Optimal Positioning of Wi-Fi Access Points towards Effective Indoor Positioning Systems

Abstract

Indoor positioning systems (IPS) have garnered substantial attention in recent years, offering valuable location-based services within indoor environments. The performance of IPS is heavily reliant on the optimal positioning of Wi-Fi access points (APs), as they serve as key infrastructure components for wireless communication. The objective of this study is to develop an optimal access point placement configuration using the mean and variance of the RSS power within an indoor location to achieve a superior Wi-Fi access point strategy. Additionally, the study takes into account the architectural layout, building materials, and potential obstacles within the indoor environment, ensuring that 1 m² square grid intersections were utilized throughout the floor of the study location. The findings of this research will make a significant contribution to the development of effective and efficient indoor positioning systems by providing guidelines for the optimal placement of Wi-Fi APs. The proposed strategies aim to enhance user experience in various indoor applications such as asset tracking, navigation, and location-based services. Furthermore, the method introduced in this study produced a mean value of 0.2041 and a variance value of 0.0322, thereby generating an optimal function of 1.5714 and providing a coverage of 45% compared to the pre-existing placement. Moreover, it guarantees complete Wi-Fi signal coverage in all areas of the study location, as it is devoid of any dead zones. It is highly recommended to employ this optimal placement strategy on an existing IPS.