On proximity versus geo-information systems

Dmitry Namiot; Manfred Sneps-Sneppe

arxiv: 1906.09466 · v1 · pith:75KLKRHTnew · submitted 2019-06-22 · 💻 cs.NI

On proximity versus geo-information systems

Dmitry Namiot , Manfred Sneps-Sneppe This is my paper

Pith reviewed 2026-05-25 18:01 UTC · model grok-4.3

classification 💻 cs.NI

keywords network proximitygeo-information systemslocation-based servicesmobile servicesproximity assessment

0 comments

The pith

Most location-based services can bypass geo-calculations by assessing network proximity directly.

A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.

The paper proposes replacing traditional geo-information systems with services built on network proximity. It argues that geo-coordinates are used in most cases only to search for and organize data tied to the current location, without any need for actual geographic computations. Shifting to direct proximity assessment simplifies these services and enables new ones that geo-based methods cannot easily support.

Core claim

Geo-information systems can be replaced by proximity-based models for mobile services because the meaning of the service is to search for information tied to the current location of the requesting party, which can be achieved by assessing proximity without geo-calculations.

What carries the argument

Network proximity as the direct mechanism for retrieving and organizing data associated with nearby locations.

If this is right

Services can be implemented without storing or processing geographic coordinates.
Data organization shifts from geo-databases to proximity relations in networks.
New applications become feasible that depend on real-time closeness rather than mapped positions.
Mobile implementations avoid computational overhead from coordinate transformations and calculations.

Where Pith is reading between the lines

These are editorial extensions of the paper, not claims the author makes directly.

Proximity models could reduce the need to share precise locations, affecting privacy in location services.
This approach may extend naturally to indoor or signal-limited environments where satellite positioning is unreliable.
Wireless network signals could serve as the primary infrastructure for defining proximity zones.

Load-bearing premise

That the actual geo-calculations are not needed by most services, since geo-coordinates serve only for searching and organizing data.

What would settle it

A controlled test of a common mobile service, such as locating nearby points of interest, where proximity-based matching produces measurably different or inferior results compared to coordinate-based search.

read the original abstract

In this paper, we propose the replacement of widely used models of geo-information systems with a new conception based on network proximity. Geo-information systems have attracted great attention and demonstrated big progress in recent times, especially for mobile services. We can point out many objective reasons for this. On the one hand, users require services, mainly at their location, and on the other hand, location determination has become easy, especially due to the proliferation of smartphones. But at the same time, the actual geo-calculation are not needed by most of these services. For the majority of geo-services, geo-coordinates are used only for searching and organizing data. And the meaning of the service is to search for information tied to the current location of the requesting party. In other words, in most cases, service refers to data near the current location. So, our idea is to build services directly on assessing to proximity and completely bypass geo-calculations. It also opens the way for completely new services that were impossible or difficult to implement with geo-computations.

Editorial analysis

A structured set of objections, weighed in public.

Desk editor's note, referee report, simulated authors' rebuttal, and a circularity audit. Tearing a paper down is the easy half of reading it; the pith above is the substance, this is the friction.

Desk Editor's Note private letter to a colleague

The paper suggests building mobile services on network proximity to skip geo-calculations, but the key assumption that coordinates are used only for search and organization is stated without any examples or breakdown.

read the letter

The main takeaway is that this paper wants to replace geo-information systems with a proximity model for location services. The authors argue that smartphones make location easy to get, yet most services only need to find data near the user, so actual coordinate math can be bypassed entirely and new services become possible. That is the core pitch in plain terms. It is a clean reframing of the problem and correctly notes how many apps treat location as a search key rather than a geometric input. That observation is worth making even if it is not new on its own. The paper stays short and focused on the conceptual shift. The soft spot is exactly where the stress-test flagged: the claim that geo-coordinates serve only searching and organizing for the majority of services is asserted but never tested. There is no list of service categories, no concrete case like POI lookup versus routing or geofencing, and no discussion of when distance or path calculations are actually required. Without that, it is impossible to judge how often the bypass would work. The text is purely conceptual with no implementation sketch, measurements, or even a worked example of a proximity service. Citation patterns are not an issue because the piece is high-level, but the absence of any engagement with existing proximity or ad-hoc networking work leaves the idea floating. This is for readers already thinking about alternative location architectures in mobile networks. Someone looking for a quick reframing might pick up an idea or two, but anyone needing methods or evidence will find little to use. I would not bring it to a reading group. I would not cite it. It does not look ready for peer review because the central premise needs at least one concrete service comparison or small prototype to become evaluable.

