Fleet GPS Trackers

With crime on the rise every day, being a law enforcement officer is no cakewalk. Law enforcement requires one to be constantly vigilant, smart and on high alert to gather intelligence as well as crackdown on miscreants. The need to be covert is the need of the hour and can be accomplished safely and accurately through GPS technology. GPS tracking has manifold applications in law enforcement and can range from fleet tracking, suspect tracking, investigations, officer tracking and general agency management.

An increasing number of federal agencies are adopting GPS tracking technology in law enforcement. Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and many police, sheriff, metro and transit departments across states and counties, to name a few.

Let's take a look at what your law enforcement agency stands to benefit by employing GPS tracking technology.

• Tracking suspects requires a considerable portion of staff, time and resources. With GPS trackers, track your suspects continuously without the need for continuous human monitoring, thereby reducing costs, conserving fuel and increasing officer availability.

• Increase officer safety via officer tracking, respond immediately and dispatch backup for injured or compromised officers through GPS tracking. SOS signals from trackers allow each officer to send as well as respond to fellow officer’s distress calls.

• Improve fleet management by installing GPS devices on every vehicle in your fleet. Know exactly where your units are at all times and smartly allocate and dispatch units based on need.

• Respond quickly to a distress call by getting accurate directions and traffic updates that let units get to the call site on time.

• Customize travel routes, calculate engine idle time, mileage and other vehicle conditions that allow you to bring down overall costs and improve vehicle maintenance.

• GPS tracking devices also aid investigations by tracking packages, shipments and other retail merchandise as part of ongoing investigations.

• Law enforcement trackers help in navigating through harsh environments and rugged terrains when visibility is poor.

• Maintain constant communication through two-way texting and imaging.

• Easily collect evidence for criminal and civil claims.

• Sensors on GPS devices enable advanced detection of light, sounds, movement etc, and let officers to act swiftly.

• Increase felony arrests through accurate surveillance.

• By reducing the usage of fuel, there will be a steep drop in carbon emissions and other pollutants, giving your fleet the green advantage

The Challenges:

GPS technology is here to stay and aid. Despite its increasing popularity, here are a few concerns plaguing the GPS industry.

• GPS devices require complex installation

• Law enforcement agencies often face legal and ethical implications, such as the monitoring a suspect’s car without their notice.

• Brief battery life may lead to an abrupt halt in surveillance

• GPS systems and Fleet Trackers often involve a high cost of implementation which may not work out for all logistic operators, especially a smaller fleet of vehicles.

• Inability to locate suspect when indoors or away from a clear sky view.

• Ability to withstand the rigors of covert activities.

The Solution:

These challenges can easily be remedied with the right understanding and application of GPS tracking technology and the correct choice of equipment.

• Current generation GPS devices are small, handy, inconspicuous and do not require complex installation

• All warranted investigations can legally employ GPS tracking.

• Batteries now have several robust backup options which provide infallible and continuous GPS operations.

• There are several GPS tracking equipment manufacturers who provide consultancy services for upgrading your law enforcement fleet tracker systems and offer analyses explaining the impact of GPS tracking technology on your overall efficiency, given your scale. This gives a fair assessment and guideline to help you make an informed choice on the scale of GPS expenditure.

• With a combination of RFID, cellular and satellite technology, new generation trackers are able to track a suspect's movements even indoors.

• GPS devices should be made more rugged, especially with waterproof and shockproof qualities and should have a protective casing around them, to ensure safety and consistent performance.

Let's face it. Vehicles break down. More often than we know it. And added to that, rash driving and negligence often leads to pileups in the most unexpected situations. Towing companies need to be quick, efficient and timely to ensure that tow trucks get to the tow area in the shortest possible duration. Sometimes the location and placement of destination makes it incredibly difficult for tow trucks to reach the site on time. With GPS tracking technology, get driving directions through harsh and rugged terrains to ensure driver safety and reach location on time.

The towing industry benefits greatly through the judicious use of GPS tracking devices. They are chockfull of fantastic features that improve efficiency, speed and quality of operations. Here’s a look at how they assist the towing industry.

• Track vehicles precisely in real time anytime, anywhere. Assess vehicle location as well as vehicle condition and be on top of your game.

• GPS tow trackers determine accurate taxi location in real time and dispatch continuous feed and updates via satellite or cellular network. This information is continuously passed on to a central server where it is stored and can be retrieved at any time.

• With GPS tow trackers, identify and dispatch closest available driver to incident locations.

• Make better delivery estimates to clients by monitoring distances from destination e and giving accurate timelines.

• Get to incident location quickly and efficiently with informed driving. GPS trackers provide detailed driving directions, traffic updates and weather updates to ensure you get to the incident site in record time.

• GPS trackers offer failsafe communication. Traditional tow trucks rely on radios to communicate and radio frequency is often hampered in rugged and hilly terrains. GPS trackers operate via satellite and provide an infallible means to communicate within the fleet.

• Real time location of drivers and vehicles allows for better customer service. Maintain logs, schedule quick dispatches, communicate within fleet and create a situational awareness that will lead to better and safer driving experiences.

• Understand vehicle condition. With GPS tow trackers maintain logs on Engine and vehicle conditions, including fuel levels, tire pressure, cut off fuel gauge, engine temperature, battery status, engine RPM, throttle position, computed odometer and a lot more. This ensures better vehicle maintenance thereby reducing repair costs.

• Call for backup easily by setting custom alerts. In case of repair and maintenance, quickly send a backup or repair wagon to fix up the stalled vehicle. This saves costs, time and improves customer service.

• Maintain driver logs; receive continuous vehicle feeds to ensure more responsible driver behavior. Two way communication and continuous surveillance speeds up process and ensures better performance. GPS trackers also allow for photos of the tow truck to be taken remotely.

• Prevent theft by setting up designated geo-fences, custom alarms and execute remote operations such as emergency door locking and engine shutdown.

• By monitoring fuel and speed, reduce fuel costs and increase vehicle longevity. To preserve the car's battery level, GPS trackers also turn off ignition, turn on headlight, turn on taillight, open/close doors etc.

• Eliminate paperwork and simplify billing through easy to use GPS tracking software solutions.

The Challenges:

Though the benefits drastically outnumber the faults, here are a few challenges that the Towing industry may encounter with respect to GPS technology

• A high cost of satellite tracking equipment in some cases, leads to a preference of installing cellular based tracking as opposed to Satellite tracking devices.

• Most GPS systems run on battery. The older versions of tow tracking systems are heavily dependent on Battery power.

• Costs of fully equipped GPS systems can become quite substantial for smaller fleets. And a fully integrated GPS system might not be cost efficient for some tow companies.

