WiFipaikannusta

WiFipaikannusta, often translated as Wi-Fi positioning or Wi-Fi triangulation, is a method used to determine the geographical location of a device using its Wi-Fi signals. This technique leverages the presence of wireless local area networks (WLANs) and their access points (APs) to estimate a device's position. Unlike GPS, which relies on satellite signals, Wi-Fi positioning works indoors and in areas where satellite reception is poor or unavailable.

The core principle involves measuring the signal strength of nearby Wi-Fi access points. Devices, such as smartphones and laptops, can detect the unique identifiers (SSIDs and MAC addresses) of these access points and the strength of their respective signals. This data is then compared to a database that maps known Wi-Fi access points and their locations, often compiled through crowdsourcing or pre-surveyed areas. By analyzing the signal strengths from multiple access points, a device's position can be triangulated or trilaterated, similar to how Wi-Fi positioning works.

The accuracy of Wi-Fi positioning varies depending on the density of access points, the accuracy of the location database, and the capabilities of the device. In densely populated urban areas with many overlapping Wi-Fi networks, accuracy can be quite high, often within a few meters. However, in less populated areas or with fewer detectable access points, the precision can be significantly reduced, potentially to tens or even hundreds of meters.

Wi-Fi positioning has numerous applications, including indoor navigation for large buildings like shopping malls and airports, location-based services for mobile applications, asset tracking, and contributing to more accurate device location data for emergency services. It is a complementary technology to GPS, providing reliable positioning in environments where GPS is not effective.