NAVISP CAMALIOT and Google Research Lead the Way in Crowdsourced Ionosphere Mapping

Last Updated: 09/12/2024 08:27     Created at: 09/12/2024 08:27

NAVISP EL1-038 CAMALIOT, with its twin EL1-038 bis, and Google Research are pioneering the use of crowdsourced smartphone data to map the ionosphere, a key factor in satellite navigation accuracy. CAMALIOT, the first project of its kind, uses data from over 12,000 users and 150 billion GPS observations, integrating smartphone data with high-quality GNSS stations for improved ionospheric predictions and space weather monitoring. 

Google Research has also developed a similar approach, utilizing millions of Android phones to create highly accurate ionosphere maps, particularly in regions with sparse ground stations. While both projects aim to enhance GPS accuracy, Google’s has the advantage of a larger dataset, benefiting from denser mobile phone usage in areas like Southeast Asia and Africa. While CAMALIOT operates within the framework of European infrastructure, its pioneering approach in combining smartphone and geodetic data has already yielded unique insights into space weather phenomena and significantly enhanced global ionospheric models.

These efforts highlight the potential of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Leaning to improve scientific understanding and satellite navigation, with both projects paving the way for more detailed global ionospheric models and more accurate ionospheric measurements, improving overall navigation accuracy. 

The CAMALIOT projects were run under NAVISP Element 1, which supports innovation and disruptive technologies across the Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) value chain.