The Solutions:

With awareness, improving technologies and informed choices these hurdles can soon be overcome.

• By combining high tech satellite tracking with traditional Radio Frequency (RF) communication and tracking will stay top notch. RF transmitters send signals through walls, basements, garages and even building without the necessity of a cellular network but need closer range receivers. Satellite technology allows you to receive data anywhere in the world.

• Integrating GPS battery with the Car battery system or having a robust battery backup will solve the GPS system's heavy need for battery power.

• An assessment of cost VS efficiency can be done. Most GPS tracking equipment manufacturers provide consultancy services for upgrading your systems and do an analysis of your business to ascertain cost VS efficiency benefits to help you zero down on the right type of GPS system for your fleet.

The earth is two-thirds water. And your boat or fleet is an infinitesimal fraction of that volume. Please do the math and consider the odds of locating your boat in that vast expanse of unpredictable aqua. A needle in a haystack is not a suitable analogy and even this age old axiom falls short of describing the odds accurately. Boats are lost at sea every day. And most of the time finding them is a virtually impossible task. Sea weather is unpredictable and unruly and the tide can change at the drop of a hat. It is extremely vital that boat crews stay informed of weather conditions and alternative course routes.

This is where Boat GPS tracking steps in. Be it an individual boat owner or a fleet manager, GPS boat tracking systems are virtually impossible to ignore. From theft prevention and location tracking to weather updates, stay on top of your game with GPS boat tracking systems. Let’s take a look at the boatload of features they have to offer.

• Quickly locate, in real time specific vessels or barges at exact locations on a map or plotter. Receive immediate updates via SMS or email. Offshore handheld GPS receivers let you navigate the boat remotely from anywhere in the world.

• Plan, organize, reroute and chart routes with the help of your mouse, on an easily accessible, extremely user friendly interface.

• Man overboard Functions. Receive alerts in case of such hazards prompting you to take immediate action.

• Link GPS to autopilot on powerboats or sailboats, reducing the likelihood of manual error.

• Mark good routes, customize itineraries and refer to them as and when you require with the help of historical information saved on secure servers.

• Save and view log details of routes taken. This improves process efficiency.

• Track and find a lost boat easily.

• Prevent theft by setting up alarms and creating Geo-fences.

• Easy installation, work with most plotter devices.

• GPS boat trackers are waterproof and often weatherproof rugged devices.

• Create custom alarms for theft, anchor, man overboard and a lot more.

• Receive constant weather updates that will help avoid bad weather.

• Receive constant information on engine conditioned, top speed, direction, distance, and pace.

• Understand the effects of wind shifts and navigate sailboats accordingly.

• Label load contents as well to monitor delivery from loading to dock.

• Extremely affordable devices which can easily installed on a single boat or an entire fleet.

The Challenges:

While it does have a boat-load of benefits, GPS boat tracking may pose a few challenges. Here's a look at some of the pain points.

• Battery backup and battery life is an area which needs to be worked on. The standard battery lasts 7 days and may need further its longevity to continue to provide accurate readings.

• False alarms are commonplace and occur when a preset is not well defined or if the owner has not disarmed the system before turning on the ignition. False alarms result in higher operational costs.

• Bad weather can be a possible hazard to tracking as it might lead to a disruption of signals from the GPS device via satellite or cellular network.

• Humidity and salt content can interfere with a GPS device’s efficiency, causing frequent malfunctions.

The Solution:

We've seen the challenges facing Boat GPS tracking. Do we have any solutions at hand? Here are a few.

• Batteries can be sold based on the type of vehicle the consumer is purchasing. A bike does not need as much battery power as a cross country or adventure bike would, since the latter are more likely to be on the road for longer periods of time.

• There should be double checks in place to ensure that presets are well defined, reducing the incurrence of false alarms.

• A combination of RF technology and infallible GPS technology should be devised to overcome faulty signaling even in the harshest weather conditions.

• A heavy duty waterproof and anticorrosive casing must be provided for each device to ensure its longevity and efficacy.

Events are in short, massive collaboration and it is no wonder that event managements companies are always in demand. To oversee this fine meshwork of events and ensure that they run like clockwork needs large scale collaboration and efficiency. Scheduling, seating system, entry, security, personnel location, etc. are just a few of the various parameters that need to be looked after and managed. With the advent of GPS tracking technology you can breathe easy and let the events take care of themselves. Remotely manage and track your event’s entire itinerary with the help of GPS tracking and associated software solutions. If you need to know exactly where your personnel are at all times or how many are in your facility, GPS event tracking is the solution.

Here are a few of the many benefits that GPS event management trackers have to offer

• Very easy to install. No labor required.

• Unobtrusive, easy to use, small and aesthetic devices.

• Know where each guest is located in real time, ensuring the safety of all the attendees.

• Know where each of your staff personnel are in real time, helping you dispatch and allocate resources more easily and readily. This speeds up efficiency and reduces unwanted hassles.

• GPS trackers facilitate asset management. With teeming crowds and scores of valuable equipment out in the field, it becomes a very challenging task to ensure that none of the expensive equipment gets stolen. Prevent theft by tracking valuable assets.

• With GPS trackers and active RFID, personnel management has never been simpler. Staff location and activity is transparent and is conveyed to secure servers which can be immediately accessed by authorized users.

• Deploy interactive seating, with the help of real-time seating charts.

• RFID scanners ensure quick and effective seating. The use of scanners with Radio Frequency Identification technology (RFID) let invites turn into passes for quick entry.

• Stay on top by knowing exactly where all your logistics vehicles are. GPS Fleet management lets you track vehicles in real time with a continuous stream of information that helps assess and diagnose vehicles’ location as well as vehicle condition. No more delays and waits. No more show stopping interruptions due to a failed delivery.

• Communicate directly with fleet and ensure they get to the venue on time with the help of two way audio and interactive maps. Traffic updates and historic GPS route data also ensure faster navigation.

• Single platform interface acts as a one stop shop for all your event management needs. Allow editors, photographers, stylists and TV crews to RSVP to multiple events at once on a single website, centralize media management. Have complete access to this data remotely even on your smart phone or iPad.

The Challenges:

Event Management tracking, while having its advantages, also raises a few challenges. Some of them are

• Costs of fully equipped GPS systems can become quite substantial for smaller companies. And a fully integrated GPS system might not be cost efficient for some event management companies.

• With the staggering wealth of data generated up by GPS systems requires a great deal of understanding and requires some dedicated resources.

• Most GPS systems run on battery. The older versions tracking systems are heavily dependent on Battery power.

Solutions:

Most of the challenges described above can be tackled with the right understanding of GPS tracking technology and the correct choice of equipment.

