Bighorn Sheep GPS Tracking In The Mojave Desert

More than 100 Bighorn sheep have died this year in California’s Mojave Desert. The cause of death is an ongoing pneumonia epidemic in the region. State and federal wildlife experts will spend $48,000 in an effort to combat the health crisis. “We are throwing everything we have at this to better understand it and hopefully control it,” said Debra Hughson, Mojave National Preserve science adviser. The funds will be spend on a helicopter survey and GPS tracking collars for the sheep.

The pneumonia cannot spread to humans, but is devastating the bighorn sheep populations in the Old Dad Mountain and Marble Mountain areas of the Mojave National Preserve. The Department of Fish and Wildlife will provide 54 GPS tracking collars for the survey. A team will fly over the Mojave Desert in search of the sheep. Individual animals will be captured with a net shot from the low-flying helicopter. These sheep will be fitted with a GPS collar, and the researchers will take a blood sample and nasal swab before releasing the animal. If one of the sheep captured is obviously ill, it may be put down and studied.

The blood samples and GPS technology will all be used to get a better idea of how many sheep are infected with pneumonia and to strategize how best to help the herds. The GPS collars in particular can help researchers track where and how the disease is spreading. The tracking technology uses satellite signals to transmit up-to-date, precise location information. If an animal stops moving, the team will investigate the location. One of the main reasons an animal stops moving, unfortunately, is that it has died.

By tracking the healthy sheep, researchers can learn exactly when and where the disease is spreading. “The idea here is to have collared animals in the surrounding mountain ranges so we can have an early warning of the spread of the pathogen,” Hughson explained. “We can get a better understanding of the progression of the disease, its spread and impact on herds.”

Google+
Bighorn Sheep GPS Tracking In The Mojave Desert

$25K Prize For Winner Of Anti-Poaching Drone Design

Kashmir Robotics, an organization dedicated to use drone technology to combat poachers, is holding a contest asking the public to help design an affordable drone surveillance system for Wildlife Reserves. Poaching is a huge problem around the world. Species of Rhinoceros and Elephants have been nearly wiped out because of poaching. Poachers can get upwards of $300,000 for a rhino tusk, incentivizing a lot of crime. The animals are left for dead and killed only for their ivory. There are many human casualties as well, caused by the poaching industry. With so much money on the line, many poachers are perfectly willing to kill park rangers and other security, often volunteering to protect these animals.

With more and more wildlife being tracked with GPS technology, some poachers are attempting to hack into the GPS tracking data to locate these endangered animals even easier. In order to more effectively fight these poachers, many are looking to drone technology for safe surveillance. The major benefit of drone surveillance is that it reduces the chance of human casualty. The other major benefit is that drones are often discreet and can monitor a large area of space fairly quickly. Drones are currently used to monitor conflict zones in the middle east, and they do a great job of spotting soldiers moving at night (which is also how poachers tend to approach). Unfortunately, these drones are exorbitantly expensive, costing around $4 million each.

Wildlife conservation departments don’t have anywhere near those kinds of funds. Here is where the contest comes in. Kashmir Robotics is calling all technology enthusiasts to team up with up to four other people and design a surveillance drone for under $3K. The deadline for entries is December 1st, 2013, and the contest lasts through October 4th, 2014. The grand prize includes a 10-day trip to Kruger National Park and $25,000. Hopefully, Kashmir Robotics will end up with a cost-effective surveillance solution to the poaching problem.

Google+
$25K Prize For Winner Of Anti-Poaching Drone Design

SOS My Location Improves Software for GPS App

GPS technology has done a lot to improve emergency response systems and help adventurers find their way back to civilization. The mainstream release of tracking and navigation technology allow people to signal their exact location in case of emergency. The SOS My Location GPS App is designed for exactly this type of situation, and it’s available to anyone with an iPhone or iPad. Smartphones come standard with GPS tracking capabilities, and GPS apps have become very popular and handy.

“SOS My Location is one of our earlier apps we developed and it was about time for an update on the software. With safety for the user in mind, we took the extra steps to make ICE (In Case of Emergency) Screensaver & ‘Where Am I’ feature. As one of the superior GPS location trackers, we hope the new release will only increase the user experience,” explained Sandeep Ali, i2e Consulting’s Head of Digital Marketing.

With these new features, the app allows users to save emergency contacts. In the event of an emergency, with the click of a button, the user’s exact GPS location information is sent to every one of the emergency contacts immediately. This way, your friends and family will know exactly where to send help. The app would come in handy in all sorts of emergency situations. If you find yourself lost in a big city or out in the wilderness, this app can get a rescue team out to your location as quick as possible. If you become injured or stranded somewhere, this app can help you get assistance right away.

The SOS My Location app is free for all iOS devices. You can find the app in the Apple App Store online or on your iPad or iPhone. The app can also send video clips and emails, and allows access to popular social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Google+
SOS My Location Improves Software for GPS App

Karnataka To Track Elephants With GPS Devices

It looks as though Karnataka will be the first state in India to track pachyderms with GPS technology. In response to human-elephant conflict, the Karnataka Forest Department has decided to try to combat the problem by tracking four elephants with GPS collars. The four elephants have already been chosen from Bandipur National Park. These particular elephants have been causing problems in the Hassan and Kodagu districts, causing damage to crops and attacking humans. If tracking the elephants is successful in reducing the problem, more elephants will be tracked in the area.