Referee Report

2 major / 1 minor

Summary. The paper proposes replacing traditional geo-information systems for mobile services with a network-proximity-based model. It asserts that geo-coordinates are used in most services only for searching and organizing data, so proximity assessment can bypass geo-calculations entirely while also enabling new services impossible under geo-computations.

Significance. If the core premise were substantiated, the idea could simplify location-based service architectures and open novel applications. The manuscript offers no data, examples, or analysis to establish this, however, so the potential impact remains speculative.

major comments (2)

[Abstract] Abstract: The claim that 'for the majority of geo-services, geo-coordinates are used only for searching and organizing data' is asserted without any service classification, usage breakdown, empirical evidence, or even a single concrete example (e.g., POI lookup versus shortest-path routing or geofencing). This premise is load-bearing for the proposal that proximity assessment can fully replace geo-calculations.
[Abstract] Abstract: No implementation details, feasibility analysis, or comparison against existing geo-services are supplied to show that proximity-based services are viable or that the bypassed geometric operations are indeed dispensable for the claimed majority of use cases.

minor comments (1)

[Abstract] Abstract contains minor grammatical issues ('assessing to proximity', 'geo-calculation are') that should be corrected for clarity.

Simulated Author's Rebuttal

2 responses · 0 unresolved

We thank the referee for the detailed comments. The manuscript presents a conceptual proposal for shifting location-based services to a network-proximity model. We address each major comment below, noting where the critique is valid and revisions are warranted.

read point-by-point responses

Referee: [Abstract] Abstract: The claim that 'for the majority of geo-services, geo-coordinates are used only for searching and organizing data' is asserted without any service classification, usage breakdown, empirical evidence, or even a single concrete example (e.g., POI lookup versus shortest-path routing or geofencing). This premise is load-bearing for the proposal that proximity assessment can fully replace geo-calculations.

Authors: We agree the claim is presented without classification, breakdown, or examples in the current text. The manuscript is a position paper introducing the concept based on the observation that many mobile services (such as nearby POI lookup or friend discovery) primarily use location to retrieve proximate data rather than perform geometric computations. In revision we will add a short section with service examples and a basic classification to substantiate the premise for the intended scope, while qualifying that it does not apply to all geo-services such as routing. revision: partial
Referee: [Abstract] Abstract: No implementation details, feasibility analysis, or comparison against existing geo-services are supplied to show that proximity-based services are viable or that the bypassed geometric operations are indeed dispensable for the claimed majority of use cases.

Authors: The paper deliberately focuses on the architectural and conceptual shift rather than implementation or quantitative analysis. We will expand the discussion to include high-level feasibility notes (e.g., use of existing cellular or short-range network mechanisms for proximity) and qualitative comparisons highlighting reduced need for coordinate-based calculations in proximity queries. Detailed prototypes and empirical comparisons remain future work outside the scope of this conceptual manuscript. revision: partial

Circularity Check

0 steps flagged

No circularity in high-level conceptual proposal

full rationale

The paper advances a conceptual argument that geo-coordinates serve mainly for search/organization in most services and that proximity assessment can therefore replace geo-calculations. This assertion is presented directly without equations, derivations, fitted parameters, or any chain that reduces a claimed result to its own inputs by construction. No self-citations, uniqueness theorems, or ansatzes appear in the provided text. The work is therefore self-contained as a proposal and receives the default non-circularity finding.

Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger

0 free parameters · 1 axioms · 0 invented entities

The proposal rests entirely on one domain assumption about the limited role of geo-calculations; no free parameters or invented entities are introduced.

axioms (1)

domain assumption Geo-coordinates are used only for searching and organizing data in most geo-services, and actual geo-calculations are not needed.
This premise is stated directly in the abstract as the justification for bypassing geo-calculations.

pith-pipeline@v0.9.0 · 5707 in / 1120 out tokens · 30890 ms · 2026-05-25T18:01:29.387394+00:00 · methodology

discussion (0)

Reference graph

Works this paper leans on

23 extracted references · 23 canonical work pages

[1]

The proximity sensor on a mobile device allows you to determine the approximation of an object (object) without physical contact with it

How to measure a proximity First, it is necessary to mention the sensors. The proximity sensor on a mobile device allows you to determine the approximation of an object (object) without physical contact with it. For example, a simple inf rared proximity sensor has a working measurement distance of several tens of cen timeters and a detection angle of seve...

work page
[2]

This section summarizes our experience in this kind of implementation and is an attempt to build a classification for this class of systems

On proximity-based information systems In this section, we would like to highlight specifi c examples of information systems based on the use of the concept of proximit y. This section summarizes our experience in this kind of implementation and is an attempt to build a classification for this class of systems

work page
[3]

Providing access to some data, depending on the nearby wireless networks. Options and examples of use: in B2C version : some of the elements of the manufacturer’s (selle r’s, provider’s) website become available (visible) to the mobile us er when this user is located close to the location of service provision. Proximity is determined by the visibility (av...

work page
[4]

The point is that there may be different variations of the service, which shows th e users of the social network (s) nearby

Providing a physical expansion of social network s. The point is that there may be different variations of the service, which shows th e users of the social network (s) nearby. The general scheme of implementation is as follows. The user is authorized in the social network (Facebook, Linkedin), receives a n ID (unique user ID in the social network), forms...

work page
[5]

An example is Bluetooth radio [15]

Mesh network model for information transfer. An example is Bluetooth radio [15]. Information that one user transmits (translates by changing the identification in the wireless network) is automatically, when it is rece ived by another user, it is automatically relayed by it. This is an analogue of data distribution in the mesh network. This is a mechanism...

work page
[6]

In our opinion, this approach is quite relevant and popular addition (an d in many cases - direct replacement) for geo-information systems

Conclusion In this article, we presented the foundations, poss ible and existing solutions for information systems that are based on the concept o f proximity. In our opinion, this approach is quite relevant and popular addition (an d in many cases - direct replacement) for geo-information systems. Systems b ased on proximity in many cases have their dist...

work page
[7]

Acknowledgement We would like to thank the staff of the Open Inform ation Technologies Laboratory of the Faculty of the CMC of the Lomonosov Moscow S tate University for useful discussions, criticism, and assistance in working on software implementations

work page
[8]

Smart and digital city: A s ystematic literature review

Cocchia, Annalisa. "Smart and digital city: A s ystematic literature review." Smart city. Springer, Cham, 2014. 13-43

work page 2014
[9]

Context aware com puting for the internet of things: A survey

Perera, Charith, et al. "Context aware com puting for the internet of things: A survey." IEEE communications surveys & tutorials 16.1 (2014): 414-454

work page 2014
[10]

On context-aware proxy in Mobile Cloud computing for emergency services

Sneps-Sneppe, Manfred, and Dmitry Namiot. "On context-aware proxy in Mobile Cloud computing for emergency services." Telecommunicatio ns (ICT), 2017 24th International Conference on. IEEE, 2017

work page 2017
[11]

Cont ext-aware data discovery

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "Cont ext-aware data discovery." Intelligence in Next Generation Networks (ICIN), 2012 16th International Conference on. IEEE, 2012

work page 2012
[12]

An overview of 3GPP devi ce-to-device proximity services

Lin, Xingqin, et al. "An overview of 3GPP devi ce-to-device proximity services." IEEE Communications Magazine 52.4 (2014): 40-48

work page 2014
[13]

On Internet of Things Programming Models

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "On Internet of Things Programming Models." International Conference on Distributed Comp uter and Communication Networks. Springer, Cham, 2016

work page 2016
[14]

