Current Limitations and Prospects for Smartphone GNSS Precise Positioning

Over the past few years, a myriad of journal and conference papers have been written about the topic of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) smartphone precision positioning – the “what” and “how”. However, very little has been written about why? This paper explores this issue by addressing the following questions. For context, briefly: What is the current state of GNSS smartphone measurement quality? And what is the current state of GNSS Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) precise positioning with smartphone measurements? To the core of the contribution: Do we need “precise positioning with smartphones”? What specific applications will benefit from / be enabled by improved positioning and why? What specific improvements are needed to meet these requirements and are they attainable? This analysis helps bring into focus the prospects of precise positioning with smartphones for consideration and research.