GPS Vehicle Tracking. The Complete Reference Guide

Transcription

1 GPS Vehicle Tracking The Complete Reference Guide

2 GPS Vehicle Tracking: The Complete Reference Guide GPS vehicle tracking has gained popularity in many segments of the business world. Two main reasons account for this increase in popularity: a maturing technology with falling prices, and the desire for increased employee productivity. An increasingly mobile workforce has made GPS vehicle tracking more popular with employers. Other side benefits of GPS vehicle tracking include enhanced personal safety for drivers and passengers, more informed public transit passengers, and more efficient vehicle routing and dispatching. This reference guide will discuss the following: What is GPS vehicle tracking? How it works The different types of GPS vehicle tracking Accuracy of tracking How devices are powered How data may be viewed Tips for choosing a GPS vehicle tracking provider What Is GPS Vehicle Tracking? GPS stands for Global Positioning System, which uses multiple satellites to precisely determine location. GPS vehicle tracking uses a GPS device attached to a vehicle to record the vehicle's position at regular intervals and to either store the data for later perusal, or to allow viewing of positional data in real time over the internet. With some GPS vehicle tracking units, the vehicle's location can be displayed on a map backdrop. The tracker contains a GPS module for receiving GPS satellite signals and calculating location coordinates. If the system has its own data logging capability, the device has some sort of memory device for storing the information. Some systems automatically transmit location information to a remote computer server. GPS Vehicle Tracking: The Complete Reference Guide 2012 Business.com Media, Inc

3 How Does GPS Vehicle Tracking Work? A GPS receiver of any type determines its position by analyzing satellite signals received from the GPS satellites that orbit the earth. The signals from satellites located farther away take longer to reach the receiver. Once the device has calculated its distance from at least three satellites, it can calculate its own position by the process of triangulation. Most newer GPS trackers use what is known as "push" technology, which means that the device automatically sends position information (and sometimes other information like speed, fuel level, and battery status) to a specific server where the data can be stored or analyzed. The purpose of the server is to receive the data from the GPS vehicle tracker, store it securely, and provide the data to authorized users. Active vs. Passive GPS Vehicle Tracking "Active" GPS vehicle trackers are sometimes called "real-time" trackers. These devices show where the vehicle is positioned instantly. With an active GPS tracker, you can "watch" a vehicle move over a map backdrop on a computer. Active trackers are a popular choice for businesses that want to improve delivery efficiency and keep track of employees. Active trackers also have "geo fence" functions, which alert the person tracking the data when a vehicle enters or leaves a specific location. Active systems are good for preventing theft and recovering stolen cars. They are also used in non-business settings, such as by parents who want to keep tabs on their teen drivers or by caregivers who are responsible for people with dementia who are prone to wandering away. Active GPS trackers are generally more expensive than passive GPS trackers. Generally, users of active GPS vehicle trackers pay a monthly fee for being able to retrieve and access data, or for being able to look at GPS positional data in real time. Dispatching and mileage reporting are greatly simplified with active GPS vehicle tracking systems. Rather than feeding positional data to a server in real time, passive GPS vehicle trackers store the information on the device itself. These trackers are removed from the vehicle and plugged into a GPS Vehicle Tracking: The Complete Reference Guide 2012 Business.com Media, Inc

