Evaluating Multi-GNSS Performance of Android Smartphones in Multipath-Prone Environments for Secure and Reliable Navigation

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) have become indispensable for a wide range of applications, from navigation and transportation to precision agriculture and urban planning. With the advent of multi-GNSS technology, which integrates signals from constellations such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou, positioning accuracy and reliability have significantly improved. However, GNSS performance remains highly sensitive to environmental factors such as signal obstruction and multi-path interference, particularly in urban, forested, and constrained settings. This study evaluates the GNSS performance of two Android smartphones: Samsung Galaxy A52 and Vivo T2 5G, under four different environmental conditions: open sky, below high-tension electric lines, inside forest, and constrained environments near Durgapur, West Bengal. Using NMEA data logs, key GNSS performance parameters including satellite visibility, signal strength (C/No), satellite geometry, and positioning accuracy were analyzed. Results show that open sky conditions yielded the highest accuracy, while constrained environments produced the greatest degradation due to severe multi-path interference and signal occlusion. Samsung Galaxy A52 consistently outperformed Vivo T2 5G, particularly in complex environments, highlighting the role of device-specific GNSS hardware and software capabilities. This study provides valuable insights into the practical limitations and performance variability of smartphone-based GNSS systems in diverse environments. The findings can inform the design of robust mobile positioning solutions for real-world applications, especially in developing regions where smartphone-based GNSS use is rapidly expanding.