Smartphone positioning accuracy in forensic contexts : Satellite and cellular methods across Belgian environments

Mottet, Romain
(2026)

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Mottet_34391900_2026.pdf
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Details

Supervisors
Sadre, Ramin
Faculty
Ecole polytechnique de Louvain
Degree label
Master [120] en sciences informatiques, à finalité spécialisée
Abstract
enThis Master’s thesis validates smartphone geolocation reliability across forensic scenarios in urban (Ixelles), suburban (Louvain-la-Neuve), and rural (Waha) Belgium. It compares smartphone GNSS coordinates against two independent ground truth references: a smartwatch (Garmin Venu Sq 2) and physical waypoints marked by timestamped photographs. The thesis addresses two research questions: (RQ1) How accurate is smartphone GNSS positioning relative to ground truth? (RQ2) Can cellular LTE signal strength reconstruct device locations without GPS? The methodology independently validates satellite-based positioning (RQ1) through comparative accuracy analysis, and develops network-based positioning methods (RQ2) via empirical distance models and trilateration. This two-pronged approach reflects forensic practice: GPS logs provide evidence of outdoor presence, while LTE-based reconstruction serves scenarios where satellite signals are unavailable.