Analysis Of The Positioning Accuracy Of Geotagged Photos Taken With Mobile Devices In Various Terrain Conditions

Currently, most mobile devices can capture geotagged photos—i.e., images to which the location of capture is assigned. Despite extensive literature on the use of geotagging, there is a limited number of studies addressing the accuracy of the recorded locations. Therefore, this research was undertaken to assess the positional accuracy of geotagged photos, defined, among other metrics, by the mean unit error of the assigned coordinates. This article presents the results of test measurements conducted using various mobile devices to determine situational coordinates within the applicable coordinate system. The study discusses the satellite systems currently in use, as well as the measurement technologies that influence geolocation accuracy in smartphones and cameras equipped with a geotagging feature. Test measurements involved comparing the coordinates embedded in geotagged photos with those obtained using a high-precision GNSS receiver. Depending on the device and technology used, the mean unit location errors ranged from 4.0 metres to nearly 50 metres. These findings highlight the low precision of such devices in determining exact positions. To explore ways of improving accuracy, additional tests were carried out using various features and applications available on different devices, assessing their impact on location determination based on geotagged photos. Notably, the use of the GPS Test application for position stabilisation reduced mean unit errors by nearly 45%. The results of this study led to the development of recommendations aimed at enabling the determination of a mobile device’s X and Y coordinates with an accuracy of several metres. This level of precision may be sufficient for many practical applications and presents a cost-effective alternative to expensive GPS receivers, which require specialised geodetic knowledge for professional use.