• Most GPS tracking equipment manufacturers provide consultancy services for upgrading your systems and do an analysis of your business to ascertain cost VS efficiency benefits to help you zero down on the right type of GPS system for your fleet.

• Large amounts of data can be customized back end to ensure that it is populated in a user friendly manner. GPS technology allows for an incredible level of customization to suit any task and business need.

• Integrating GPS battery with a robust battery backup will solve the GPS system's heavy need for battery power. Newer GPS devices have long battery life and higher capacity backup.

Image it. You are in an exotic locale abroad. You have saved up for almost a year to make this trip and finally saw it unfold exactly the way you pictured it. You have had a fantastic vacation with an almost enviable amount of shopping to boot. Now, you can wait to get back home with tons of goodies and gifts for your loved ones back home. Only, there's a slight glitch. The airport conveyer belt doesn't have those red suitcases that you so carefully labeled. Neither does the lost baggage counter. In fact, after a grueling week's wait, there is no sign of your precious luggage and the airport authorities are getting their reimbursement check ready for you. But the big question is, can you put a price on the souvenirs so carefully purchased? Can you put a price on memories?

Statistics from the Bureau of Transportation Services (BTS) show that 2.04 million bags were mishandled in 2010; on average, 3.57 reports per 1,000 passengers. Can you afford to let your luggage end up in the lost realm? This is where GPS luggage tracking comes in. Track your luggage in real time, round the clock, anywhere in the world. The benefits? Read on

• With a GPS suitcase tracker, you can now home in on your suitcase’s location anywhere in the world.Most devices offer coverage in almost 126 countries and the number’s increasing.

• Luggage trackers are generally small, inconspicuous and handy devices. Just slip one into your bag and let the worries slip away, with the knowledge that your suitcase will never be truly ‘lost’ again.

• GPS luggage trackers send regular messages and alerts via the internet to your laptop, cellular phone or home phone to ensure that you stay updated on your luggage’s whereabouts.

• Luggage GPS allows you to set up safe zones and danger zones to ensure that you are alerted if any piece of luggage enters or leaves its intended location.These are designated ‘Geofences’ and immediately alert you if this radius is breached.

• Suitcase trackers have inbuilt accelerometers which allow you to set up Speed thresholds for your luggage is traveling. If a speed threshold is crossed, an alert is sent to you, prompting you to take action.

• In addition to misplaced luggage, you can also prevent theft and zero down on the bag’s location by using GPS trackers.

• Detect luggage sent to a different airport by changing destination settings. Trackers systems then scan luggage at that particular location and zero down on your missing belongings.

• GPS luggage trackers are waterproof and can function in damp environments.

• Luggage trackers are compatible with most cellular networks and work on all GSM/GPRS mobile networks.

• They are equipped with an easilyrechargeable battery with a life of up to 2 days

• To conserve battery life, luggage GPS lets you activate ‘Sleep Mode’ which transmits position signals only when movement is detected

The Challenges

• Sizes for GPS luggage trackers are varied. From tiny Oreo sized spheres, to their more bulky rectangular counterparts, there are no set sizes for luggage GPS devices. This can prove to be cumbersome as some devices tend to take up precious luggage space.

• Devices loaded with features such as waterproofing, extensive coverage and higher battery life have very high costs. Sometimes up to $500.

• GPS devices in luggage can have limited coverage in certain areas of the building such as in the basement of airports and even in certain countries such as Africa where coverage is not supported by relevant providers.

• Many GPS devices have limited battery power, with some lasting only up to 48 hours.

• GPS luggage trackers can sometimes raise security concerns at certain airports. You may be asked to turn them off in case they interfere with radio signals or even be asked to remove them if they are mistaken for foreign objects.

The Solution

• An industry standard size should be followed and costs made more even across different luggage GPS brands.

• Ensure that your GPS device has coverage in the country you are travelling to before you make a purchase. Ensure that your GPS device does not depend on a cellular modem alone. This way you are more likely to receive a signal even if the luggage is in a basement location.

• Purchase devices with extra battery backup. Also try setting the device to sleep mode to conserve battery power.

• Carrying relevant purchase documents may help explain the device to the authorities and ensuring that you get a smooth, uninterrupted journey.

Cities are growing by the second. Larger cities and urban explosion contribute to an ever increasing waste management problem. With increasing volumes how do you make sure waste is collected efficiently and quickly, and removed from the premises just as easily? Everyday a greater number of garbage trucks are being dispatched covering a greater area. With these increasing numbers waste management becomes an intricate interplay of numbers and directions. If there is a breakdown in the system, the result is evident and the stench of garbage overpowers progress. Waste management is a critical part of daily life and companies offering these services are in great demand.

To stay on top of their game, Waste Management companies benefit greatly by implementing GPS tracking technology. GPS tracking in waste management improves process efficiency, reduces fuel usage, improves performance of staff and vehicles, and reduces errors. Let's have a look at how it is done.

• Track vehicles in real time and receive continuous feed on exact location on even PDAs.

• In addition to tracking waste trucks, you can also track containers and bins. Knowing the exact location of bins is critical to wastem management. GPS trackers let you identify the nearest vehicle to a container maximizing efficiency and minimizing distances.

• Assign a serial number to each container and track it all along your waste management chain. GPS trackers greatly facilitate bin stock management.

• Dispatch waste trucks quickly and efficiently. Save time and costs by preventing rerouting and vehicle mismanagement. GPS trackers match work locations with the closest unit available, speeding up the process of waste collection.

• GPS tracking solutions offer detailed driving directions to all personnel which help in getting to the collection site quickly and easily. Maps are intuitive and user friendly and do not require any training.

• Maintain driver log times, restrict unauthorized use and designate optimized routes through historical data and log tracking. All information is stored on personal secure servers.

• Traffic updates and weather updates allow for easy rerouting, ensuring high process efficiency.

• Assess vehicle conditions by receiving constant updates as well as historical data on a range of vehicle functions such as arm lifts, doors opening, compaction, RFID tag readings and many others

• Avoid overloading by customizing GPS devices to calculate vehicle load. This will optimize vehicle performance in the long run and also speed up delivery.

• Prevent Theft of dump trucks by setting up designated Geo-fences and speed thresholds. Receive alerts once a designated area is breach or a speed threshold is crossed. Remotely shut down engines or lock all doors with the help of GPS waste trackers.

• Stay connected always. GPS trackers offer failsafe communication. Radio communication often hampered in rugged terrains. GPS trackers operate via satellite and provide an infallible means to communicate within the fleet.

• Monitor driver behavior through two way audios and also video feeds, to ensure that drivers and other personnel stay on track.

