| The tracking of objects and humans has recently received a lot of attention
as a tool to improve business processes, occupational safety and public safety.
Employers and legislators are extremely interested in improving occupational safety as
numerous internal executive decrees as well as safety laws suggest. Nevertheless, a
recent report on industrial injuries shows that despite remarkable declines over the last
ten years further improvement can be achieved with new approaches which are less
expensive, more convenient, and truly ubiquitous. The question arises, however, as to
whether these available technologies are really feasible in terms of accuracy, usability,
cost, and ubiquity. In fact, our analysis of numerous theoretical approaches has revealed
several shortcomings in their actual use. In this paper we present the requirements for a
large-area location tracking system that is sufficiently accurate, convenient to use, and
feasible in industrial settings for improving occupational safety. We discuss current
research and evaluate how well these systems meet crucial requirements. All in all, this
paper not only defines evaluation criteria but also helps those wishing to find the right
tracking solution for specific business cases. |