ABSTRACT
Advances in technology have led to the widespread adoption of Smartphone GPS for position determination, yet many users are unaware of their accuracy. This study aims to compare Android GPS applications on three smartphones (Samsung, Tecno, Infinix) and handheld GPS with the existing standard (DGPS). The study employed mobile topographers embedded in smartphones to acquire coordinates from existing survey beacons in three modes (airplane, offline, and online). Data were also collected using handheld GPS at the same control beacons. Fifteen (15) stations were observed, and the acquired data were compared to determine the accuracy of the observations. The results of the analysis revealed a significant difference between the smartphone data and DGPS, with error ranging from 2 to 15 m for DGPS and 0.2 to 10 m for handheld GPS, depending on the observation modes. Notably, the Samsung S8 smartphone exhibited superior accuracy compared to other smartphones, achieving standard deviations of 2.188 m, 1.475 m, and 1.826 m in airplane, offline, and online modes, respectively. The ANOVA test conducted at 95% confidence level, however, revealed that the smartphones and handheld GPS observed distance did not differ significantly. Based on these findings, Samsung can be used as a reliable alternative to a dedicated handheld GPS for acquiring horizontal positions. These results highlight the potential of smartphones in surveying applications, however, further research is needed to ensure their optimal integration and address their current limitations in accuracy.
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