The devices used to track the animals is actually a hybrid GPS collar developed by the Department of Electronics Study at the Indian Institute of Science. The improvised tracking device uses GPS technology, and claims to have a longer battery life and be more cost-effective than traditional tracking collars. These devices are also water-proof. When compared with similar devices used by the South African forest authorities, the improvised devices were both lighter in weight and less expensive. The collars used by the South African forest authorities were not water-proof.

A team will tranquilize the four elephants before attaching the GPS collars for tracking. They are then released and monitored remotely. The devices record the exact location of the elephants every four hours. This data is transmitted back to six different locations once per day for monitoring. In Sri Lanka, ten elephants were collard for similar reasons and the program has been quite successful. By monitoring the elephants, the forest rangers are able to anticipate when the pachyderms are approaching human habitats, allowing the villagers to prepare for the approaching elephants. The Karnataka Forest Department hopes that their tracking will be able to help reduce attacks and damage to crops and property in their state.

Google+
Karnataka To Track Elephants With GPS Devices

Six Leopards To Be Tracked With GPS In India

The Forest Department in India recently approved plans to monitor six regional leopards with GPS tracking devices in order to better understand the wild cats and help avoid human-leopard conflict. It is not uncommon for leopards to come in contact with humans. Leopards are the most adaptable wild cats, which means that they aren’t afraid to wander into developed areas populated by humans.  By tracking leopards, researchers hope to find better ways to deter the cats from threatening humans and livestock.

According to a secondary study, which took place from January 2008 to September 2013, there were instances of human-leopard conflict in 214 villages and 25 districts in the state of Karnataka during this period. The Mysore, Udupi, Hassan and Tumkur districts had the highest level of conflict between humans and leopards. In Karnataka, leopards can be found in forests, rocky habitats, farmland and even urban areas. An increase in human-leopard conflict means danger to the leopards as well as danger to humans, pets and livestock.

No leopards have currently been chosen for the GPS tracking experiment. According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) G.S. Prabhu, the next six leopards to that are captured by the Forest Department for wandering into human settlements will be equipped with GPS collars for tracking. The leopards will be tracked for two years, and the study will be managed by Sanjay Gubbi from the Nature Conservation Foundation.

In order to mitigate human-leopard conflict, it is essential that researchers gain more understanding of the different factors that cause leopards to enter human-populated areas. During the two-year study, researchers will also experiment with the efficacy of moving leopard populations away from human settlements. With more information on these fascinating wild cats, hopefully we can reduce human-leopard conflicts.

Google+
Six Leopards To Be Tracked With GPS In India

Queensland Beach Rangers Manage Crocodiles With Traps and GPS Technology

Australia is known for deadly wildlife. Just about everything is poisonous there, and they also get to share some of their beaches with crocodiles. Crocs are incredibly shrewd predators and splashing around in water shared with crocodiles is a recipe for disaster. Urban sprawl in North Queensland is encroaching further into crocodile habitat. Wildlife rangers have been enlisted to monitor the beaches, noting any sighting by recording the approximate size and GPS location of the crocodiles, and removing the dangerous predators from populated areas.

“The Queensland Government has responded with a new management plan that carves large areas between Townsville and Cairns into three zones,” Matt Wordsworth reports. “Zone One is a complete exclusion area where preventative barriers are constructed. Zone Two areas require crocs over two meters in length to be trapped, except in metropolitan Cairns, where all crocs are removed. In Zone Three, animals are only taken if aggressive. All are offered free of charge to croc farms for breeding purposes.”

“What this is going to do is lead people into a false sense of security and that they will feel that it’s an exclusion zone or it’s proactive removal zone, there’s no crocodiles around. it’s OK to wade into the water, go for a swim and put themselves at threat. My feeling is that this is just a disaster waiting to happen,” explained Professor Craig Franklin from the Biological Science department at the University of Queensland. Franklin recently returned from a GPS tracking study of crocodiles in North Queensland. “A crocodile can travel 60 kilometers in a day. It can move along the coastline from river system to river system and it can walk across land.”

“The government needs to listen to what we know about these animals and to focus more of their effort on education than spending I think will be an exorbitant amount of money catching every crocodile, including little hatchlings, from these proactive removal zones,” Professor Franklin added.

Google+
Queensland Beach Rangers Manage Crocodiles With Traps and GPS Technology

Condor Cam Aids Conservationists in GPS Tracking Study

If you frequent any of the popular social media sites, you’ve likely heard of the Condor Cam. Wildlife biologists from the Oakland Zoo and Ventana Wildlife Society have enlisted a solar-powered camera to study the condors in their research and rescue program. They teamed up with CamZone and FedEx to allow public access to the live streaming condor cam. The video link has been spreading across social media like wildfire. “It’s a portal to look through the eyes of the people who have dedicated their lives to saving the condor,” explained Kelly Sorenson, Ventana Wildlife Society’s executive director. “This gives you a glimpse into our world.”

The Oakland Zoo constructed a rehabilitation center for sick and injured condors, as part of the California Condor Recovery Program. Many birds of prey, including the condor have been getting sick and dying from lead poisoning. The lead enters their system when they feed on game that was killed with lead bullets and not retrieved by the hunter. Once the condors are rehabilitated, they are released in Big Sur, at the Ventana Wildlife Society’s release site. About 2,800 feet in the air, rests the condor cam, allowing a unique view into the lives of the evasive birds of prey.

The camera has been a huge help to the researchers, who are currently monitoring more than 60 birds in Central California with the help of GPS technology. The camera allows the researchers to visualize how the birds are behaving and how they move. GPS devices are great for tracking migration and bird population, but the camera helps researchers to monitor the condors on an entirely differently level. One of the birds was acting strangely on camera and researchers were concerned it had injured its eye. By zooming in on the camera feed, they were able to determine the condor was only cleaning its eye.