• Eliminate paperwork through GPS technology and software. Job dockets, tip tickets, regulatory compliance forms, and billing is all updated at the click of a button and is readily available for your perusal on even a mobile phone.

• Fuel sensors optimize fuel usage and help cut down fuel costs.

The Challenges:

Though the benefits greatly outnumber the faults, here are a few challenges that the Waste Management industry may encounter with respect to GPS technology

• With the staggering wealth of data generated up by GPS systems requires a great deal of understanding and requires some dedicated resources.

• A high cost of satellite tracking equipment in some cases, leads to a preference of installing cellular based tracking as opposed to Satellite tracking devices.

• Costs of fully equipped GPS systems can become quite substantial for smaller fleets. And a fully integrated GPS system might not be cost efficient for some Waste Management companies.

The Solutions:

These challenges in waste management tracking can easily be remedied with the right understanding and application of GPS tracking technology and the correct choice of equipment.

• Large amounts of data can be customized back end to ensure that it is populated in a user friendly manner. GPS technology allows for an incredible level of customization to suit any business need.

• By combining high tech satellite tracking with traditional Radio Frequency (RF) communication and tracking will stay top notch. RF transmitters send signals through walls, basements, garages and even building without the necessity of a cellular network but need closer range receivers. Satellite technology allows you to receive data anywhere, anytime.

• Most GPS tracking equipment manufacturers provide consultancy services for upgrading your systems and do an analy

In the earthmoving industry, which consists of construction and industrial tractors, GPS tracking plays a major role in streamlining and simplifying operations. For this very reason, heavy equipment manufacturers have long been collaborating with GPS tracking solution system manufacturers to develop customized tracking solutions that can help make the company make decisions based on the analysis of GPS position data of their equipment. Due to the advanced nature of these technological collaborations, highly customized and highly accurate positioning and data analysis technology has been developed for construction tracker solutions over the past decade or so.

Why are companies investing so much and spending so much on these GPS tracking solutions? Let us understand the advantages they offer.

• It gives the management the ability to locate the equipment in the field at any given point in time, providing an automated means of maintaining the fleet

• Construction tracker solutions can be customized to provide updates regarding each asset’s use at periodic intervals as per the requirement. There can be hourly updates or daily updates or any particular periodic updates as required.

• Through monitoring such periodic updates, the management can tackle various issues like off-hour usage or theft of heavy equipment, thus making the operations more secure

• By measuring a relevant parameter such as engine-hours, the engineer can schedule service updates and maintenance checks for heavy equipment accordingly. This helps automate the process to a certain extent, reducing the manual effort expended on such actions and also minimizing human error.

• Reports generated on parameters such as idling time or usage time of assets helps assess the usage patterns of various equipment and analyse performance-related issues that may arise at any point during operation

• The software tools available help generate comprehensive reports that detaileach asset's activity and performance in any given period. This enables the management toassess and review each asset's productivity and take decisions accordingly.

• For equipment that may be given on rent, the industrial equipment tracking system assists to a great deal in automating the billing mechanism by using the usage statistics such as time and distance

• Periodic billing and usage metering achieved through the tracking system optimize the cash flow process for the company, which is very significant for any operator of a cash-intensive sector such as construction and industry

• GPS equipment for tractors can also be of functional use in its operation. For example, sensors to calculate the depth of digging, measure the angle of the ground's slope etc are integral components of most advanced tractors.

• Hard usage data collected as a result of the industrial equipment real time gps tracking system ensures that any disputes with client rentals can be resolved with more accuracy

• The increased security of all the heavy equipment through construction equipment tracking solution means that the insurance premiums are brought down, which is beneficial for any company whose insurance premium payments are always a significant portion of their running expenditure

The Challenges

• The technology employed for this purpose would have to be rugged and weatherproof since heavy equipment is often subjected to extreme conditions and the GPS equipment has to survive such an environment.

• GPS data can be accurately transmitted only in a non-obstructied view of the sky, meaning it is not really weatherproof. In addition, construction work indoors can also affect the working of GPS equipment, as the roof can sometimes block its transmissions, creating certain "dead zones"on the construction site.

• One of the vital factors in using a construction tracker solution is the availability of an accurate site design to be integrated with the GPS system. This ensures more accurate and optimal utilization of the GPS trackers installed on the industrial equipment.

The Solution

• Recent advancements in technology mean that there are solutions available on the market that can deal with various kinds of rough treatment as well as weather, just like the equipment they're supposed to track

• In order to improve the quality of GPS transmission, a company can choose to invest in a base station. But a downside is that investment in a base station is expensive and can only be managed if it is in sync with the scale of the company's operations.

• Typically engineering firms create site designs as part of their documented drawings, the GPS system needs to be capable of importing the same and be able to integrate it into the GPS mapping solution for the client. Many advanced tracking systems on the market now have that capability.

Farming is probably the oldest industry known to man, and there has been millennia worth of know-how and techniques passed through generations of families. It is, by its very nature, one dependent on seasons, homegrown intuition and toil. That said, there have been so many technological innovations in recent times that have been able to significantly simplify the farmer's efforts and ensure that he has a better yield for his hardwork.

GPS tracking systems for farming equipment are one of those innovations that have come as a boon to the farmer. The capability of the technology to integrate locational data to provide advanced services such as water management, yield monitoring, row guidance etc makes it very attractive to farmers. In addition to its implementation in farm equipment tracking, the case for GPS has been made by the fact that many tractor manufacturers have adopted GPS precision technology to reduce overlaps and driver fatigue by improving steering accuracy. This has enabled the technology to take a central position in the sphere of farming.Some of the advantages it offers are –

• GPS tracking equipment can be used to track expensive farming equipment and prevent tractor theft. Tractor real time tracking provides remote access over the equipment to the farmer and are set up to provide text or email alerts to farmers if their equipment is moved.

• Tractor GPS equipment can help in mapping the usage of the equipment and saved as records for insurance purposes, eliminating the need for the farmer's manual records.

• Specific requirements such as “is my crew working in a straight line?” i.e. row guidance, can be answered by GPS tracking equipment, thus helping the farmer achieve a degree of sophistication in his daily farming methods and thus increase the yield of the farm.

• Information management modules are available for farming that utilizefarm equipment tracking for solutions such as water management, mapping, accounting etc. These come with integrated software and can serve as a one-stop solution for the farmer to keep his affairs in order.

• Fertiliser delivery and seeding information can be monitored in real time by the farmer in order to keep a closer track of progress.

• The GPS equipment can be used to mark obstacles on the field or even pest infestations, for future reference. Different varieties of crop can be demarcated accordingly, so that the farming treatment can be customized accordingly.

