GPS Tracking Solutions: The main elements in a GPS Traacking System. Part 2.

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Juan OlanoIn the first part of this series of 10 articles I explained the differences between GPS Navigation Systems and GPS Tracking Systems, and how they are two completely different of implementations of Location Based Services. In this second article I will develop some additional concepts related to the elements that constitute a GPS Tracking System. There are 3 main parts to a GPS Tracking System:

– A GPS device or GPS Tracker, which receives the location information and then delivers it to a software application.

– A data transmission system, which takes the information provided by the GPS Tracker, and delivers it to the software application.

– A Software Application, which presents to its users the data recollected by the GPS Tracker in several formats including maps and reports.

This article will present the main components of a GPS Tracking Solution, and will start expanding on the first component: GPS Trackers. It will take me this article and the next one to go in detail over GPS devices.

GPS Devices

==========In this section I will define what a GPS Device, and how they work; after that I will present the types of GPS Trackers, including most of the features that these devices offer, and my opinion in regards to each type.

At its simplest definition, the GPS device, or better the GPS tracker, is the component in charge of receiving the information about the location of the vehicle, and providing this data to the GPS Tracking Application through the Data Transmission System (which will be explained in coming articles). GPS Trackers are usually small boxes (metal or plastic) that can be the size of a man’s wallet, or a little bigger. All of them need at least one antenna (GPS antenna), and most of them need an additional antenna to enable the data transmission module. So this leads to a first classification of GPS Trackers:

-Full satellite trackers. This type of trackers will use satellites to receive and transmit data.

-Hybrid trackers. This type of trackers will use satellites to acquire location (we will see some variations here later in this article), and another method to transmit the data (a data modem, a data port to download the data, etc).

On the next article I will expand on these concepts.

So, the main task of a GPS Tracker is to provide information of the location of a vehicle or an asset, or a person. The location of the units is usually acquired from the GPS satellites, but there is another method based on triangulation with cell towers to calculate locations. Getting the location from satellites is the most accurate mechanism, providing a minimal margin of error most of the times (from 2 up to 50 feet). GPS location can be acquired anywhere in the world. The only down side for this location technology is that the GPS antenna has to have a view to the sky. For example, if the vehicle gets into a garage, most probably there will not be GPS locations available.

Getting the location based on a triangulation with the cell towers (those that are also used by our cell phones to transmit voice and data) has a bigger margin of error (up to a few hundred feet), making it a not very accurate location mechanism. This type of location also requires the presence of the named cell towers to work. The upside of this mechanism is that it will perfectly work within buildings, which is not the case for GPS satellite location. Some GPS Trackers are designed to work with both location mechanisms, creating a new concept called Assisted GPS (AGPS).

GPS Trackers can be divided into these main three types: Passive Trackers, PING Trackers, and Live Trackers. Also, there are some GPS Trackers that have more features than other – not just a location of the vehicle.

In this article I have dissected a GPS Tracking solution into three main components: a GPS Tracker, a data transmission system, and a GPS Tracking application. I have also started exposing the details of GPS Trackers, specifically the two main ways to locate a vehicle. Finally, I introduced two more elements to consider in GPS Trackers: types of trackers and advanced features of a GPS device.

Mr. Olano, with over 10 year in GPS Tracking Industry, deep knowledge of wireless communications, tracking devices, map engines, and contact with over 2,000 companies that adopted GPS, earned him a position as expert of GPS Tracking Technologies. Visit him at

trackingsolutionsonline.com

and

geosoftusa.com

.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}

REAL Benefits of GPS Tracking Systems

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Juan OlanoIn the world of GPS Tracking, showing a vehicle in a map is just the tip of the iceberg. However, this is how most companies get started in this revolutionary technology. When a GPS Tracking System is installed to do fleet tracking, companies start realizing the huge impact that it has in their logistic processes. Main benefits include fuel cost control, overtime minimized, customer service improved, etc. From a Basic GPS Tracking companies start looking to more sophisticated solutions that bring the full potential of benefits.

This is Part 1 of a series of 10 articles in which I will present how a GPS Tracking system can REALLY make a difference in a company’s performance. In this article I will start to define some of the terminology and concepts needed to have a fair understanding of GPS Tracking.

There are many applications for the GPS TRACKING technology that can be divided into two main groups: NAVIGATION and TRACKING.

Navigation is related to devices that are installed in the vehicles and that provide on-board navigation information. The user will usually enter a destination address and will start receiving audio and visual directions on how to arrive to that place. Samples of these devices are seen in almost every computer store, and the most recognized brands are Garmin, TomTom, and others.

Tracking is related to devices installed in the vehicles that send information about the vehicle to computer programs where the information is processed and presented to users in maps and reports. The information sent by these devices includes at least the position in terms of Latitude and Longitude, the speed, the direction (north, south, east, etc.), the date and the time. Other devices include more sophisticated information such as Ignition status, doors status, on-board engine diagnostic, etc. Samples of companies that provide this type of products are also multiple, and can be found by tons with any search in a search engine like Google.

The GPS Tracking Solutions are usually provided as web applications, more than applications that have to be downloaded and installed in users’ computers. When looking for a GPS Tracking solution, the market offers a lot of options to pick from. Many companies will offer to their users Tracking solutions that can be accessed via web, and that allows to keep track of the vehicles of the companies in a map and in several reports.

Once a company or an individual decides to go into this technology, the first question that has to be solved is: What type of GPS System I need? Is it a Tracking System? Or a Navigation System? It is very common to start shopping around without a clear understanding of what is needed. The orientation of these articles will be GPS Tracking Solutions. GPS Navigation will be subject of a future article. And this first article severs as a starting point to understand and identify what the needs are on each particular case.

In the next article I will discuss some additional terms related to GPS Tracking and will start going into its applications in the day to day processes.

Mr. Olano is a recognized expert in the GPS Tracking industry, with more than 10 years of experience with over 2,000 companies implementing the services provided by his company. You can learn more about him at

trackingsolutionsonline.com

.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}