Probr - A Generic and Distributed WiFi Tracking System

Probr is a generic and distributed WiFi tracking system, which consists of two main components, (a) the probr-core and (b) the probr-analysis.
Its major target is to make it easier to conduct research in the domain of wireless data collection, i.e., wireless tracking for WiFi-based devices, by leveraging an existing platforms for custom analysis and available systems. However, since existing work basically was not open source or did not allow for a flexible analysis or representation of data collected, an open source and modular approach was taken, which led the project to be split into two independent modules.

While the probr-core is a python-django-based system for remote device administration, allowing for Probr - A Generic and Distributed WiFi Tracking System

Probr is a generic and distributed WiFi tracking system, which consists of two main components, (a) the probr-core and (b) the probr-analysis.
Its major target is to make it easier to conduct research in the domain of wireless data collection, i.e., wireless tracking for WiFi-based devices, by leveraging an existing platforms for custom analysis and available systems. However, since existing work basically was not open source or did not allow for a flexible analysis or representation of data collected, an open source and modular approach was taken, which led the project to be split into two independent modules.

While the probr-core is a python-django-based system for remote device administration, allowing for the setup of basic *NIX devices to use for various tasks, including but not limited to sniffing, it processes *.pcap files and stores their content in databases for analysis purposes.

The probr-analysis determines a NodeJS-based front-end that visualizes core concepts of an analysis of those probe requests collected. It allows for the tracking of dedicated devices using their MAC-Address and enables the monitoring of room utilization using a custom-made algorithm.

All major system details can be found at probrthe setup of basic *NIX devices to use for various tasks, including but not limited to sniffing, it processes *.pcap files and stores their content in databases for analysis purposes.

The probr-analysis determines a NodeJS-based front-end that visualizes core concepts of an analysis of those probe requests collected. It allows for the tracking of dedicated devices using their MAC-Address and enables the monitoring of room utilization using a custom-made algorithm.

All major system details can be found at probr. The source code is available at github.

Furthermore, the probr system was documented and its major description was published by Joel Scheuner, Genc Mazlami, Dominik Schöni, Sebastian Stephan, Alessandro De Carli, Thomas Bocek, Burkhard Stiller: Probr - A Generic and Passive WiFi Tracking System; 41st IEEE Conference on Local Computer Networks (LCN), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 2016.

Additionally, the probr team had been awarded the Best Demonstration Award for the demonstration entitled "Probr Demonstration - Visualizing Passive WiFi Data" at the 41st IEEE Conference on Local Computer Networks (IEEE LCN 2016) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

The Probr system was designed and developed over the course of a Master's project in the Fall Term 2015 in the context of the FP7 Project and NoE FLAMINGO. This team of students included the Master Students Joel Scheuner, Genc Mazlami, Sebastian Stephan, Dominik Schöni, and Alessandro De Carli.