Google+
Condor Cam Aids Conservationists in GPS Tracking Study

Poachers Try To Hack Bengal Tiger's GPS Tracking Collar

Here at the Rocky Mountain Tracking blog, we love to share stories about how GPS technology is used in animal conservation efforts and wildlife research. Unfortunately, this story has a darker twist. Poachers have been attempting to hack into GPS tracking collars to access protected animals. Although it is fairly uncommon for poachers to resort to hacking, there is reason to believe an attempt was recently made in India’s Panna Tiger Reserve.

An Iridium GPS tracking collar was attached to a two-and-a-half-year-old male Bengal tiger, called Panna-211. The device was “configured to provide GPS data every hour for the first three months and every four hours for the next five months (the collar lasts about eight months). In July, the battery expired and the satellite feedback in the collar stopped working,” the National Geographic reported. The GPS data was sent to Dr. Krishnamurthy Ramesh via email for research and monitoring purposes.

Around the time the battery expired, he received notification that someone was trying to hack into his email that was sent the tiger’s location information. Dr. Krishnamurthy Ramesh explained that the GPS data is encrypted and can only be decoded with “specialized data-converter software and specific radio-collar product information.” The tiger has since been relocated and security has been increased.

“Only three people have legal access to the location data of the tiger’s collar,” reported the Times of India, who broke the cyber-poaching story last month. Legal teams are scratching their heads, trying to figure out how to classify the crime. There is debate whether it counts as an “attempt at poaching” or “hacking for criminal purpose” or a hybrid? Poaching is a huge problem and many have turned to GPS technology to help protect species from extinction. It seems even more security is needed to protect endangered animals from poachers. “In January, the conservationists will deploy drones for surveillance and set up wireless sensors to detect human intrusions into the forest,” Ramesh explained to National Geographic.

Google+
Poachers Try To Hack Bengal Tiger's GPS Tracking Collar

India: Police Locate Lorry Thanks To GPS

Police turned to a GPS tracking device in order to find a missing lorry, finding it in the most unusual of places: buried underneath an agricultural field.

The lorry went missing on August 8th, loaded up with 425 bags of cement meant to be delivered to Siliguri. It departed the city of Kalyani, and after failing to get in touch with the driver or his helper, the lorry owner filed a report with the Kalyani police two days later.

Lucky for the owner, the lorry was equipped with a GPS tracking device, located in the engine. Police were able to determine its GPS location coordinates, and headed to an area near Jadupur in old Malda. Once arriving in Malda, they joined forces with the Malda police to track it with the GPS tracking device.

However, it wasn’t accurate enough. They’d need more. A tip came in and police raided a warehouse in Jadupur, finding the cement bags and the tires off of the lorry. But where was the truck itself?

Police were baffled, until local residents gave them the tip that broke the case: they said they could see parts of the lorry in a agricultural field nearby, maybe they should check it out. So they did, and officer Biswajit Ghosh led the charge to start digging.

They turned to heavy equipment to dig the lorry out from beneath the earth, and when they finished they discovered the lorry had been broken down into pieces which had then been buried underground to evade police. The crooks even went so far as to sow seeds in the earth exactly where the lorry was buried. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the case.

SP Kalyan Mukherjee said, “It is a unique case of hijacking a lorry and then resolving the case using GPS technology.”

Google+
India: Police Locate Lorry Thanks To GPS

Doctors In India To Be Tracked With GPS Device

Apparently, not being able to get prompt medical attention is a big issue in India. So much so, Jharkhand authorities plan to turn to GPS tracking devices to alleviate the problem.

The program started on September 2, in which the state has installed GPS tracking devices and webcams on 274 of their fleet’s ambulances. This will show officials if remote areas of the state known as panchayats are receiving adequate medical treatment or not, according to state health minister Rajendra Prasad Singh. Singh’s goal: hold civil surgeons accountable in all 24 districts of the state.

“Our objective is to ensure health officials go to panchayats. There have been complaints that doctors and nurses don’t visit government health centers in villages. Civil surgeons don’t monitor where the medical personnel go. The only way to change this is by using technology intelligently and track the lapses,” he said.

The GPS tracking devices, installed on 274 ambulances along with webcams to the tune of Rs 716 crore, will monitor the ambulances’ whereabouts while the webcam will show officials exactly who and what — ECG, X-Ray, emergency equipment — is on board at any given time.

“The principal secretary has instructed all civil surgeons to submit a visit roster for every fortnight, which covers three panchayats a day. K Vidyasagar, the health department principal secretary, will also constitute a special cell to monitor ambulance locations in real time using GPS software to check if the visit roster is being adhered to or not,” Singh said.

This means that all GPS tracking data and webcam footage will be sent along to the health department’s principal secretary each and every day. Civil surgeons will need to plan out their daily schedule so that three panchayats are visited every day.

“Action will be taken against medical professionals who do not visit rural areas,” Singh added.

But why aren’t the doctors visiting these remote areas? Most say they worry for their safety. Singh acknowledges this, and as such, “need-based logistics will be arranged.”

Google+
Doctors In India To Be Tracked With GPS Device

To Catch a Thief

Car thieves, as a group, can be a clever bunch. It may seem odd to praise such criminal behavior, but there is some talent involved in stealing cars successfully. The challenge for the rest of us law-abiding citizens is to be smarter than the average car thief. While there are obvious answers, such as “don’t park your brand new car in a dark alley in the bad part of town,” there may actually be a simpler and better solution: use a GPS tracking device.

