Improving GNSS Positioning in Challenging Urban Areas by Digital Twin Database Correction

Accurate positioning technology is essential for various industry and business applications. While indoor and outdoor positioning techniques have been extensively studied, challenges remain in achieving reliable positioning during transitions between these environments. This paper proposes a digital twin-aided positioning correction method to enhance outdoor positioning performance in urban areas, where environmental changes frequently occur. The proposed algorithm simulates positioning solutions for virtual receivers within a grid-based digital twin. By analyzing these simulated positioning errors for each virtual receiver, a statistical model is developed to investigate their positioning characteristics and create a correction information database. Information in this database can be retrieved from the digital twin to the real world and helps improve the positioning performance of GNSS receivers. Importantly, the algorithm is designed to have a low computational load on the receiver side and does not require specially designed antennas, making it suitable for small-sized devices.