On physical web browser

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "On physical web browser." Proceedings of the 18th Conference of Open Innovations Association FRUCT. FRUCT Oy, 2016

work page 2016
[15]

Accuracy of iPhone locati ons: A comparison of assisted GPS, WiFi and cellular positioning

Zandbergen, Paul A. "Accuracy of iPhone locati ons: A comparison of assisted GPS, WiFi and cellular positioning." Transactions in GIS 13 (2009): 5-25

work page 2009
[16]

Mining s patial-temporal clusters from geo- databases

Wang, Min, Aiping Wang, and Anbo Li. "Mining s patial-temporal clusters from geo- databases." International Conference on Advanced Dat a Mining and Applications. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2006

work page 2006
[17]

On open source mobile sensing

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "On open source mobile sensing." International Conference on Next Generation Wired/Wi reless Networking. Springer, Cham, 2014

work page 2014
[18]

Interactive context-aware systems interacting with ambient intelligence

Schmidt, Albrecht. "Interactive context-aware systems interacting with ambient intelligence." Ambient intelligence 159 (2005)

work page 2005
[19]

Pro ximity as a service

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "Pro ximity as a service." 2012 2nd Baltic Congress on Future Internet Communications. IEEE, 2012

work page 2012
[20]

Geo fence and network proximity

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "Geo fence and network proximity." Internet of Things, Smart Spaces, and Next Generation Networ king. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg,

work page
[21]

CAT– cars as tags

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "CAT– cars as tags." 2014 7th International Workshop on Communication Technologies for Vehicles (Nets4Cars-Fall). IEEE, 2014

work page 2014
[22]

On Proximity-Based Information Delivery

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "On Proximity-Based Information Delivery." International Conference on Distributed Co mputer and Communication Networks. Springer, Cham, 2018. (3/4), 7-1

work page 2018
[23]

jFuzz yLogic: a robust and flexible Fuzzy-Logic inference system language implementation

Cingolani, Pablo, and Jesus Alcala-Fdez. "jFuzz yLogic: a robust and flexible Fuzzy-Logic inference system language implementation." 2012 IEE E International Conference on Fuzzy Systems. IEEE, 2012

work page 2012

[1] [1]

The proximity sensor on a mobile device allows you to determine the approximation of an object (object) without physical contact with it

How to measure a proximity First, it is necessary to mention the sensors. The proximity sensor on a mobile device allows you to determine the approximation of an object (object) without physical contact with it. For example, a simple inf rared proximity sensor has a working measurement distance of several tens of cen timeters and a detection angle of seve...

work page

[2] [2]

This section summarizes our experience in this kind of implementation and is an attempt to build a classification for this class of systems

On proximity-based information systems In this section, we would like to highlight specifi c examples of information systems based on the use of the concept of proximit y. This section summarizes our experience in this kind of implementation and is an attempt to build a classification for this class of systems

work page

[3] [3]

Providing access to some data, depending on the nearby wireless networks. Options and examples of use: in B2C version : some of the elements of the manufacturer’s (selle r’s, provider’s) website become available (visible) to the mobile us er when this user is located close to the location of service provision. Proximity is determined by the visibility (av...

work page

[4] [4]

The point is that there may be different variations of the service, which shows th e users of the social network (s) nearby

Providing a physical expansion of social network s. The point is that there may be different variations of the service, which shows th e users of the social network (s) nearby. The general scheme of implementation is as follows. The user is authorized in the social network (Facebook, Linkedin), receives a n ID (unique user ID in the social network), forms...

work page

[5] [5]

An example is Bluetooth radio [15]

Mesh network model for information transfer. An example is Bluetooth radio [15]. Information that one user transmits (translates by changing the identification in the wireless network) is automatically, when it is rece ived by another user, it is automatically relayed by it. This is an analogue of data distribution in the mesh network. This is a mechanism...

work page

[6] [6]

In our opinion, this approach is quite relevant and popular addition (an d in many cases - direct replacement) for geo-information systems

Conclusion In this article, we presented the foundations, poss ible and existing solutions for information systems that are based on the concept o f proximity. In our opinion, this approach is quite relevant and popular addition (an d in many cases - direct replacement) for geo-information systems. Systems b ased on proximity in many cases have their dist...

