What Kind of Information Can You Get From a GPS Tracking Device?
A Global Positioning System (GPS tracking system) is one of the most popular consumer electronics products of modern times. It will find the exact position of an asset, person or vehicle to which it is linked, anywhere on earth. People who want to monitor their remote assets at regular intervals will find GPS tracking technology not only practical, but essential.
History
The technology behind GPS tracking is the U.S. Department of Defense’s system of satellites, out in orbit. In 1978, the first GPS satellite was launched as an experiment. By 1995 the full constellation of 24 satellites was in orbit and operational. In 2000, by order of President Bill Clinton, the GPS system, with non-degraded signal, was opened to users globally. Since then, people worldwide have come to depend on GPS tracking for a variety of location-based services.
How Signals Get to the GPS Tracking Device
Consumers often ask what is the best spot for GPS tracking placement. GPS tracking systems operate only when the GPS receiver – which is to be attached to the object to be tracked – has access to the constellation of GPS satellites. This usually involves what the industry calls a “clear line of sight to the sky.” Consumers should know, however, that GPS satellite signals can penetrate glass, plastic, fiberglass, carpet and any number of materials, with the exception of concrete and steel. Some GPS tracking units, such as the LandAirSea GPS Tracking Key and the Tracking Key Pro® can pick up GPS tracking signals reflected off the ground.
The raw data received from the GPS tracking satellites is used to calculate an object’s location, based on the time, then its direction and speed of movement. The calculation is called triangulation. It means that, to get a good estimation of position, it is important for GPS tracking receivers to get transmission, or signal lock, from at least three satellites. The information is kept stored in the GPS tracking receiver.
How the Data Gets to the Consumer
The goal of a GPS tracking system is to track an object and to let the user know where that object is traveling. This usually involves a depiction of the object moving along a map on a remote computer. There are two types of GPS tracking devices, and the consumer will make his or her purchase decision based on how quickly they need the location information. Passive GPS tracking devices log the data and hold it in memory until the user retrieves the device and downloads the information to computer. In real-time tracking, all the positioning information is transmitted by modem to a database, which can be accessed easily on any remote computer or through a mobile phone with Internet connectivity.
What information can be provided by GPS tracking systems?
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Statistical location:
In the simplest of terms, vehicle tracking devices give you snapshots of time, showing where the object is, by latitude and longitude (degrees), at a specific time (minutes and seconds.) By getting position updates at regular intervals, a pattern of travel is revealed. The update frequency can range from several minutes, to each and every second.
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Mapping:
Dozens, if not hundreds of vehicles can be seen on the same map simultaneously. Who is the nearest technician to the customer who just called? A dispatcher can see where all his employees are, just by checking the map. With vehicle tracking, the dispatcher does not have to phone or radio the drivers to find out where they are.
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Speed:
When it comes to speed calculation, the rate of movement is calculated in miles per hour. Are your employees speeding routinely? Speeding results in huge wear and tear on the vehicle and it also wastes gasoline. Some vehicle tracking devices will send out an alert to the end user if a preset speed limit is exceeded.
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Geo-fencing:
If a geo-fencing feature is available, the owner is alerted if the vehicle travels outside of a preset geographical boundary. Such alerts come in the form of automated phone calls, email messages or text messages.
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Mileage:
A GPS tracking device will also calculate miles driven. That helps owners keep track of scheduled vehicle maintenance.
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Direction:
GPS tracking system displays have compass directions, (west, east, south and north) so the user knows where the vehicle is currently traveling.
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Stops on Route:
The system shows the location of a stop, convertible to address. How long the vehicle has been at the stop can be calculated.
A vehicle tracking system gives many travel details and will bring any important travel patterns to the attention of management. Is your employee at the home of a customer or leaving the location? Is the delivery vehicle approaching the warehouse, requiring the gate to open? Are you wasting time and resources with overlapping routes? Who else visited the warehouse on this particular date? Where is your delivery driver? A GPS tracking system takes a lot of the mystery out of a remote vehicle monitoring system. It gives a business owner or dispatch manager a bird’s eye view of what’s going on in the field.
Tags: Fleet Management, GPS Tracking, travel management, Vehicle Tracking
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