Indoor Location Data for Tracking Human Behaviours: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Real-time location systems (RTLS) record locations of individuals over time and are valuable sources of spatiotemporal data that can be used to understand patterns of human behaviour. Location data are used in a wide breadth of applications, from locating individuals to contact tracing or monitoring health markers. To support the use of RTLS in many applications, the varied ways location data can describe patterns of human behaviour should be examined. The objective of this review is to investigate behaviours described using indoor location data, and particularly the types of features extracted from RTLS data to describe behaviours. Four major applications were identified: health status monitoring, consumer behaviours, developmental behaviour, and workplace safety/efficiency. RTLS data features used to analyse behaviours were categorized into four groups: dwell time, activity level, trajectory, and proximity. Passive sensors that provide non-uniform data streams and features with lower complexity were common. Few studies analysed social behaviours between more than one individual at once. Less than half the health status monitoring studies examined clinical validity against gold-standard measures. Overall, spatiotemporal data from RTLS technologies are useful to identify behaviour patterns, provided there is sufficient richness in location data, the behaviour of interest is well-characterized, and a detailed feature analysis is undertaken.

Real-time location systems technology in the care of older adults with cognitive impairment living in residential care: A scoping review

“…The search strategy aimed to locate peer-reviewed published studies. This scoping review follows the work of two previous reviews ( 11 , 16 ) that focused on implementation/ethics of RTLS technologies and data analytic approaches for RTLS data. We worked with an information specialist who is trained in comprehensive searching methods for knowledge synthesis and has experience in conducting scoping reviews to plan and execute the search strategy.…”

“…One particular provider-facing technology in residential care are real-time locating systems (RTLS). RTLS, also known as indoor positioning or location systems, are primarily used for tracking individuals and equipment in indoor environments in real or near-real time or incorporated into nurse call or safety systems ( 10 , 11 ). A RTLS typically consists of a wearable device that contains a sensor (e.g., a tag or bracelet) that is worn by an individual, a number of environmentally embedded receiver devices (e.g., beacons on the ceiling), and software in order to visualize location data on a facility map, connected on a wireless network to continuously track people or items in real time.…”

“…In a previous technical review, the authors identified the ways in which meaning can be extracted from RTLS data to describe human behaviors in a variety of different settings (healthcare, education, workplaces, shopping malls, art galleries) ( 11 ). We have also completed a previous systematic review to identify factors that affect the implementation of RTLS for use with persons living with dementia in long-term care homes ( 16 ).…”

Architecture for Museums Location-Based Content Delivery using Augmented Reality and Beacons

“…Specific research for understanding patterns of human behavior using real-time location systems is also a focus of the scientific community. In [8], authors investigate behaviours using indoor-location data. They highlight four areas where these systems have an excellent usage: health status monitoring, consumer behaviours, developmental behaviour, and workplace safety/efficiency.…”

A TinyML Deep Learning Approach for Indoor Tracking of Assets

“…The goal of location-based marketing is to provide customers with a personalized experience and to provide special offers depending on their location as well as information about products or services. This type of solution, along with payment integration through notifications or tracking of consumer behavior, provides information that can improve the end customer experience [ 7 ].…”