work page

[7] [7]

Acknowledgement We would like to thank the staff of the Open Inform ation Technologies Laboratory of the Faculty of the CMC of the Lomonosov Moscow S tate University for useful discussions, criticism, and assistance in working on software implementations

work page

[8] [8]

Smart and digital city: A s ystematic literature review

Cocchia, Annalisa. "Smart and digital city: A s ystematic literature review." Smart city. Springer, Cham, 2014. 13-43

work page 2014

[9] [9]

Context aware com puting for the internet of things: A survey

Perera, Charith, et al. "Context aware com puting for the internet of things: A survey." IEEE communications surveys & tutorials 16.1 (2014): 414-454

work page 2014

[10] [10]

On context-aware proxy in Mobile Cloud computing for emergency services

Sneps-Sneppe, Manfred, and Dmitry Namiot. "On context-aware proxy in Mobile Cloud computing for emergency services." Telecommunicatio ns (ICT), 2017 24th International Conference on. IEEE, 2017

work page 2017

[11] [11]

Cont ext-aware data discovery

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "Cont ext-aware data discovery." Intelligence in Next Generation Networks (ICIN), 2012 16th International Conference on. IEEE, 2012

work page 2012

[12] [12]

An overview of 3GPP devi ce-to-device proximity services

Lin, Xingqin, et al. "An overview of 3GPP devi ce-to-device proximity services." IEEE Communications Magazine 52.4 (2014): 40-48

work page 2014

[13] [13]

On Internet of Things Programming Models

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "On Internet of Things Programming Models." International Conference on Distributed Comp uter and Communication Networks. Springer, Cham, 2016

work page 2016

[14] [14]

On physical web browser

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "On physical web browser." Proceedings of the 18th Conference of Open Innovations Association FRUCT. FRUCT Oy, 2016

work page 2016

[15] [15]

Accuracy of iPhone locati ons: A comparison of assisted GPS, WiFi and cellular positioning

Zandbergen, Paul A. "Accuracy of iPhone locati ons: A comparison of assisted GPS, WiFi and cellular positioning." Transactions in GIS 13 (2009): 5-25

work page 2009

[16] [16]

Mining s patial-temporal clusters from geo- databases

Wang, Min, Aiping Wang, and Anbo Li. "Mining s patial-temporal clusters from geo- databases." International Conference on Advanced Dat a Mining and Applications. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2006

work page 2006

[17] [17]

On open source mobile sensing

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "On open source mobile sensing." International Conference on Next Generation Wired/Wi reless Networking. Springer, Cham, 2014

work page 2014

[18] [18]

Interactive context-aware systems interacting with ambient intelligence

Schmidt, Albrecht. "Interactive context-aware systems interacting with ambient intelligence." Ambient intelligence 159 (2005)

work page 2005

[19] [19]

Pro ximity as a service

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "Pro ximity as a service." 2012 2nd Baltic Congress on Future Internet Communications. IEEE, 2012

work page 2012

[20] [20]

Geo fence and network proximity

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "Geo fence and network proximity." Internet of Things, Smart Spaces, and Next Generation Networ king. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg,

work page

[21] [21]

CAT– cars as tags

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "CAT– cars as tags." 2014 7th International Workshop on Communication Technologies for Vehicles (Nets4Cars-Fall). IEEE, 2014

work page 2014

[22] [22]

On Proximity-Based Information Delivery

Namiot, Dmitry, and Manfred Sneps-Sneppe. "On Proximity-Based Information Delivery." International Conference on Distributed Co mputer and Communication Networks. Springer, Cham, 2018. (3/4), 7-1

work page 2018

[23] [23]

jFuzz yLogic: a robust and flexible Fuzzy-Logic inference system language implementation

Cingolani, Pablo, and Jesus Alcala-Fdez. "jFuzz yLogic: a robust and flexible Fuzzy-Logic inference system language implementation." 2012 IEE E International Conference on Fuzzy Systems. IEEE, 2012

work page 2012