GPS Tracking

A GPS device, such as Lo-Jack, does not actually prevent a car thief from taking your car. But it does allow you to find it once it is gone, and track where it is heading. Police have been able to find thousands of stolen cars since the implementation of this technology. Once your car is taken, police simply use GPS tracking technology to locate your car on a map. The cost of this technology is beginning to decrease to the point of it being almost more expensive to not have it on your car.

What Have We to Fear?

Perhaps one of the worst fears that some people have about driving is the potential of being car-jacked. Though occurrences are rare in America, it can happen. One of the ways that a GPS tracking device can help you in this kind of situation is to allow you to let the thief take the car, and not worry because your GPS tracking device can help locate the car after it is gone. You don’t have to worry about fighting for your car or wonder if you will ever see it again. It may seem oversimplified to say you can just let the thief have the car, but with GPS tracking, you really can just let the thief have the car and you can keep your safety.

A Case in Point

Recently in India, a man was car-jacked and lost his car to thieves. The person who lost his car had a GPS unit inside that allowed the police to find the car within an hour. While today’s car thieves are a clever bunch, this particular gang of would-be car thieves failed to deactivate the GPS tracking system, which allowed the speedy recovery of the stolen vehicle.

GPS tracking is becoming more and more common as the price of the product comes down to earth. While a GPS tracking system will not prevent a thief from trying to steal your call, it can at least get your car back once it is gone.

Google+
To Catch a Thief

Using GPS Capability to Extend Battery Life

Short phone battery life is a constant problem in the industry, but the GPS capability of smartphones may soon be used to actually extend battery life. A leading technology company has applied for a patent for a development that could revolutionize the way phones use their limited battery power.

Short Battery Life

Every smartphone user is familiar with the frustration of the dwindling charge of their device. Heavy users or those who constantly draw on the GPS capability of their phones have the greatest problems. For these consumers, a simple overnight charge is not sufficient. Instead, depending on the model, they must charge their phones two or three times each day, or else seriously curtail their use. Of course, they can conserve battery power by decreasing screen brightness or turning off power-hungry apps, but making these adjustments is tedious and takes time away from productive phone use.

A New Invention

To answer this problem, Apple has applied for a patent on a new technology that utilizes a device’s GPS technology to conserve power. The premise is fairly simple. The phone learns where it will and will not be charged and adjusts its power use accordingly. For instance, if a user routinely charges his phone only at home or work, the device will conserve power when it is not at either of these locations. The device can adjust its power management in several ways, including closing unused applications and decreasing screen brightness. Of course, the user can override the device’s self-management by adjusting the settings manually. This technology would even enable a smartphone to recognize when it is charged in an atypical location like an airport. It would then assume that only a limited time is available for charging and would replenish its batteries more quickly than usual.

Still in the Future

Although this technology has reached the patent application stage, it is not yet in use on any of Apple’s devices.  With the increasing consumer focus on battery life, however, it is likely that the development will be seen on store shelves in the near future. Since GPS tracking capability exists on most smartphones available today, it is only logical to use it to help address one of the most common complaints about the devices.

Google+
Using GPS Capability to Extend Battery Life

Researchers “Spoof” GPS to Lead Yacht Off Course

Have you heard the term “GPS spoofing”? It sounds like a joke, but it is quite serious. GPS spoofing is the act of electronically “tricking” a Global Positioning System into giving false information to its users. In other words, spoofing involves deliberately misleading GPS technology users into thinking they are following the right path when, in fact, they are headed in the wrong direction.

This is more critical than the simple irritation that might result from someone realizing his car’s GPS is “out of whack.” If GPS navigation used for air traffic and for oceangoing vehicles were spoofed, crashes could result, vehicles could be led to places where they can be hijacked, and passengers and pilots could lose their lives.

It’s not as easy, though, to spoof GPS as you might think. Global Positioning Systems—even the relatively simple one you use in your car—rely on feedback from satellites orbiting over 12,000 miles above the earth. Each system is designed to give readings based on information from multiple satellites—as many as twenty. So, if only one source is directing the vehicle a different direction and it doesn’t match the way the other satellites are directing, the system discounts the oddball information.

Nonetheless, spoofing can be done—and has been done successfully in an experiment conducted off the Italian coast in June 2013. Todd Humphreys, who serves as assistant professor at the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas at Austin, led a team of students on a radio navigation research team in a successful effort to spoof the navigation of a 213-foot super yacht, causing it to veer off course without the crew’s knowledge.

Humphreys and his students created a device that transmitted fake signals to the ship’s antennas, changing the yacht’s GPS readings. Readings indicated that the ship was drifting off course even though it was not. The crew adjusted their course by three degrees to counteract the nonexistent drift, and the yacht ended up on a new trajectory.

The spoofing was done from onboard the yacht with a device that fit inside a box roughly the size of a briefcase, but could have been done from farther away, Humphreys said.

The ramifications of the success of this experiment are obviously far-reaching and raise concerns about potential terrorist activity or large-scale spoofing of systems that are dependent on GPS technology.

Google+
Researchers “Spoof” GPS to Lead Yacht Off Course

Runners’ Watches Now Incorporate GPS Technology

Maybe you’re old enough to remember seeing Dick Tracy’s two-way wrist TV in the Sunday funnies when you were a kid. Or maybe that was “before your time.” Regardless, that two-way wrist TV was one of the coolest bits of technology those who followed the strip could imagine.