• Over a longer period of operation, the different stages of progress at different geographical locations in the farm can be stored as GPS data so that work can commence from that location the next time. This reduces duplication of work at any single location in the farm, and hence optimizes the farming efforts.

• Patches of unwanted activity such as repetitive weed growth or sinkholes can be marked on the equipment and treated accordingly to ensure that yield is not affected.

• Precision tracking GPS equipment has the capability to break down the view of a farm into various grids and store information for each grid, such as yield and other parameters. This enables the farmer to perform a better analysis of his farm and increase productivity by focusing on tackling each grid based on its yield and soil conditions.

• GPS equipment can be used in farming applications such as topographic map generation, accurate placement of drip tubing for crops as well as tractor guidance.

The Challenges

• Precision tracking GPS equipment is still considerably expensive and not within the reach of every farmer. Hence there is a challenge to make it more viable and attractive for smaller operators.

• Usage of GPS tracking equipment in farming conditions may be sometimes unreliable because of outdoor interference such as electricity equipment of thunderstorms etc.

• The range of the equipment is not always guaranteed, especially in the case of larger farms which may have natural obstacles such as trees or hills, sometimes leaving the equipment unfocused.

The Solutions

• The willingness of farming equipment manufacturers to collaborate with GPS technology companies to co-design and produce smarter GPS-enabled machines is taking the technology to newer users, and helping farmers take advantage of it.

• GPS tracking equipment utilising subscription-based satellites are much more reliable in outdoor farming conditions as they provide more reliable signals, thus correcting minor interference.

• Manufacturers have come up with fixes to the signal strength to ensure higher range over wider terrain, and also introduced fixes such as making portable base stations that can be transported easily if the need arises.

Fleet management is precise science involving the interplay of a multitude of factors. At first glance, it may seem that fleet management simply involves the location of a company’s vehicle fleet in real time. But it is not so, for fleet management encompasses a range of functions including vehicle maintenance, vehicle telematics (tracking and diagnostics), driver management, speed management, safety management etc. Fleet management includes commercial motor vehicles such as trucks, cars, vans as well as assets, and looks to improve overall productivity and efficiency through smart management. It also looks to bring down overall transportation and staff costs by bringing in automation and safety measures.

Fleet management today relies heavily on GPS platforms and each vehicle in the fleet is equipped with a vehicle tracking component – which is mostly GPS based, but in some cases, cellular network based. After determining location, speed and direction, additional components can be gathered by the GPS tracking network and broadcast to a server. Here is a quick look at what GPS fleet tracking offers

• Track vehicles in real time with a continuous stream of information that helps assess and diagnose vehicles' location as well as vehicle condition

• GPS trackers also provide information on information altitude, reverse geocoding, GSM area code, number of GPS satellites in view, emergency button status, cumulative idling, etc.

• GPS tracking can be employed for small fleets, assets – both battery driven and tethered, and also for enterprise class vehicles.

• GPS tracking platforms are simple and easy to use. No need for intensive training.

• Fleet management GPS also integrates with traffic updates providing you with driving directions necessary to avoid obstacles and pileups along the way.

• Maintain tracking reports of oil changes, tune ups, and other vehicle repair costs.

• Enforce safety management, prevent theft and have continuous surveillance data at hand.

• Fleet GPS tracking systems also allow you to control a vehicle remotely and allow functions such as locking doors or engine shut down in case of emergencies.

• Maintain driver logs; receive continuous vehicle feeds to ensure more responsible driver behavior.

• Fleet trackers help in navigating through harsh environments and rugged terrains when visibility is poor.

• Maintain constant communication through two-way texting and imaging.

• Reduce service response time and increase service related productivity.

• Increase service related productivity.

• Extend the life of vehicles by scheduling tune ups and maintenance work through regular diagnostic reports. In case of a breakdown, receive alerts which enable you to quickly send a backup or repair wagon to fix up the stalled vehicle. This saves costs and time.

• Reduce operating costs by increasing automation and decreasing staff.

• Through efficient fleet management, reduce fuel costs.

• By reducing the usage of fuel, there will be a steep drop in carbon emissions and other pollutants, giving your fleet the green advantage.

• With accurate tracking and logs, fleet management leads to significant tax benefits

The Challenges

Fleet tracking, while having its advantages, raises a few challenges which have to be understood in depth by any organization before opting for a GPS tracking solution. However, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

• GPS systems and Fleet Trackers often involve a high cost of implementation which may not work out for all logistic operators, especially a smaller fleet of vehicles.

• A high cost of satellite tracking equipment in some cases, leads to a preference of installing cellular based tracking as opposed to Satellite tracking devices.

The Solutions

Most of the challenges described above can be remedies with the right understanding and application of GPS tracking technology and the correct choice of equipment.

• For cost efficiency, there are several GPS tracking equipment manufacturers who provide consultancy services for upgrading your fleet systems and offer analyses explaining the impact of GPS tracking technology on your efficiency, given your scale of operation. This gives a fair assessment and guideline to help you make an informed choice on the scale of GPS expenditure.

• Satellite tracking communications, while more expensive, are critical if vehicle tracking is to work in remote environments without interruption. GPS tracking in combination with Radio Frequency (RF) should be a failsafe means of getting a continuous data feed. RF transmitters send signals through walls, basements, garages and even building without the necessity of a cellular network.

Bikes are handy, sturdy and fantastic modes of transport. They beat traffic, offer minimal parking problems and don't guzzle up gas like four wheelers do. And nothing quite spells outdoors like a bike ride does. So, it is little wonder that we invest so time and money much in buying the right bike. Be it a sports bike, a cruiser, a street bike, an ATV or a dirt bike even, motorbikes are generally more prone to theft owing to their portability and size. And we don’t want to see that happen, do we? This Is where GPS motorcycle tracking comes in. GPS trackers have become an indispensable part of the Motorcycle & Bike Industry. And it is not difficult to see why, because the benefits to both the industry and consumers alike are multifold.

• Bike GPS offers complete and simple solutions for round the clock bike monitoring

• Allows anyone to track your motorcycle's whereabouts in real-time from anywhere in the world, via the internet, through uniquely designed web-based mapping software.

• In the event of a crash or accident, the GPS device immediately sends notifications or alerts to the nearest Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and fetches timely help.

• Reduces the hassle of insurance claims by offering real time status updates, therefore effectively preventing theft.

• Immediately sends alerts if someone starts a bike or rides it outside a preset area. This is called Geo-fencing. And if a bike wanders outside a designated geo fenced area, an alert is automatically sent from your bike tracker device.

• Hassle free software. Easy to install. Reduces labor costs required to install bulkier and more cumbersome counterparts.

