A light array includes lights that transmit modulated light to indicate their unique light identifiers (IDs) and lights that transmit unmodulated light. A light receiver records images of the light array and recovers the light IDs from the modulated light. The light receiver uses the IDs to retrieve a light map representative of the light array. The receiver aligns the retrieved light map with the recorded images of the light array, and accesses real-world positions of all of the light in the light array, as deployed, based on the aligned light map. The light receiver determines a 3-dimensional position of the light receiver relative to the light array.