The Many Uses of GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems
December 15th, 2009 | by Paul Julian |Of all the wonderful new technologies that have entered our lives over the past couple of decades, few have had as much impact as GPS, geographical positioning systems. The concept of GPS is that a small receiver uses satellite signals to figure out accurately where it is on the planet. GPS has revolutionized navigation and transportation, enabled mapping systems in millions of vehicles, and is being used in myriads of other applications. When I turn on my phone, it often politely inquires if it may use its internal GPS receiver to determine its location and thus make available a whole bunch of services no one dreamed would be possible just a few short years ago. And GPS is being used in more and more applications where it is very important to know one’s exact location or the location of equipment. One of the most exciting applications is GPS vehicle tracking.
In a GPS tracking system a small GPS receiver is installed in a vehicle where it works in conjunction with a cell phone and a variety of sensors. This means the vehicle does not only know where it is, it can also report its location and a variety of other data. This information can then be used for monitoring or triggering certain actions. In essence, GPS tracking means you always know where your vehicle is, where it is going, and how fast it is going. Depending on the sensors installed, the tracking system may also report on mileage, fuel mileage, miles traveled, fuel left in the tank, engine condition, onboard temperature, outside temperature or whatever type of information is needed. GPS vehicle tracking systems can be employed for personal use or for fleet management applications.
For personal use, a digital GPS tracker installed in a vehicle can serve as a powerful anti-theft system that shows the location of a stolen vehicle, triggers alarms, and can then ensure we gain travel safety . This means faster vehicle recovery and possible insurance company discounts. Parents of teenage drivers can use the system to monitor speeds, set geographic boundaries, or just generally know where their children are.
Business uses include all sorts of asset management and GPS vehicle tracking systems. Knowing where a company’s vehicles are and what their status is will improve productivity, load factors and overall profitability. It is also able to cut down on improper use of vehicles. Sensors can report on fuel and maintenance status, improving vehicle reliability and reducing downtime. Besides, the systems also reduce theft via integration into alarm systems, geofences and door lock controls. The potential applications are only limited by imagination.
