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Robust localization in modern cellular networks using global map features

Chen, Junshi LU ; Li, Xuhong LU ; Whiton, Russ ; Leitinger, Erik and Tufvesson, Fredrik LU orcid (2025)
Abstract
Radio frequency (RF) signal-based localization using modern cellular networks has emerged as a promising solution to accurately locate objects in challenging environments. One of the most promising solutions for situations involving obstructed-line-of-sight (OLoS) and multipath propagation is multipathbased simultaneous localization and mapping (MP-SLAM) that employs map features (MFs), such as virtual anchors. This paper presents an extended MP-SLAM method that is augmented with a global map feature (GMF) repository. This repository stores consistent MFs of high quality that are collected during prior traversals. We integrate these GMFs back into the MP-SLAM framework via a probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter, which propagates GMF... (More)
Radio frequency (RF) signal-based localization using modern cellular networks has emerged as a promising solution to accurately locate objects in challenging environments. One of the most promising solutions for situations involving obstructed-line-of-sight (OLoS) and multipath propagation is multipathbased simultaneous localization and mapping (MP-SLAM) that employs map features (MFs), such as virtual anchors. This paper presents an extended MP-SLAM method that is augmented with a global map feature (GMF) repository. This repository stores consistent MFs of high quality that are collected during prior traversals. We integrate these GMFs back into the MP-SLAM framework via a probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter, which propagates GMF intensity functions over time. Extensive simulations, together with a challenging real-world experiment using LTE RF signals in a dense urban scenario with severe multipath propagation and inter-cell interference, demonstrate that our framework achieves robust and accurate localization, thereby showcasing its effectiveness in realistic modern cellular networks such as 5G or future 6G networks. It outperforms conventional proprioceptive sensor-based localization and conventional MP-SLAM methods, and achieves reliable localization even under adverse signal conditions. (Less)
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type
Working paper/Preprint
publication status
published
subject
pages
15 pages
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
188f08c4-1697-40af-95f7-5a7080b0027f
alternative location
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.10433
date added to LUP
2026-01-04 23:26:11
date last changed
2026-01-07 11:20:43
@misc{188f08c4-1697-40af-95f7-5a7080b0027f,
  abstract     = {{Radio frequency (RF) signal-based localization using modern cellular networks has emerged as a promising solution to accurately locate objects in challenging environments. One of the most promising solutions for situations involving obstructed-line-of-sight (OLoS) and multipath propagation is multipathbased simultaneous localization and mapping (MP-SLAM) that employs map features (MFs), such as virtual anchors. This paper presents an extended MP-SLAM method that is augmented with a global map feature (GMF) repository. This repository stores consistent MFs of high quality that are collected during prior traversals. We integrate these GMFs back into the MP-SLAM framework via a probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter, which propagates GMF intensity functions over time. Extensive simulations, together with a challenging real-world experiment using LTE RF signals in a dense urban scenario with severe multipath propagation and inter-cell interference, demonstrate that our framework achieves robust and accurate localization, thereby showcasing its effectiveness in realistic modern cellular networks such as 5G or future 6G networks. It outperforms conventional proprioceptive sensor-based localization and conventional MP-SLAM methods, and achieves reliable localization even under adverse signal conditions.}},
  author       = {{Chen, Junshi and Li, Xuhong and Whiton, Russ and Leitinger, Erik and Tufvesson, Fredrik}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Preprint}},
  title        = {{Robust localization in modern cellular networks using global map features}},
  url          = {{https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.10433}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}