Urban GNSS positioning in a car mobility scenario using Android-powered terminals: A case study in the Tri-City

With the advancements in mobile navigation, and thanks to the availability of portable devices, it is possible to calculate the trace and continuously monitor a user’s position. Due to widespread access to smartphones, any person can easily check their location, regardless of where they are at a given moment. This becomes an important factor in everyday life, especially while driving a car in an urban environment or agglomeration. In addition, mobile network operators and service providers themselves use location-based information to monitor and improve the quality of their services. This paper presents the results of a measurement campaign, which was carried out using Android-powered smartphones. The analysis includes four devices, originating from different manufacturers, with varying technical specifications, particularly supporting global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs). The data were gathered while driving a car in various surroundings, including natural as well as manmade objects. The outcomes of the performed experiments may be of particular interest to both scientists and practitioners who rely on navigation systems and services on a daily basis.