4 computer, which retrieves the positional data from the device. Passive trackers are convenient for those who track mileage for work, and for businesses that want to cut down on unauthorized use of company vehicles. A worker could, for example, download data from the tracker at the end of each month in order to compile a mileage report using the tracker data. Passive trackers are smaller, easier to hide, and sometimes they are used for personal reasons -- like tracking estranged spouses. They are also less expensive than active systems because they don't have the hardware and software necessary to provide real-time data. Generally, rather than paying a monthly fee for use of a passive tracking device, customers are charged a small fee each time the device is used to locate the vehicle. How Accurate is GPS Vehicle Tracking? GPS vehicle tracking is accurate to within a few feet. Anyone observing GPS tracking data in real time has very accurate knowledge of where the vehicle is located. Accuracy may be slightly off due to atmospheric conditions, such as heavily overcast conditions or a thunderstorm, but the information is still very accurate for vehicle monitoring purposes. The accuracy of GPS tracking data is also affected by the speed of the vehicle. The faster a vehicle travels, the less precise the reading will be, although the data is still remarkably accurate. The satellites used by a GPS vehicle tracking system were originally put into service for military purposes, which require very accurate location information. Because of this, and because multiple satellites are used for calculating position, GPS vehicle tracking data is extremely accurate and trustworthy. How Are GPS Vehicle Tracking Devices Powered? For the most part, GPS vehicle tracking devices are battery powered or are hardwired into the vehicle so they can draw power from the vehicle battery. GPS tracking devices with their own batteries have varying battery life spans. Most devices last for at least one week without recharging -- at typical usage levels of around two hours per day. Some devices come with motion sensors so that they use only minimal power when the vehicle is stationary. You can also purchase kits to extend battery life. These can keep devices powered for up to six months before recharging is necessary. Battery life also depends upon how often tracking data is reported. If location information is sent every five minutes, the battery will run down more quickly than if data is transmitted every 15 minutes, for example. Solar powered GPS tracking devices are starting to become available for vehicles, but currently they are used most often for GPS trackers used in wildlife tracking applications. How Does One View the Data from a GPS Vehicle Tracking Device? Use of a passive GPS vehicle tracker requires the device to be removed and plugged into a computer. With active GPS vehicle tracking devices, however, data is automatically transmitted and can be viewed in real time. The uses for this technology are quite broad. For example, some cities and universities have GPS Vehicle Tracking: The Complete Reference Guide 2012 Business.com Media, Inc

5 started using real-time tracking of bus fleets so that passengers with smart phones can easily find out how much longer they'll have to wait for a bus. Data can be conveniently plotted over a map so the vehicle can be "watched" remotely in real time. Knowing your bus will be late is very helpful in inclement weather or when you're running late. Choosing Your GPS Vehicle Tracking Provider Which GPS vehicle tracking system is best for you? It depends on several factors. First of all, do you only need to track one vehicle over a long period, or do you need to track multiple vehicles over varying time periods? For one vehicle that will be tracked long term, a hardwired or "plug and play" tracker (which plugs into the diagnostic port on or below the dashboard) relieves you of the worry of charging or replacing a battery. If you will be outfitting several vehicles with GPS trackers, over short or unknown time periods, then battery-powered trackers are usually better. For example, if you hire a temporary employee who will be using his or her own car, and you need to track this person's vehicle, hardwiring a tracker would be too much trouble. If trackers are only used in certain situations and are shared among several workers or vehicles, battery-powered devices are better. You should also base your choice of tracker on how frequently the data needs to be collected. If you need real-time positional information (the way a municipal transit system might need real-time information to track buses), then an active system that regularly transmits data is best. If, however, you only need to collect total mileage numbers periodically, a passive system may be more cost-effective. The following chart can help you narrow down your options: GPS Vehicle Tracking: The Complete Reference Guide 2012 Business.com Media, Inc

6 No Do you need to track multiple vehicles? Yes A hardwired or "plug and play" system is preferable to a battery operated system. Choose a batterypowered system. No Will data be collected frequently? Yes A passive system is preferable. An active system is preferable. Additionally, you should consider whether a GPS vehicle tracking system uses proprietary software. These systems may require manual upgrades, and will only be compatible with computers that have the proprietary software. Most users find that systems that provide tracking information securely over the internet are preferable due to easier accessibility and greater flexibility. For example, if one computer crashes, another could be used to track the vehicles. Extras that many users find worthwhile include automated reporting and alerting features. Automated reporting allows regularly scheduled, automated reporting, plus the ability to generate instant reports as needed. Alerting features can be used to notify monitoring personnel of events like excessive speed, long periods of idling, unauthorized engine start-up during off-hours, as well as entry to or exit from specific geographic locations. Alerting features can also be used to notify the appropriate personnel when scheduled maintenance is needed based on time or mileage. You should also look for a GPS tracking provider that works with a well-known mapping service, such as Google maps. This ensures that you are tracking based on the most current maps available and may sync up with helpful information like real-time traffic conditions and relevant construction projects so that dispatchers can help drivers avoid delays. When used properly, GPS vehicle tracking systems can lower business costs, increase customer satisfaction, and improve a business's competitive edge. Vehicle tracking technology is mature enough -- and systems are affordable enough -- that they are worthwhile even to businesses with small fleets. Choose wisely and you will reap the benefits almost immediately. To compare vendors and get more tips and advice, check out Business.com's Vehicle Tracking section: Photo Credits: Sean MacEntee, David Boyle, Matt Davis GPS Vehicle Tracking: The Complete Reference Guide 2012 Business.com Media, Inc