Vehicle Tracking - How Does it Work

A few years ago none of us expected how valuable a PDA or a mobile phone would become in our everyday lives, particularly in the lives of the mobile workers. In this day and age if your work involves travel, whether you are delivering goods, selling products or simply attending a lot of meetings there is no doubt that your essential technology will be at least a mobile phone that your company has supplied you with. It enables you to keep in touch with your clients, your company and enables your company to find out where you are.

Vehicle Tracking Technology

Vehicle tracking technology takes communication technology to the next level, it not only allows you and your company to stay in touch but allows for every movement of your vehicle to be monitored. When using the more sophisticated tracking systems your company can guide you to your destinations, allocate jobs more efficiently and cover your back in the face of false allegations. There are numerous benefits that this technology can bring to a company and its employees and although these benefits are worthy of their own articles, for now we are only interested in discussing how this technology actually works.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

In order to track a vehicle it must first be installed with a GPS device capable of constantly receiving signals from satellites that are in orbit around our planet. Now for the clever stuff...The GPS satellite network has been designed so that at least 4 satellites are in view, in the sky from anywhere on earth. The GPS receiver's job is to find its distance from 4 or more satellites and, using a mathematical principle called trilateration, determine its position on earth. In the case of a vehicle tracking system, this would be the position of the vehicle itself.

Vehicle Tracking Process

To have a functioning vehicle tracking system this positioning data needs to be collated and transferred to the user. To do this the tracking device will transmit a stream of data via a telecommunication provider to a server, this is where the data on the vehicles activity is stored. This information is then accessed through your PC once the vehicle tracking software has been installed.

Using this specific software, all the data on the vehicles activity comes to life. The software will overlay the vehicle location data on a map, enabling you to see its location in real time. The vehicle data can also be viewed historically and detailed reports about many different aspects concerning the state of the vehicle can be created at the touch of a button.

Vehicle Tracking - The benefits

Vehicle tracking technology will provide your business with a real competitive advantage. The technology can improve the service you provide customers and can help you ensure that your vehicles are run as efficiently as possible. By improving vehicle routing, reducing miles driven and analysing speed, vehicle tracking is sure to help you cut costs and boost profitability.