Of course, the future never happens exactly the way we think it will. No one foresaw the advent of cell phones and their amazing takeover as the most important device a person could carry—giving access to email, the Internet, texting, apps, and, yes, even two-way video communication . . . in addition to functioning like an old-fashioned telephone.

So, does that mean cool technology worn on your wrist is a dead idea? Hardly. Companies now are unveiling a lineup of “smart watches” that include a variety of features, including GPS technology. What companies are doing this, and what features do they offer?

A list of some of the leading names in GPS watch technology would include Pebble, Nike+, Garmin, and Magellan. In general, all of these allow the wearer to check both his distance and his speed while keeping track of his exact location as well. Though they’re often marketed to runners, they are also appropriate for walkers and cyclists.

One of the nicest features of GPS technology is, of course, the way in which it can be used to keep you from getting lost—or to help you find your way back if you are lost already. So, keeping runners safe by pinpointing their current location is an added bonus.

Other features touted by GPS watch manufacturers vary from product to product. They include wireless connection to your smartphone, control of your music while running, Apple and Android functionality, Bluetooth connectivity, ability to record number of laps, heart rate monitoring, special settings for bicycles, and on and on. You should consider which features you most want as well as price before purchasing a wristwatch that includes GPS tracking technology.

In July 2013 one of the first names in GPS technology, Magellan, entered the GPS watch market with their Echo smart watch. In addition to displaying the time, day, and date, the Echo smart watch also allows users “to view fitness data calculated and displayed by a smartphone” right on the watch itself. Magellan also touts Echo’s “ruggedized” design and water-resistant construction. Magellan’s Echo with GPS technology retails for around $250.

Google+
Runners’ Watches Now Incorporate GPS Technology

Police Use GPS Technology to Cut Down on High-Speed Chases

According to some sources, police in the United States engage in over 100,000 high-speed pursuits annually. Such pursuits are unquestionably controversial. On the one hand, they seem a necessary part of law enforcement—law officers must be able to pursue and apprehend suspects. On the other hand, high-speed pursuits on public highways put the officers, the suspect, and, most importantly, innocent drivers and bystanders at risk. Statistics show that nonviolent offenders instigate over 80 percent of all high-speed pursuits; nearly 40 percent of these pursuits end in a crash, killing between three and four hundred people annually; and roughly one-third of those victims are drivers or bystanders who were not involved in the chase or the crime that led to it.

But what’s the other option? Until recently, it seemed the only alternative was for officers to back away and let suspects flee. That changed, though, in 2010 with the release of the patented StarChase Pursuit Management System. StarChase uses GPS technology to track and apprehend criminals without endangering lives with high-speed chases. How does it work?

StarChase technology involves equipping a police cruiser’s grille with a compressed air launcher. The launcher is then loaded with a magnetized “tag,” which is actually a small projectile (slightly larger than a D battery and roughly the same dimensions) enabled with GPS technology.

If a suspect begins to flee in his vehicle, the officer can pursue him a short distance and then, using a control panel inside his cruiser, fire the projectile from the front of his vehicle onto the back of the suspect’s vehicle. After it adheres, the officer can then back away and allow police dispatch to track the suspect’s movements.

The cost to equip each vehicle is around $5,000, which seems a small price to pay compared to millions of dollars in property damage, insurance costs, and loss of life caused by high-speed chases.

StarChase has been implemented by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and in Austin, Texas.

Google+
Police Use GPS Technology to Cut Down on High-Speed Chases

Reasons GPS Quickly Uses Up Your Phone Battery

“I was taking a relatively short trip the other day and used my phone’s GPS app. I couldn’t believe how fast it drained the battery! Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong? Is it my phone’s problem? Or the app’s problem?”

If you have a cell phone with GPS capabilities, you may have noticed that the GPS drains the phone’s battery much faster than other apps do. One website noted that in some cases the battery drains when using GPS even while the phone is plugged into the car’s charger. Why is that?

There are several reasons for this, but the simplest answer is that GPS requires more energy to run than other apps do.

When you’re using GPS, the system must communicate with three or more satellites to triangulate your location. Many people don’t know this, assuming that the GPS device is in communication with only one satellite. But that’s not how the system is designed to work. Some larger systems—such as those on planes or boats—communicate with as many as twenty satellites to guarantee that the information they are receiving is accurate. You may notice that the battery’s remaining power disappears most quickly when you first power on the GPS. That’s when the device is gathering a great deal of information in a short time.

Also, “once on, always on.” GPS does not go out and grab some information and then wait for you to do something, or update every few seconds automatically. Other apps work that way—such as when you’re accessing weather information or playing a game. But your phone’s GPS app is constantly sending and receiving information from satellites. Because of this function, your phone stays on all the time, not defaulting to a sleep state. All of these attributes combine to eat up lots of battery power.

Is there anything you can do about the problem? Well, one obvious piece of advice would be to leave the GPS app deactivated when you’re not using it. Also, be sure that your charger and charger cord are good quality, as recommended by the manufacturer.

GPS technology is a huge asset to anyone who uses it, so having to recharge our phones more often seems a small price to pay and well worth it to reap the benefits of GPS.

Google+
Reasons GPS Quickly Uses Up Your Phone Battery

Ohio Town Considers Installing GPS Devices in Vehicles

Lisbon, the county seat of Columbiana County, is a town of roughly 2,800 citizens and is located in the northeast quadrant of Ohio. In July of 2013, the village’s Board of Public Affairs (BPA) debated the idea of equipping the town’s vehicles with GPS devices at a monthly cost of $15 per device after the initial purchase price, which is between $300 and $400.

