A Review of Advanced Localization Techniques for Crowdsensing Wireless Sensor Networks

The wide availability of sensing modules and computing capabilities in modern mobile devices (smartphones, smart watches, in-vehicle sensors, etc.) is driving the shift from mote-class wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to the new era of crowdsensing WSNs. In this emerging paradigm sensors are no longer static and homogeneous, but are rather worn/carried by people or cars. This results in a new type of wide-area WSN—crowd-based and overlaid on top of heterogeneous communication technologies—that paves the way for very innovative applications. To this aim, the positioning of mobile devices operating in the network becomes crucial. Indeed, the pervasive, almost ubiquitous availability of smart devices brings unprecedented opportunities but also poses new research challenges in their precise location under mobility and dense-multipath environments typical of urban and indoor scenarios. In this paper, we review recent advances in the field of wireless positioning with focus on cooperation, mobility, and advanced array processing, which are key enablers for the design of novel localization solutions for crowdsensing WSNs.