Generate Indoor Positioning File Without Survey (Indoor Positioning)

Summary

Generates a positioning file from beacon and floor plan data by simulating Bluetooth signal propagation through the indoor environment.

This tool generates a positioning file similar to that generated by the Generate Indoor Positioning File tool without performing a survey. If the positioning file generated produces unsatisfactory ArcGIS IPS performance, consider performing a survey and using the Generate Indoor Positioning File tool. The underlying simulation model is optimized for typical office environments but may provide satisfactory results for other types of spaces.

Usage

• This tool generates a positioning file that covers the surface represented by the IPS Area Features parameter value by simulating the propagation of the signals emitted by Bluetooth beacons. To enable high quality simulations, the Beacon Features and Wall Features parameter values must be accurate, valid, and up to date.

• The Target Positioning Table parameter value must be a database table or a stand-alone table that conforms to the IPS Positioning table in the ArcGIS IPS model. The generated positioning file is added as an attachment to this table. In a typical ArcGIS IPS deployment workflow, this parameter value is a table that is part of a map that has been shared to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise.

• The Beacon Features parameter value must be a feature class or a feature layer that conforms to the Beacons feature class in the ArcGIS IPS model. To be processed, a beacon must be associated with an existing level using the Level_ID attribute. The feature geometry must be accurate and the following attributes must be valid, up to date, and not NULL:

  • UUID
  • MAJOR
  • MINOR
  • LEVEL_ID
  • RSSI_1M

  Note:

  See the How to maintain beacon data for ArcGIS IPS blog article for additional information.

• The IPS Area Features parameter value must be a feature class or a feature layer representing as accurately as possible the areas where the indoor positioning will be enabled. The parameter can be a selection of Unit features from the Indoors data model, such as corridors and hallways. The schema of the IPS Area Features must include all the necessary attributes required for floor awareness. To be processed, the following conditions must be met:

  • The IPS area must be associated to an existing level using the Level_ID attribute.
  • The Level_ID attribute must not be NULL.
  • The feature geometry must be contained within the associated level.

• The Wall Features parameter value must be a feature class or a feature layer representing as accurately as possible the physical extent of the walls in the facilities where the indoor positioning will be deployed. These features can be extracted from an exiting Indoors data model. The schema of the Wall Features must include all the necessary attributes required for floor awareness. To be processed, the following conditions must be met:

  • The wall must be associated with an existing level using the Level_ID attribute.
  • The Level_ID attribute must not be NULL.
  • The feature geometry must be contained within the associated level.

• The Facility Features parameter value must be a feature class or a feature layer that conforms to the Facilities feature class in the ArcGIS Indoors model. The feature geometry must be accurate and the following attributes must be valid, up to date, and not NULL:

  • FACILITY_ID
  • SITE_ID

• The Level Features parameter value must be a feature class or a feature layer that conforms to the Levels feature class in the ArcGIS Indoors model. To be processed, a level must be associated with at least four beacons, one IPS area, and a wall. In addition, the following attributes must be valid, up to date, and not NULL:

  • LEVEL_ID
  • VERTICAL_ORDER
  • FACILITY_ID

• The IPS Transition Features parameter value must be a feature layer or a feature class that conforms to the Transitions feature class in the ArcGIS Indoors model. Only the transitions representing entrances or exits will be processed.

• The Comment parameter value is optional. If provided, the text will be associated with the output positioning file.

Parameters

Dialog

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Target Positioning Table	The table where the generated positioning file will be stored as an attachment.	Table View
Beacon Features	The point features representing the position and settings of Bluetooth beacons deployed in the indoor environment.	Feature Layer
IPS Area Features	The polygon features representing the area where the positioning data will be generated.	Feature Layer
Wall Features	The polygon features representing the physical extent of walls in and around the indoor positioning area.	Feature Layer
Facility Features	The polygon features representing Facilities footprints.	Feature Layer
Level Features	The polygon features representing Level footprints within the facilities.	Feature Layer
IPS Transition Features (Optional)	The line features representing entrance or exit transitions.	Feature Layer
Comment (Optional)	A text comment that will be associated with the output positioning file.	String

Derived Output

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Updated Positioning Table	The updated table that contains the positioning file stored as an attachment.	Table

Python

arcpy.indoorpositioning.GenerateIndoorPositioningFileWithoutSurvey(target_positioning_table, in_beacon_features, in_ips_area_features, in_wall_features, in_facility_features, in_level_features, {in_ips_transition_features}, {in_comment})

Name	Explanation	Data Type
target_positioning_table	The table where the generated positioning file will be stored as an attachment.	Table View
in_beacon_features	The point features representing the position and settings of Bluetooth beacons deployed in the indoor environment.	Feature Layer
in_ips_area_features	The polygon features representing the area where the positioning data will be generated.	Feature Layer
in_wall_features	The polygon features representing the physical extent of walls in and around the indoor positioning area.	Feature Layer
in_facility_features	The polygon features representing Facilities footprints.	Feature Layer
in_level_features	The polygon features representing Level footprints within the facilities.	Feature Layer
in_ips_transition_features (Optional)	The line features representing entrance or exit transitions.	Feature Layer
in_comment (Optional)	A text comment that will be associated with the output positioning file.	String

Derived Output

Name	Explanation	Data Type
out_positioning_table	The updated table that contains the positioning file stored as an attachment.	Table

Code sample

GenerateIndoorPositioningFileWithoutSurvey example (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the GenerateIndoorPositioningFileWithoutSurvey function to generate a positioning file from beacon and floor plan data.

# Name: GenerateIndoorPositioningFileWithoutSurvey.py
# Description: Generates a positioning file from beacon and floor plan without survey.

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set local variables
target_positioning_table = "C:\demo.gdb\IPS_Positioning"
in_beacon_features = "C:\demo.gdb\Beacons"
in_ips_area_features = "C:\demo.gdb\IPS_Area"
in_wall_features = "C:\demo.gdb\Walls"
in_facility_features = "C:\demo.gdb\Facilities"
in_level_features = "C:\demo.gdb\Levels"
in_ips_transition_features = "C:\demo.gdb\Transitions"
in_comment = "This is my comment"

# Call the GenerateIndoorPositioningFileWithoutSurvey tool to generate a positioning file from beacon and floor plan data
arcpy.indoorpositioning.GenerateIndoorPositioningFileWithoutSurvey(
    target_positioning_table,
    in_beacon_features,
    in_ips_area_features,
    in_wall_features,
    in_facility_features,
    in_level_features,
    in_ips_transition_features,
    in_comment
    )

Environments

Current Workspace

Licensing information

• Basic: No
• Standard: Requires ArcGIS IPS
• Advanced: Requires ArcGIS IPS