LTE/GNSS IOT technology as a backbone for airport ground handling operations

The necessity of a positioning service for various ground handling assets is key to improving airport performance. Reported in this article is a system named “Ground Eye”, designed to be a test of a possible implementation of the independent LTE-based communication system and GNSS-based location services. The test campaign used a total of nine prototype devices for a period of one month at Gdańsk airport (Poland). The main goal of this demonstration was to verify the possibility of using the GNSS/LTE system as a fast-deployment option in the airport environment, as well as to evaluate its positioning and communication capabilities in conjunction with React.JS/Deck.GL/Node.JS dedicated application. The test campaign verified that even with simple processing and relatively simple single-frequency measurements, multi-constellation GNSS receivers, it is possible to obtain location with precision reaching better than 2.5 metres. This precision should be good enough for all ground handling operations at modern airports, without the need for additional fixed infrastructure.