The GPS technology could be used by village sewer and water employees to more easily find addresses, of course. But the main reason the village is considering installing them is to keep employees accountable for their time and location while on the clock. In 2012 the village’s Board of Public Affairs saw gasoline purchases for their vehicles increase by nearly 30 percent, but committee members were unable to ascertain why there had been such an increase. As a result, the board began requiring employees to keep a written log for mileage and gasoline purchases while using the town’s vehicles. This resulted in an immediate, significant decrease in gasoline purchases. Installation of GPS devices would be a possible next step in this accountability process with the goal of further decreasing gasoline consumption.

According to the BPA, once installed, the GPS tracking devices would allow the town’s public works department to monitor:

• Each vehicle’s speed


• Each vehicle’s location


• Whether the driver is using a cell phone

The installation of GPS devices in vehicles driven by city or county employees seems to be a growing trend, at least in Ohio. Trumbull County and the city of Youngstown, among others, already have such a program.

While solving some problems, installation of GPS devices may create others. One question is, if a GPS device indicates an employee was using a cell phone while driving, would the village be held liable if leadership did not prosecute the employee for his infraction? Another issue some may raise is the issue of personal privacy—is it right for the town’s government to know everywhere an employee goes in one of its vehicles, how long he stays, and whether he’s using a cell phone?

The Lisbon BPA hopes that the GPS program will increase village employees’ accountability while at the same time reducing gasoline consumption and reducing their fleet’s carbon footprint.

Google+
Ohio Town Considers Installing GPS Devices in Vehicles

Own a GPS? Lock Your Car

According to some sources, between 20,000 and 30,000 GPS devices are stolen from vehicles each year. Thieves can get as much as $50.00 on the street for these devices.

One recent case involved a group of teenagers in Ohio. Streetsboro police responded to calls from residents on the night of August 4, 2013, reporting suspicious behavior in their neighborhood. Upon investigation, officers found an unknown car parked in a resident’s driveway . . . with four suspects hiding inside. Further investigation revealed stolen GPS navigation devices and other stolen electronic items in the car as well. Total value of the items was nearly $,1800.00.

What can the average citizen do to help prevent theft of his GPS device or other valuables from his car? Here are a few wise tips from law enforcement:

• First, keep your vehicle locked. Many of the items in the Ohio case mentioned above were stolen from vehicles left unlocked at night in a “safe” residential area. Lock your car every time you leave it—even if you’re leaving it only for a few minutes and even if it’s in your own driveway.


• Make sure your GPS device (or any other valuable item) is not visible when you leave your car. Remember, though, that if you hide the GPS itself but leave the mount or power cord still out in plain sight, thieves may still ransack the car for the device. They may do so even if the car is locked—in a “smash and grab” style of theft. And even though it may seem like overkill, wipe off any visible ring where the suction cup for the mount was affixed to the car’s glass. Even that detail is a sign to thieves that there’s likely to be a GPS device in the car.


• Make sure you have a record of your GPS device’s serial number. No, this won’t help prevent theft, but it is a good record to have in case your GPS is stolen. Having that number can help you give good information to police, can help with insurance claims, and may be helpful when it comes to replacing the device.

And, although it’s not a deterrent to keeping your GPS from being stolen, authorities advise you not to put your home address into your GPS under “Home.” Put an address near your home in that location instead. Otherwise, thieves can use your GPS to lead them right to your front door. Having your car burgled is one thing; having your house burgled as a result is another.

Google+
Own a GPS? Lock Your Car

Here Comes the Bus!

One of the most frustrating experiences of using mass transit to get to work or school is the countless minutes and hours wasted waiting for the bus to arrive. Business people in cities and children on rural roads patiently stand in discomfort in the extreme conditions of the seasons while waiting for their buses. A new GPS tracking innovation might be the solution needed to finally end this problem.

Buses in Steamboat Springs

A city in Colorado, Steamboat Springs, has developed a solution. The problem is especially acute in an area that has recorded snowfall in ten months out of the year on average over the past thirty years. They are installing GPS tracking systems on their city buses. The benefit of this service will be to allow bus riders to check their smartphones to see exactly where the nearest bus is.

Related Innovations

In addition to adding the GPS tracking systems to the buses, Steamboat Springs will also be using new hybrid buses to reduce fuel and maintenance costs, as well as using infrared passenger counters to help dispatch staff know if they will need to add more buses to the route. All of this information will be available through a smartphone app that will let you know where your bus is through GPS tracking.

Other Uses

The further applications and uses of GPS tracking on buses don’t end with public mass transit. Imagine the use of GPS tracking for school buses. Parents will no longer need to make their children stand outside in the elements for a long time waiting for the school bus. Students can decide if they need to run fast to catch the bus, or if they can take their time in walking to the bus stop. School administrators can keep tabs on where buses are going and check their progress with the click of a button. Parents will be able to enjoy more peace of mind knowing that the bus got to school on time.

The use of GPS technology devices on buses is just the next logical step to use this technology in a way that will help people. Children of the future will wonder how we ever got by without knowing just when the bus would arrive!

Google+
Here Comes the Bus!

India’s Airports Authority Implementing GPS-Based System

In the summer of 2013 India’s Airports Authority instituted employee training on the country’s $118 million GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation system, also known as GAGAN.

GAGAN, as its name implies, utilizes GPS-based technology to manage air traffic. According to its creators, GAGAN will make airplanes’ use of fuel more efficient by managing various aspects of flights, such as the rate and angle of a plane’s climb and descent. It will help improve safety by giving information to pilots and ground crew regardless of weather conditions. It will also improve pilots’ and passengers’ welfare by helping direct air traffic, keeping planes in flight on their appropriate paths and thus cutting down on the number of plane-to-plane crashes.