• Aesthetically pleasing. Since the unit is small, unobtrusive and easy to mount, no costs are incurred in engaging fresh designs.

• GPS devices offer comprehensive theft protection. If there is an attempt to hotwire the bike, an automated email or cell phone alert is sent, after which the consumer can immediately log on through a smartphone or laptop and activate the ignition disable switch.

• Safe driving settings. Motorcycle trackers monitor your bike's speed and tilt conditions round the clock. If a certain threshold is exceeded, an alert is automatically set to your phone. This way, riders can be more aware of their own driving skills. Better drivers make better engines. And better engines, reduce repairing costs. Ensures safety & security for both drivers and vehicles.

• Never be lost. GPSmotorcycle tracking offers integrated Google Maps to ensure that you always find your way. Increases productivity.

The Challenges

While it does have a bike-load of benefits, GPS motorcycle tracking may pose a few challenges. Here’s a look at some of the pain points.

• Battery backup and battery life is an area which needs to be worked on. The standard battery lasts 7 days andmay need further its longevity to continue to provide accurate readings.

• False alarms are commonplace and occur when a preset is not well defined or if the owner has not disarmed the system before turning on the ignition. False alarms result in higher operational costs.

• Theft detection is not foolproof, especially after you have located the area in which the bike is hidden. If it is a crowded neighborhood, it becomes even more difficult to pinpoint the bikes exact location.

The Solution

We've seen the challenges facing Bike GPS tracking. Do we have any solutions at hand? If so…let's take a look at what they are.

• Batteries can be sold based on the type of vehicle the consumer is purchasing. A bike does not need as much battery power as a cross country or adventure bike would, since the latter are more likely to be on the road for longer periods of time.

• There should be double checks in place to ensure that presets are well defined, reducing the incurrence of false alarms.

• GPS devices should emit sirens in addition to just signals, to facilitate easier detection in crowded neighborhoods.

A cargo's location, safety and condition can be monitored by use of GPS tracking technology, all from the relative comfort of a computer through the use of an easy-to-use software application over the internet. This mix of convenience and simplification offered by GPS tracking has revolutionized the field of logistics, with many businesses opting to employ this technology to improve their operational efficiencies as well as safeguard their cargo during shipment. Why has GPS tracking become such an integral part of the logistics industry in such a short span of time? The reasons are many-fold.

• It helps significantly improve trailer-to-tractor ratios, effectively increasing the productivity.

• It improves the accuracy and reliability of service and delivery through real-time updates about the location of cargo, along with estimated arrival times and status of cargo.

• Helps streamline and improve the management of shipments by decreasing response time to issues or while dealing with changing customer requirements.

• It reduces the risk of theft and losses through instant notifications in case of the assets being compromised.

• Helps in optimization of asset use by keeping track of “dropped” cargo and delays caused by detained trailers at customer site.

• Assist in transport of cargo that needs special care by monitoring various parameters such as trailer temperature, load status, trailer identification etc.

• Help maintain a log of information regarding pertinent factors such as shipment route, delays at different stages of transit etc, in order to enable accurate reporting.

• It assists in the implementation of “Just-in-Time” delivery systems, thus limiting inventory levels and improving asset utilisation.

• It automates the process for the proof of delivery, thus simplifying the logistical processes a great deal.

• It helps reduce labour costs by eliminating the need for human intervention at various stages such as inventory checking, delivery verification etc.

• It improves the efficiency of supply chain management, streamlining cash flow by enabling instant delivery confirmations for invoice generation.

• Customer satisfaction is impacted as a result of improved delivery efficiency as well as efficient sharing of information regarding the cargo transport.

• Container tracking helps reduce the number of insurance claims, thus keeping insurance premiums for your organization in check.

The Challenges

Cargo tracking, while having its advantages, also raises a lot of challenges. They have to be understood in depth by any organization before going for the GPS tracking solutions for their cargo. Some of them can be described as below:

• It involves a high cost of implementation which may not work out for all logistic operators. Economy of scale is the key to an effective cargo GPS tracking system.

• Mere setup and implementation of a logistics tracking mechanism is not enough to generate operational savings. Smart analysis of the business and a complete “buy-in” on the part of the management are vital to an effective logistics tracking system for any organization.

• Real time cargo tracking through extreme environments may be a challenge as the GS equipment employed may not be able to work in conditions such as sub-zero temperatures or high temperature environments

• The battery life of the GPS tracking equipment is dependent on the usage, i.e. frequency of tracking and the costs also vary accordingly. An optimal usage is to be devised.

The Solution

Most of the challenges described above can be tackled with the right understanding of GPS tracking technology and the correct choice of equipment.

• There are seasoned GPS tracking equipment manufacturers who provide consultancy services for upgrading your systems and do an analysis of your business to ascertain if GPS tracking technology can impact your efficiency, given your scale of operation. This ensures that you do not jump on the bandwagon too early and end up spending on technology which may not give you a commensurate return on investment.

• GPS tracking technology always needs to be accompanied by a commitment on the part of the organization to it, meaning that all operational processes at various levels of logistics management have to be redesigned accordingly

• The cargo GPS tracking technology set up must be customized to the needs of the cargo that it is applied to. Various weather conditions, handling patterns etc need to be understood well before implementing the system.

• Minor details such as battery life of equipment etc need to be understood before purchase, so that the right kind of solution is applied. For example, highly critical shipments need to be tracked in real time with very frequent tracking, and hence a suitable solution is to be employed.

Car rental is huge business. Everyone in the US at some point in their lives has rented a car at least once. Most car rentals take place in and around the airport where there is a huge demand for short term rentals. With this high demand how can you be sure that your meet the requirements? And more importantly, even with security checks and paperwork in place, how can you as a car rental company, ensure that your vehicles don't get stolen by your customers? GPS tracking is the solution.

With GPS tracking devices, you can track, manage and set up custom alarms for your fleet of cars. They are small, handy, easy to install, non-intrusive and what’s more aid your customers in better driving and navigation. Let’s take a look at how GPS tracking devices help car rental companies.

• GPS tracking devices help you track vehicles in real time that not only help assess and diagnose vehicles' location, but also vehicle condition.

• Knowledge is power. GPS vehicle trackers determine accurate car location in real time and dispatch continuous feed and updates via satellite or cellular network. This information is continuously passed on to a central server where it is stored and can be retrieved at any time. Ensure a streamlined process of keeping up with demand by knowing exactly where your rental vehicle is at all times.

• By having continuous access to this data, you can maintain logs, schedule pickups in case of delays, communicate with drivers and create a situational awareness that will lead to better and safer driving experiences.

