Investigating the Impact of Confined Space Factors on Signal Propagation

Positioning-based systems are used in various areas of people's lives. Monitoring and tracking the movement and location of people and other entities is widespread within the outdoor environment. Over the last few years, the emphasis has been on implementing systems for determining the location and movement of people and entities in confined spaces. Confined space positioning systems are gaining importance for the navigation of people in various types of facilities where high numbers of people are present during operational hours. Also, indoor positioning systems are growing in importance due to the need to implement them in articulated facilities, which include airports, medical facilities, shopping malls and others, in order to improve security or optimize processes in these facilities. Currently, indoor location systems are a useful tool in the context of preventing and limiting the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. In this article, the results of testing an indoor positioning system based on Bluetooth Low Energy technology using Bluetooth beacons are interpreted in terms of investigating the signal propagation when using obstacles made of different materials.