Another safety feature that GAGAN offers is a three-dimensional computerized view of terrain, helping pilots avoid flying into mountains, bodies of water, and so on. Two airports where this GPS technology will be extremely helpful will be Mangalore and Leh, because of their difficult terrain and difficult-to-predict weather patterns. Once fully operational, the plan is for GAGAN to be available to nearly 500 Indian airports, both civilian and noncivilian.

GAGAN was initiated in 2004. Since then it has undergone three phases: demonstration, installation, and testing. Remaining phases include system certification by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and development of procedures based on airports’ needs. Other steps, according to the Airports Authority of India, include the rollout of “a non precision approach service” in the fourth quarter of 2013, followed by an “approach with vertical guidance system” early in 2014.

The Airports Authority of India began staff training on the new system in July 2013. They held a three-day conference in Allahabad’s Civil Aviation Training College. More than 30 officials from across India learned about the program. The next step is for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to develop procedures that airports must follow. The DGCA also noted that aircraft that utilize the GAGAN system must have Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (S-BAS) installed so that they can access this GPS-based technology.

India’s goal is to have GAGAN fully operational in 2014. When completed, the system will cover a vast section of the Eastern Hemisphere, including all of India, much of Asia, and even portions of Africa and Australia.

Google+
India’s Airports Authority Implementing GPS-Based System

GPS Technology an Asset in Cell Phone Theft Cases

GPS technology is being used more and more to track down criminals who have stolen cell phones. One such case occurred in July 2013 in Missouri, where a citizen awoke to find that his home had been burgled. Both cash and a smartphone were missing from the homeowner’s kitchen.

After filing a police report, the victim activated the phone’s GPS app. Law enforcement agents were then able to trace the phone to a home where the alleged thief was hiding in the attic. They discovered not only the stolen phone but also a stolen gun and illegal drug paraphernalia. In addition, they learned that the alleged perpetrator had recently been released from prison and was wanted for assault.

Clearly, a phone’s GPS technology can be a great asset to law enforcement and can promote safety in society as a whole.

If you have a cell phone that comes with GPS technology, what should you do to protect your investment?

First, you should download one of the many apps that will allow you to access the phone’s GPS capabilities in case it’s lost or stolen. These GPS apps generally allow you not only to locate the phone, but also to deactivate it.

Second, as soon as your phone is missing, if you’re reasonably sure it has been stolen, inform the police. The sooner they’re aware of the problem, the more likely you are to recover your property.

Third, be sure you notify your carrier. What cell phone companies can and will do in such case varies depending on the company and the circumstances surrounding the phone’s disappearance, but you need to know what your options are. Carriers can often disable the phone remotely. And you may be able to request that they begin a formal investigation of the theft immediately.

You should also encrypt your phone—that is, set it up so it requires you to enter a password or PIN each time it’s turned on.

In summary, GPS technology and GPS apps are great tools for potentially retrieving a stolen phone. But they aren’t the only tools you can use to increase the likelihood of getting your cell phone back.

Google+
GPS Technology an Asset in Cell Phone Theft Cases

GPS Technology Offers Many Features

Our family recently took a trip in our minivan using GPS technology. We used it for all the typical reasons—primarily to get us from here to there and back again as quickly as possible. We were able to tell how long it was going to be to the next turn or exit from the interstate. And we also used the “time remaining” and “distance remaining” features to know how much longer our trip was going to take (eager to get home, we were repeatedly disappointed at that information).

All those uses are pretty typical for anyone taking advantage of GPS’s regular features. But GPS technology’s abilities go way beyond that and can be used for a variety of purposes, many of which can be helpful to companies that engage numerous vehicles—from just a few trucks to a large fleet. GPS technology can give management a great deal of information on each vehicle, if such features are activated.

While not exhaustive, the list below gives other uses for GPS technology beyond its basic “when will we get there?” features.

• Some GPS networks allow employers not only to track location and speed of their vehicles, but also to alert supervisors when a driver is exceeding the speed limit. These network systems update information every few seconds, so anyone overseeing the driver’s speed can tell whether it’s a momentary lapse, whether the driver is speeding to make it up a hill (in the case of large trucks, for instance), or whether it’s an ongoing problem for which the driver needs to be warned or disciplined.


• Another asset that GPS technology offers is the use of an integrated fuel card. Simply put, this is a charge card that drivers are required to use when purchasing gasoline for company vehicles. Details about the fuel purchase—where, when, how much, and even a report on the truck’s fuel efficiency—are all fed immediately into the GPS database.


• Today’s large trucks are equipped with an Electronic Control Module (ECM). It’s designed to govern the truck engine’s emissions, fuel efficiency, and so on. The ECM can be electronically linked to a GPS network, allowing companies further immediate feedback on engine performance and potential mechanical problems.

It should be noted that many of these features cost extra beyond the initial investment in the GPS devices. Some are available only through subscription or by paying extra monthly fees.

Google+
GPS Technology Offers Many Features

GPS Is a Great Tool for Apprehending Thieves

The Global Positioning System is more and more becoming a great tool for apprehending thieves. Here are a few recent examples:

• In December 2012, a man was arrested near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after stealing over $13,000 worth of aluminum from a construction site. The construction company owner had previously had aluminum stolen from the site so, unbeknownst to potential criminals, he installed a GPS tracking device in a pile of aluminum scrap. When it too was stolen, the company worked with local police to track the materials to a nearby scrap yard—where the perpetrator was caught in the act of selling the stolen metal and subsequently charged with a felony.


