TRACKING DEVICES
A GPS tracking unit or geotracking unit is a navigation device normally carried by a moving vehicle or person or animal using the Global Positioning System (GPS) to track the device’s movements and determine its geographic position (geotracking). The recorded location data can either be stored within the tracking unit or transmitted to an Internet-connected device using the cellular (GPRS or SMS), eLoran radio, UHF radio, or satellite modem embedded in the unit. This allows the location to be displayed against a map backdrop either in real time or when analyzing the track later, using GPS tracking software. Data tracking software is available for smartphones with GPS capability.
Smartphones can now be used as personal tracking devices using the triangulation between mobile towers using signal strength to coordinate the position, additionally many smartphones include a GPS module providing a faster more accurate position of the smartphone device.
PERSONAL TRACKING
Personal Safety has always been a concern, as the population increases and uncertainty propagates across society the quest for systems to passively track family members will generate interest. As more and more peoples have access to smartphones the technology is with us to utilize the location technologies to track the phone (person). While a person is moving their location is an insurance for family and friends to check on their members.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRACKING
In times of vehicle accidents, emergency and disasters tracking is an invaluable tool for locating survivors, allocating resources and recovery vehicles, key personnel and aid; using tracking technologies. Adding to this vehicle and equipment trackers disaster response personnel can be monitored and managed more expediently and efficiently by the Response Management Team.
The inclusion of UAV’s to bring medication to stranded people add the ultimate link in a solution for Disaster Management.
The Philippines is subject to devastating typhoons every year, developing a Disaster Response system using vehicle and smartphone tracking a solution to be considered.
There are other applications for this technology, business knowing the location of delivery or maintenance vehicles/personnel adds efficiency when locating allocating the nearest resource to a location. Where government agencies have many employees working over a large area safety and location information are valuable.
VEHICLE TRACKING
Vehicle tracking systems are popular for private, government and commercial vehicles as a theft prevention, monitoring and retrieval device. Police can simply follow the signal emitted by the tracking system and locate the stolen vehicle. When used as a security system, a vehicle tracking system may serve as either an addition to or replacement for a traditional car alarm. Some vehicle tracking systems make it possible to control the vehicle remotely, including block doors or engine in case of emergency. The existence of a vehicle tracking device then can be used to reduce the insurance cost, because the loss-risk of the vehicle drops significantly.
Vehicle tracking systems are an integrated part of the “layered approach” to vehicle protection, of interest to Police to prevent motor vehicle theft and to track Carjackers. This approach recommends four layers of security based on the risk factors pertaining to a specific vehicle. Vehicle tracking systems are one such layer seen as “very effective” in helping police recover stolen vehicles.
Some vehicle tracking systems integrate several security systems, for example by sending an automatic alert to a phone or email if an alarm is triggered or the vehicle is moved without authorization, or when it leaves or enters a geofence.
THE MANY TRACKING APPLICATIONS
- Stolen vehicle recovery: Both consumer and commercial vehicles can be outfitted with RF or GPS units to allow police to do tracking and recovery. In the case of CarJack, the police can activate the tracking unit in the vehicle directly and follow tracking signals.
- Insurance Companies: Tracking private and commercial vehicles leads to finding stolen and misplaced vehicles and assets; increasing recovery potential reduces insurance premiums.
- Asset tracking: Companies and government agencies needing to track valuable assets for location, theft and other monitoring purposes can now plot the real-time asset location on a map and closely monitor movement and operating status.
- Field service management: Companies with a field service workforce for services such as repair or maintenance, must be able to plan field workers’ time, schedule subsequent customer visits and be able to operate these departments efficiently. Vehicle tracking allows companies to quickly locate a field engineer and dispatch the closest one to meet a new customer request or provide site arrival information.
- Field sales: Mobile sales professionals can access real-time locations. For example, in unfamiliar areas, they can locate themselves as well as customers and prospects, get driving directions and add nearby last-minute appointments to itineraries. Benefits include increased productivity, reduced driving time and increased time spent with customers and prospects.
- Trailer tracking: Haulage and Logistics companies often operate prime movers with detachable trailers or load carrying containers. The part of the vehicle that drives the load is known as the prime mover and the load carrying unit is known as the trailer. There are different types of trailer used for different applications, e.g., flat bed, refrigerated, curtain-sider, box container. Knowing where each combination is and travelling is important in logistics management.
- Surveillance: A tracker may be placed on a vehicle to follow the vehicle’s movements.
- Transit tracking: Temporary tracking of assets or cargoes from one point to another (magnetic mounted sensors). Users will ensure that the assets do not stop on route, change route or do a U-Turn in order to monitor the security of the assets.
- Fuel Monitoring: monitor the fuel through a tracking device (with help of fuel sensor connected to the device).
- Distance Calculation: Calculate the distance travelled by the fleet.
- Sea Port: Keeping track of vehicles, fork lifts and trucks within the port area is a safety and security issue. Vehicle trackers magnetically attached to trucks entering the area to collect freight allow security and logistics management to guide vehicles to the correct location for loading and unloading.
- Inter-island shipping: Monitoring ships and ferries tracking, providing valuable information relating to landing and arrival. In unpredictable weather conditions this information can be used to monitor or provide faster disaster response.