GPS Tracking

An Age Old Rivalry

Ohio State vs. Michigan, Texas vs. Oklahoma, the Green Bay Packers vs. the Chicago Bears and the list goes on and on. There’s just something magical about being a part of an age old rivalry. It brings an extra element of passion and enthusiasm for one’s team, that at times, borders on the edge of insanity. A fair-weather fan will instantly transform into a completely ravenous cheerleader when their beloved home team plays against their old arch rivals. Stadiums and arenas that are normally half-empty will fill up to capacity when their rivals come into town.

And one of the oldest rivalries just happens to be between New York City and the City of Chicago. These two cities have been locked in battle for decades with each one trying to outdo the other – from skyscrapers to pizza, and most recently the pride associated with the city’s ability to plow snow.

(more…)

Forget the Beef, Where’s the Plow!

The winter season in Chicago can be brutal. Last year, a massive blizzard dumped more than 21 inches of snow, effectively shutting down the entire city. And although the epic blizzard of 2011 may not be the norm, the snow definitely is, which means the city streets will soon be covered in layers of powdery white snow.hat should provide Chicagoans with a little peace of mind

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration announced a new plan today to help its citizens monitor the city’s snow plowing efforts. Using GPS tracking technology, the city has developed a new website, ChicagoShovels.org, which will provide a map of Chicago’s approximately 300 snowplows, as they make their way through the various neighborhoods. This new website will give anyone with access to the internet, a clear view of work as it progresses along, allowing its citizens to track the snowplows through real-time GPS technology. “If that’s happening, you’ll see it,” Mr. Emanuel’s chief technology officer, John Tolva, said.

(more…)

_{»crosslinked«}

Houston…We’ve Got a Solution

The City of Houston’s Metro (Metropolitan Transit Authority) mass-transit bus system is currently developing a smartphone application, entitled Houston T.R.I.P, which stands for Transit Route Information and Planner.

This mobile application, if implemented correctly, could help Houstonians navigate a bus system that’s as complex and expansive as the city it serves. Due to the sheer size of the city, the Metro bus system can be enigmatic to many of its residents. Even regular riders can be frustrated by the way schedules can be anything but predictable, making it difficult to use Metro to get to jobs, schools or anything that requires punctuality, especially during off-peak hours.

(more…)

It’s About Time

If you’ve ever been stuck waiting at a public bus stop, wondering whether or not your bus will arrive at its scheduled time, or perhaps if it’s already made its routine stop, you know how extremely frustrating it can be. You’ve made the effort to wake up early in order to arrive at the stop at the designated time only to discover that your bus either came too early, or that it will be significantly delayed. And this sort of inconvenience can have a drastic impact an otherwise normal day.

(more…)

MSP K9 Unit Equipped with GPS Technology

The Michigan State Police (MSP) has recently upgraded a crucial sector of its law enforcement fleet, but it’s not what you would typically think of when it comes to fleet management.

All 29 MSP canines have been equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking collars to help with the search and retrieval of not only the canines themselves if they are lost, but also may be able to potentially help track an injured canine handler.

“In November last year, the department lost its first canine during a search,” said Sgt. David Yount, commander of the MSP Canine Unit. “If we are in this situation again, the GPS (tracking) collars will provide an efficient way to track and retrieve a missing canine.”

(more…)

Where Did My Shopping Cart Go?

According to a report from AFP (Agence France-Presse), Spanish police in Madrid caught a man who stole thousands of supermarket trolleys (or shopping carts as they are called in the U.S.) by tracking him with GPS tracking devices, which were hidden on several of the carts.

The 37-year-old man is thought to have stolen 290,000 euros’ (or $390,000) worth of trolleys, which he then sold as scrap metal, according to a statement made by Madrid police. The police department covertly attached the GPS tracking devices to the trolleys after being alerted by several supermarkets in the city, which reported losing more than 3,000 trolleys this year.

(more…)

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow…

The month of December is just around the corner and that means that the roads will soon be covered with snow, and in some cases lots of it. For some parts of the country, such as Los Angeles, CA, this is really a non-issue since the word “snow” is such a foreign concept. However, for cities such as Chicago and Detroit, this is a yearly ritual that is often accompanied with sentiments that fall somewhere along the spectrum of joy and dread.

On the one hand, the yearly snowfall a sign that Christmas is near. It’s a time for candy-canes, hot-chocolate, colorful lights, and presents under the tree. But on the other hand, it’s also the time of the year when the roads become increasingly dangerous due to all the ice and torrential snowfall. And oftentimes, people who live in these harsh conditions are forced to patiently wait on snow plows to clear the roads for safe travel.

(more…)

DCF Plans to Save Money by Tracking its Employees

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) for the State of Connecticut is considering adding GPS tracking devices to its fleet of 800 vehicles to monitor the misuse of its vehicles.

In her proposal to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget office, DCF Commissioner Joette Katz estimates these GPS devices will save the state nearly $250,000 in the first year by being able to provide data on the misuse of its vehicles, verify overtime hours, and may potentially save 20% on fuel consumption. The state’s legislature’s research arm reported that it spent $15.7 million on gas alone in fiscal 2008. Since then, the state has taken steps to reduced its fleet by 800 cars.

(more…)

SilverCloud Real-Time GPS Tracking System

Earlier this year, LandAirSea Systems launched its flagship real-time GPS tracking device, the SilverCloud. The SilverCloud is the result of more than fifteen years of engineering research and refinement. It provides fleet owners, government and law enforcement agencies, small to large business owners, and individual consumers the capability of true real-time vehicle and asset tracking.

The SilverCloud is more than just your typical or traditional GPS tracking product. It is the result of innovative and progressive development from a pioneer in the GPS manufacturing industry. “All LandAirSea products are designed and manufactured based upon extensive research maximizing power efficiency, GPS sensitivity, and customer experience”, say Robert Wagner, CEO of LandAirSea Systems.

(more…)

New and Improved Equipment to Help Fight the Winter Snow

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, along with city departmental commissioners and directors, conducted the annual inspection of Buffalo’s snow fighting fleet today at the Department of Public Works Broadway Garage. Brown said today in a news release, “We have more, and improved equipment this year, as well as a continued high-tech approach to implementation… We are ready for the snow!”

The City has invested a combined total of $800,00 to purchase new snow plow vehicles, and also made significant improvements to some of the trucks its existing fleet. This new and improved snow fighting tools will be used to clear the snow, as well as spread salt on the busy city roadways and neighborhoods.

(more…)