What is GPS?
By definition, Global
Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide network formed by a group of 24
satellites that orbit earth and transmit signals to the ground stations. These
satellites were put into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defence with the
intention to cater military requirements. Later, it was made available for
civilian benefit.
What is GPS Tracking?
GPS Tracking is
the technique that helps you locate a vehicle, person or an asset using the
Global Positioning System (GPS).
Is GPS Tracking reliable?
Immensely. GPS
tracking provides you much accurate results knowing the fact that the signals
have to travel thousands of kilometres across the space. GPS results may vary
within few dozen feet which means that you can pinpoint whether you are at home
or in the park across the street.
Applications of GPS Tracking
Some of the many
applications are:
v
Company Fleet Management: Assists a company to
manage their fleet, cut back on extra costs and improve their efficiency.
v
Vehicle Tracking: Keep track of your vehicle.
v
Child Tracking: Know the location of your child.
v
Elderly people and Special People Tracking: Be
with your elders or disabled loved ones in case of emergency.
v
Prevention of Theft: A vehicle can be easily
recovered knowing its location.
There
are n number of other uses from finding a friend in the market place to track
your laptop while travelling. Try it to discover some more.
Now, let’s come
on to the most widely used application of GPS – Vehicle Tracking.
Vehicle tracking
Vehicle tracking
systems keep an eye on the vehicle in real time to get the full picture of all
its travelled locations.
Variants of Vehicle Tracking System
Passive: Simpler
in nature, a tracker (GPS device) is installed on the vehicle, which tracks the
location of the vehicle over time. When required, the tracker is removed and
data is transferred to computer for analysis and report generation.
Active: Bit complex, in this variant
tracker transmits the data in real time via satellite to the server.
Vehicle tracking
software used here evaluates the data constantly as received.
Benefits of Vehicle Tracking System
Vehicle tracking
system uses an integrated vehicle tracking software along with the tracker
device to help you achieve the following:
Ø
Surveillance – Follow your vehicle on go.
Ø
Monitoring of fuel – Oversee the fuel
consumption.
Ø
Distance Travelled – Distance travelled by
vehicle.
Ø
Asset tracking – Closely monitor the valuable
asset movements and its operating status.
Ø
Trailer tracking – Load carrying unit of the
vehicle is known as “Trailer”. Track them too!
Ø
Transit Tracking – Temporary tracking of cargoes
(assets) from one point to another and many more.
A number of
vehicles under the single ownership or travelling together are termed as
“fleet”. So, the
above benefits would multiply with the number of vehicles (fleet) and would
prove to be of great advantage for fleet management companies.
Note: There are various types of
vehicle tracking software available in the market and benefits can be enhanced
by the choice you make.