• With GPS technology, your rental car drivers will have no trouble finding their destination. With a clearly defined map, highlighted driving directions to destination and an easy to use interface, reaching point B has never been easier. This greatly reduces car accidents and improves safety.

• Car rental trackers help in navigating through harsh environments and rugged terrains when visibility is poor.

• Car Rental GPS also integrates with traffic updates providing you with driving directions necessary to avoid obstacles and pileups along the way.

• Stay updated on driving behavior of customers by receiving updates on speed and engine conditions.

• Prevent theft. As a rental company you will always face the risk of car theft from both outsider and your own customers. This is worrying more so in case of exotic cars, sports cars and limousines, which are really expensive and priceless to your fleet. Create custom alerts, set up geo-fences, activate engine shut down, auto lock doors and lots more through GPS tracking devices.

• If a vehicle moves outside a designated geo-fenced area, you will immediately receive an alert prompting you to prevent theft. Enforce safety management, prevent theft by having continuous surveillance data at hand.

• In case of vehicle breakdown, receive alerts which will allow you immediately send a backup vehicle or repair wagon. This additional feature will improve your company’s image and reputation.

• Extend the life of vehicles by scheduling tune ups and maintenance work through regular diagnostic reports.

• GPS trackers have very easy installation. No elaborate workforce is needed for either installation or maintenance.

The Challenges:

Now that we have seen the benefits and features, lets us take a quick look a the challenges that lie ahead for GPS car rental trackers.

• GPS systems and Car Trackers often involve a high cost of implementation which may not be feasible for all logistic operators, especially a smaller fleet of vehicles.

• A dependence on cellular networks as opposed to satellite networks might lead to intermittent information collection. This is because of patchy network coverage in some geographical locations. More so, a high cost of satellite tracking equipment in some cases, leads to a preference of installing cellular based tracking as opposed to Satellite tracking devices.

The Solution:

These challenges can easily be remedied with the right understanding and application of GPS tracking technology and the correct choice of equipment.

• There are several GPS tracking equipment manufacturers who provide consultancy services for upgrading your fleet systems and offer analyses explaining the impact of GPS tracking technology on your efficiency, given your scale of operation. This gives a fair assessment and guideline to help you make an informed choice on the scale of GPS expenditure.

• Satellite tracking communications, while more expensive, are critical if vehicle tracking is to work in remote environments without interruption. GPS tracking in combination with Radio Frequency (RF) should be a failsafe means of getting a continuous data feed. RF transmitters send signals through walls, basements, garages and even building without the necessity of a cellular network.

Spy technology is a highly lucrative industry, with a wide range of tech gadgets developed by companies in order to meet diverse tracking needs. Earlier the ambit of these technologies were limited to the usage of law enforcement and other government agencies but the recent proliferation of these devices into the commercial market means that the industry has grown multiple fold.With security becoming a major concern both for individuals as well as organizations, these spy devices have seen the demand grow to stratospheric levels, in the process making the technologies available and accessible.

Spy devices are of two types – Historical and real time. Historical devices 'record' and allow you to download the information at a later time, whereas Real time devices offer continuous feed round the clock.

Keeping these recent developments in mind, companies have started manufacturing technologies easy to use for the common consumer. As a result, numerous spying solutions are available in the market. There is the hidden spy camera, the motion sensor, the voice pens, cell phone recon software… the options are endless. Many of them fulfill the need to record or gather information regarding the subjects, but GPS tracking is the crown jewel of spy technologies, enabling users to understand the movements of their subjects and track them down accurately as and when required. Why is GPS tracking so important to the spy industry? Let us look at the advantages it offers –

• For the spy industry, size and portability of any real time spy device is very crucial. The fact that GPS tracking devices are tiny and easily portable means that it fits the bill well. There are devices that are so lightweight and small that they can be sewn into the clothing material or hidden between papers in a glovebox and can be tracked remotely.

• GPS devices are exceedingly accurate, and can be used even in areas without cellular coverage outside the cities, which makes them very convenient to use as spy solutions

• Spy trackers can be easy to follow, given that the locational data from those devices can be mapped in a variety of platforms such as an application on a web portal or an application on a smartphone or through a dedicated handheld device.

• Spy trackers can be employed in a multitude of fields such as regulating traffic and catching driving offences through black box car cameras, home safety through hidden cameras and nanny cameras, vehicle spy cameras for better fleet management, hidden cameras to monitor employee productivity at the workplace, all equipped with GPS capability to remotely receive information.

• Computer spy trackers gives you complete control over your family’s browsing history making it an efficient tool to prevent your child from misusing the Internet. If used at the workplace, GPS spy trackers send immediate alerts if an unauthorized login is detected on your computer system.

• Vehicle spy cameras protect your vehicle from theft or simply allow you to monitor the driving habits of your new teen drivers.

The Challenges

• There is always the risk of certain individuals or organizations misusing the technology for selfish gains by infringing on individual privacies. There are numerous cases of individuals being tracked unknowingly or against their will, resulting in gross losses of privacy.

• Since GPS spy solutions are meant to be non-intrusive, inconspicuous and extremely accurate, the costs associated with them are also quite high. The smaller they come, the more expensive they get. Most spy trackers range from $100 to anything up to a thousand and up.

The Solution

• Misusing this technology is one of the challenges of making such technology commercially available, but there isn't much that can be done except introduce legislation to combat and punish such transgressions.

• Again, do a cost VS benefit analysis. Sometimes there is a bulkier alternative to a smaller device which will serve the same function, perhaps in a less aesthetic manner. Evaluate device necessity, effectiveness and return on investment before you make an expensive purchase.

Having a child is a huge responsibility. Ask any parent that question and you will receive a vigorous nod of the head. Children are prone to wander. They are curious beings and often throw caution to the winds, wandering off in unknown directions. Imagine losing a child at a crowded fair, all because they were attracted by the movement of a floating red balloon and you were looking in the opposite direction. Or imagine being unable to locate your toddler in your own house! Toddlers are an extremely restless lot and are prone to moving around…a lot. They make get themselves locked in a cabinet upstairs, or crawl into the basement, all without your knowledge. These may sound like implausible scenarios, but are sadly more common than you think.

This is where Personal GPS trackers come in. They are easy, accurate and reliable ways to keep track of your child or even elders. These are great tools for elder caregivers as well, since elders, are prone to getting lost or being unable to find their way back home.

There are two kinds of personal trackers available in the market. There is one that uses cellular signals and operates using a cell phone carrier and another which uses radio signals. A major disadvantage of the former is that that they work only in areas where there is cell phone coverage and in addition, have an ongoing service charge for the tracker. Radio wave trackers do not have a service charge but have a longer range and the signal transmission is limited to a handheld receiver. Though they have their pros and cons, these devices are almost indispensable in today's fast paced world and an almost indispensable.

