Remote Pedestrian Localization Systems for Resource-Constrained Environments: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The steady increase in the number of elderly citizens represents a likelihood of an increased burden on the family, government, healthcare, and social services since many of these elderly people cannot live independently without assistance from a caregiver. As such, there is an increase in demand for services in terms of technologies to address the urgent needs of the aging population. Remote monitoring, which is based on non-invasive, non-intrusive, and wearable sensors, actuators, and communication and information technologies, offers efficient solutions that bridge the gaps between healthcare and where elderly people really want to live every day. The rate at which such platforms have been adopted is extremely low in low-developed countries and rural areas, one of the main reasons being the lack or scarcity of some resources that these systems take for granted. In other words, these systems are designed for developed countries but are very much needed in resource-constrained environments as well. This study provides an in-depth, state-of-the-art systematic review of the current outdoor remote pedestrian localization systems to identify their suitability for resource-constrained environments. After checking 35 survey papers from the last ten years to the best of our knowledge, this is the first survey that investigates the suitability of existing pedestrian localization systems for a resource-constrained environment. This study is based on PRISMA guidelines to provide a replicable work and report the studies’ main findings. A total of 37 works published between 2012, and January 2023 have been identified, analyzed, and key information that described the devices and tools used, communication technologies, position estimate technologies, methods, techniques and algorithms, and resource optimization strategies currently used by the localization systems was extracted to help us answer our question. The results indicate they are not fit for a resource-constrained environment as most assume the availability of infrastructures such as Wi-Fi, Internet, cellular networks, and digital literacy, among others, for their systems to operate properly, which are limited or not available in the resource-constrained environment described in this review.