GPS Vehicle Tracking, Will it Be Able to Work For My Business?

We can break down a GPS vehicle tracking system into its two main components.

Firstly, within the vehicle is fitted a GPS position detector that can calculate the vehicle's current location from the signals it receives from the array of orbiting GPS satellites. This is connected to a transmitting device that sends the location data wirelessly to the second element of the system, a tracking server. Usually the data is sent over the mobile telephony network, for example using GPRS.

The in-vehicle sub-system is often further expanded to take advantage of the data communications function. With additional electronics, information other than location can also be acquired and sent back to the tracking server over the GPRS network.

For example, GPS vehicle tracking systems may be extended to send alerts for different mechanical warnings such as low oil pressure, high water temperature, brake light failure, low battery and so on. Systems can also be integrated with the fuel sensor so that fuel usage can be monitored, and even sudden changes in fuel level (for example following fuel theft) can be quickly identified and acted upon.

Systems will also often incorporate an emergency button so that the driver can quickly contact an emergency contact, should the need ever arise.

Some GPS tracking systems will even enable a remote operator to send instructions to the vehicles own computer systems. In the case of vehicle theft this can be especially useful, since it enables the vehicle owner to be able to remotely instruct the vehicle to come to a halt and to be able to know that when the command is sent, that the vehicle is likely to be in a safe location (and not in the middle of a busy motorway!).

The second broad element of a GPS Vehicle Tracking system is sometimes called the tracking server. The tracking server is where the business intelligence resides so that the system can be configured to meet the particular requirements of the business. The tracking server can also be used to send data to other business support systems should this be required.

For example, the tracking server can deduce the actual speed a vehicle is moving at by monitoring the GPS position data as it arrives, and if requested can generate alerts to specified individuals - perhaps as an email to notify managers and even the driver that a speed limit had been exceeded as well as where and when this occurred. Clearly this will allow the transport manager to reinforce good and economical driving habits with his drivers.

Of course one key function that all tracking systems will provide is the ability to see the position of any vehicle superimposed upon a map so that the user can readily find out where a given vehicle is at any given time, and indeed where it has already been during that journey.

Another common capability of a tracking server is to be able to set up what are called "geo-fences". These are imaginary lines drawn on a map to make a complete boundary surrounding around a particular location. If a vehicle is detected to be moving across one of these borders, then alerts can be configured to notify individuals of the event. Typical examples where this may be applied could be as follows;

In the construction industry, expensive construction vehicles might be expected to remain on site for a prolonged period. In the event of theft, then as soon as a vehicle is moved away from the site, then the business can be immediately alerted and appropriate action taken.

In a distribution business, geo fencing alerts can be used to warn managers when a vehicle leaves or enters a predefined area. You can even add the time element to this. So if a vehicle enters or leaves an area within a given timeframe then the system can be configured to send an alert. This can be very useful to monitor the progress of deliveries or journeys that need to be made by certain times.

All of these alerts can be via email, SMS or both. This means if the manager is out and about or not always at his desk he can still receive alerts to his phone. This is very useful for the modern manager who it often called away to deal with various requests.

From the above, it should be clear that GPS vehicle tracking systems are highly adaptable to many different situations. However, in order to get the best return on investment, a business should be clear about what specific benefits they are seeking, and therefore what particular capability their system will need. Given this information as a starting point, then a professional GPS vehicle tracking solution provider will be able to implement a bespoke system that inter-works in harmony with the business's own operational support systems.

Iain Jones works with Zest Tracking, specialists in GPS vehicle tracking solutions.