Testing of the Indoor Positioning System Applicable for Healthcare Facilities

Indoor positioning systems are a key mechanism for navigation and localization in interiors where GPS systems are not reliable. GPS signals are severely degraded indoors due to obstacles such as walls, ceilings and other structural elements of buildings. This situation has led to the development of alternative methods. There are several technologies, such as Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi or Ultra-Wideband, that can be used in the design of indoor positioning systems to accurately locate moving people or objects inside buildings. Each of the available technologies has its advantages and disadvantages, with the choice of the appropriate solution depending on the specific requirements for accuracy, reliability and energy efficiency. Nowadays, indoor positioning systems are implemented in many industries and simplify the processes and related activities with operations in different types of buildings. Their use also extends to intelligent buildings and automated systems, where they can contribute to more efficient control of lighting, heating or security features. Indoor positioning systems are an effective tool for the prevention and elimination of respiratory diseases in healthcare facilities. In this paper, the testing results of a proposed indoor positioning system based on Bluetooth Low Energy technology are interpreted. The aim of the testing was to investigate the effect of interference from other devices operating in the electromagnetic radiation spectrum on the quality of the received signal strength. Electromagnetic signals propagating from other electronic devices may interfere with signals intended for the transmission of information. Because the devices composing the proposed indoor positioning system communicate with each other via Bluetooth Low Energy, the influence of other present devices emitting a form of electromagnetic radiation may interfere with each other’s communication and decrease the signal quality between the devices, which may affect the positioning accuracy.