Location Acquisition and Applications in Mobile and Ad-Hoc Environments

This chapter addresses the relevance of location information as an important resource that supports other applications. This information is important for better network planning, development of new location-based services, fast deployment of assistance services, and support of surveillance and safety regulations, among others. Accuracy of location acquisition processes is an important factor because the potential for multiple new location-based services depends on it. However, noise is always present at least in two forms. Measurements taken with electronic instruments are inherently noisy and estimation algorithms introduce noise of their own in the assumption process. For this reason, this chapter explores several methods and techniques. A well- balanced solution should take into account the compromise between accuracy and delay and/or complexity. Many solutions have been proposed for new needs and new applications which demand more timely and accurate position locations of users or objects.