Personal and security GPS trackers have become quite the rage lately, due to their numerous advantages, which can are as follows-

• Personal GPS trackers are small, lightweight and easy to carry around. They also come in attractive colors with a toy-like look to keep your child’s attention fixed. Since they are easy to carry, there is no danger of causing discomfort to your child.

• Child and elder GPS trackers immediately send out alerts and messages via text message, email and mobile device notifications.

• One click tracking enables you to quickly locate your child on a map.

• Personal trackers offer Geofences and allow you to customize designated perimeters for your child and elders. This way you can set “safe zones” and always receive an immediate alert when the radius is breached.

• Personal trackers let you set speed limits and send out alerts if this speed limit is reached.

• Made of extremely tough and durable materials, child trackers are strongand hardy devices which are by default, child, water, impact, laundry machine, dryer, pool, dirt and heat proof.

• These devices are extremely easy to use, with no external buttons and come with a very easy to install software.

• Personal trackers also have a log of activity and list out a map of most visted places. This way you can childproof your home more efficiently. In case of elders’ trackers, you can probably increase neighborhood awareness based on a history of their movements.

The Challenges

• Sometimes personal tracker devices are almost coin sized and can be shaped too small and this can pose a potential hazard to children as they can result in choking.

• Personal trackers especially need to be carried on person all the time and this might be a cause for concern especially when it comes to children, since they might just misplace them or throw them away.

• Handheld trackers need to be held on personal at all times and this might be cumbersome.

The Solution

• Although there have been advancements made with respect to design, size and aesthetics (some trackers are equipped with a keychain for easier handling), standard sized child trackers needs to be made compulsory across the market.

• Devices attached to wristwatches, wristbands, key chains, etc will be more likely to be carried on persona at all times.

• Mobile carrier based trackers have eliminated the need for handheld transmitters, enabling pet owners to track their pets through mobile applications installed on their smartphones or through the internet.

Monitoring a hospital's inventory takes work. With so many supplies and medical equipment, furniture often gets misplaced or goes missing from medical vehicles likeambulances.

Health care providers like hospitals spend tons of money on medical equipment. Healthcare GPS tracking devices can help guarantee that companies get to make the most from those investments without worrying whether someone has stolen important items. Medical equipment tracking devices can also aid hospitals in monitoring inventory more efficiently. GPS tracking systems makes it easier for healthcare organizations to hit these goals.

The Solutions

• Install healthcare GPS tracking devices that will make it easier for law enforcement to recover stolen possessions.

• Decrease the time that employees spend searching for items.

• End employee theft with real time healthcare GPS tracking devices that cannot be located or disabled.

GPS Trackers Help Managers Make Informed Decisions

• Determine which medical supplies, equipment, and furniture gets used most often.

• Arrange medical equipment in a way where it allows employees to access the most-used items easier.

• Create a system that organizes items so doctors/nurses can access them fast during medical situations.

Healthcare GPS Tracking Makes Businesses More Competitive.

GPS tracking systems will lower the time spent searching for important items and help decrease theft (or misplacement) make your healthcare organization competitive. This means you can produce profits while keeping patient bills low.

Want to take a break from civilization, disappear all out in the open and be at one with nature? There are numerous outdoor activities available for souls like yours, each unique in their own way in terms of challenges offered and efforts required.Hiking, snowboarding, mountain biking, mountain climbing… the list goes on. Each of them offer the thrill of solitude out in the open, the pleasure of aunity with nature, far from the hustle bustle of modern life. And they have proven really popular with many urban dwellers of late, who crave to experience the wilderness in its purest form and feel an isolation that is almost impossible to attain in their daily suburban lives.

But this presents a challenge. What of safety? The very paradox of an outdoor activity lies in the fact that when we choose to get away from civilization, we only choose to do so after agreeing to a broad set of dangers beforehand. While this is admirable, many who get lost in unknown terrain or encounter unwanted phenomenon on their trips might wish they had a way to call for help or be assisted out of their quandary by the local authorities. This is where GPS tracking comes in. Nowadays many hikers are awakening to this possibility and have begun incorporating it into their outdoor survival kits. How does it help? Let's look at the advantages it offers –

• Most of GPS hiking tracking equipment works independently of cellular coverage. Hence the trackers work even in the farthest regions, freeing you from the regional limitations a mobile carrier might impose on you otherwise.

• Hiking tracker equipment can be paired with tracking solutions employed by local authorities, thus ensuring that you exist in their database and are able to link up with them in case of any problems and request help immediately.

• GPS tracking equipment can also come with weather update integration, so that you can stay informed beforehand and make decisions accordingly. A brewing thunderstorm in the next point of your hiking trail may not really be something you want to experience, and this equipment provides you real time information like that.

• The price of the GPS equipment has come down significantly in recent years, making it affordable to outdoor enthusiasts of all income groups.

• GPS trackers come with preprogrammed options to send out distress signals or reach out to local authorities or friends in case the hiker needs to.

• Hiking trackers can be really small and can be designed in conjunction with any of the normal equipment used by hikers, such as watches, shoes, handheld devices etc. This means that the hiker has a wide variety of options to choose from according to his convenience.

• The pin point accuracy of the GPS tracker equipment means you can be located swiftly within a few feet of your actual location, if needed.

• Hiking GPS equipment can also be used to load maps of the area, and this can be extremely helpful for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to use a much more dynamic way of locating themselves than a static paper map. It can also provide you an easier platform to store your route map or itinerary and allow you to proceed with your hike with peace of mind.

The Challenges

• The GPS equipment needs to be rugged and terrain-ready because most of the outdoor activities undertaken by adventure enthusiasts are places of extremes. Depending on the activity, the tracker may need the ability to withstand extreme heat or extreme cold or even low/high atmospheric pressure. Moreover, it always needs to be water proof and not just water resistant.

• Public safety regulations need to be framed at least on designated outdoor activity areas, and technology solutions need to be developed for the authorities so that they can keep track of all the hikers in the area through GPS trackers logged into their system. This will enable swifter emergency services in case a need arises, and also facilitates a running mode of communication between the hikers and the local authorities.

The Solution

• Most of modern outdoor trackers are designed to withstand extreme conditions, including exposure to water or pressure variations or temperature extremes. This enables the hiker to be tracked down even in the most adverse of conditions.

• Public infrastructure is being developed to facilitate GPS tracking of hikers, and the proliferation of technology means that anyone with an internet connection can actually track a hiker through the use of a web portal.