan (GLB). He has provided consultancy support to many GNSS-based industries in India. His other research interests include microwaves communication, antennas and e-learning.