GPS-based real-time location-aware system in outdoor environment

A location-aware system, which is capable to detect a user's whereabout in a region and provide real-time location information in outdoor environment is designed and fabricated, specifically using the GPS (global positioning system) as key technology in view of its stability and high precision in outdoor environment. Experiment is conducted to test this application in campus-based environment. Once GPS receiver detects specific location which is tagged with GPS coordinates, the system provides information relevant to that context and user can operate and react accordingly. Besides, this location-aware system is able to provide user with the route in order to get to a desired place by detecting the direction that the user is moving towards from his/her initial location. The mapping data is transferred via wireless LAN to PDA carried by the user as well as to the back-end system on real-time basis. The test result is analyzed and discussed to validate the effectiveness of using GPS in implementing this system and indicates future works that could be made to improve this prototype to be implemented in other applications, such as theme park, tourist attraction spot or recreational park.