LoRa-based Localization System for Emergency Services in GPS-less Environments

The introduction of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to the public has provided millions of people with navigation and positioning services around the globe. However, it is known that no matter the improvements to accuracy, fundamentally, GPS cannot provide location information in extreme environments, such as underwater and underground. Hence, there is a growing need for alternative technologies and methodologies of providing localization in such extreme or GPS-less environments. This paper introduces a low-power and low-cost substitute founded on Long Range (LoRa) to realize similar localization capabilities, based on the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) techniques. LoRa transceivers support swift deployment in GPS-less emergency scenarios, providing emergency teams with critical location and sensing data. According to outdoor experimental results, LoRa is a promising solution for wireless localization systems at GPS-less environments.