• In August 2013, a group of thieves in Indonesia were arrested with the help of GPS technology. Two suspects hired a car and driver and told the driver they needed to be driven to Jakarta. Before the car reached its destination, the vehicle was waylaid by another car with three additional suspects in it. The five stole the hired car, but police were able to track it using its GPS. Three men were arrested for the robbery; two others resisted arrest and ran, but were stopped by police.


• A James Island resident recently stole a bicycle in Charleston, South Carolina. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t realize that the bike was a “bait bike” that belonged to the Charleston Police Department and was equipped with a GPS device. Police shortly thereafter arrested him and charged him with property crime enhancement. According to police, the suspect was apprehended while riding the wrong way in traffic. He stated that he found the bike unlocked and took it. The suspect had a previous record of burglary and shoplifting.


• Metals such as lead and copper are increasingly popular with thieves, since they can be melted down easily and sold for cash. As a result, in some areas the theft of car, boat, and RV batteries has risen, since the batteries include such metals. In September 2013, the Michigan State Police worked with the U.S. Battery Manufacturing of Corona, California to insert GPS devices into several batteries at an RV dealership where battery thefts had become a major problem. After a short while, more than ten batteries were stolen, a number of which were equipped with GPS. Police simply followed the thieves, detained them a short way from the dealership, and questioned them. The suspects admitted to all the battery thefts.

Google+
GPS Is a Great Tool for Apprehending Thieves

GPS Capabilities to Expand to Indoor Spaces?

Did you know that the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik in 1957 has a specific connection to today’s sophisticated Global Positioning System? And that relationship is based on more than the fact that GPS depends on satellites to function. It’s because as Sputnik orbited the earth, scientists discovered that they could map its location based on the way its signals were being altered by the Doppler effect.

It didn’t take long for someone to turn the relationship around. If humans can map the location of a satellite… could we make a satellite that would map the location of humans? As a result of those kinds of questions, GPS was developed back in 1973 and became fully functional in 1994.

GPS technology seems ubiquitous today. It’s used in the aerospace and shipping fields. It’s used for trucking and package delivery. And it’s used in everyday citizens’ cars—whether as an installed feature in the vehicle or as a handheld or mounted portable device.

The capabilities of GPS technology are widespread. Not only can GPS navigation guide you from here to there via a route of your choosing (e.g., “fastest route,” “no tolls,” or “no interstates”), but it can also pinpoint your exact location second by second; it can tell you which restaurants and businesses are nearby; it can let you know how much time is left in your trip, how much gas mileage you’re getting, whether you’re speeding . . . and more. So have GPS’s capabilities been exhausted?

No, the next step for GPS technology seems to be indoor spaces. Imagine using your GPS not only to get you to the nearest shopping mall but, once you’re inside the mall, using GPS technology to get you to the right store—and even the right aisle in the store.

Aruba Networks, Apple, and Google have all been exploring the area of GPS mapping of indoor spaces.

• In May 2013 Aruba Networks acquired Meridian Apps, Inc., stating that with that acquisition they would be able to access software that would map large public indoor spaces—such as shopping malls, casinos, convention centers, and so on.


• In March 2013 Apple acquired WiFiSLAM, an indoor mapping software, with the goal of allowing businesses to offer better services to customers.


• Not to be outdone, Google has announced that it has collected over 10,000 maps of indoor spaces all over the world.

Other companies exploring indoor mapping via GPS technology are Microsoft (Bing) and Nokia. Will indoor mapping via GPS become as widespread as outdoor mapping has? We’ll wait and see.

Google+
GPS Capabilities to Expand to Indoor Spaces?

GPS Tracking Keeps Columbia Buses Running Smoothly

Public transportation in Columbia, Missouri may be running a whole lot more smoothly in the future, thanks to GPS tracking. The Columbia Public Works Department recently installed GPS devices in all of its buses, giving the city a better way to monitor bus activity. The biggest perk for those who ride the buses is that they’ll soon be able to download a smartphone app that will allow them to view the buses’ current location and projected arrival times. That means no more lengthy waits at the bus station for a bus that’s running behind schedule.

While the new system carried a hefty price tag–$168,000 for equipment and maintenance—GPS tracking for buses has an impressive track record of saving money and increasing efficiency. Many schools and cities across the nation have already implemented tracking programs in an effort to reduce fuel costs and create better routes. By monitoring things like routes taken, idle times, starts and stops, and vehicle speed, GPS tracking can help fleet managers choose shorter routes, train drivers in more efficient practices, and reduce overall costs.

The smartphone app is a perk that will help Missouri residents benefit from the new GPS tracking devices as well. GPS fleet tracking for buses gives passengers the ability to check the location of the bus they’re waiting for before they head out to the bus stop. Being able to check the projected arrival time from a mobile device will keep passengers from having to wait at the bus stop for long periods of time if the bus is behind schedule.

Many fleet managers have reported thousands of dollars in savings after installing GPS tracking for buses, construction equipment, transport trucks, and other fleet vehicles. In many cases, the cost of the system can be recovered by saving money on fuel costs over time. In addition, the devices bring an added measure of safety to buses that must travel rural routes. If a mechanical problem or other issue arises, it’s much easier to locate the bus and address the situation when GPS tracking is on the job.

The city of Columbia has not yet released the smartphone app that will keep citizens more in sync with the bus route schedule, but it is expected to be available soon.

Google+
GPS Tracking Keeps Columbia Buses Running Smoothly

GPS Tracking Takes Football Practice to New Level

NFL football season is just getting started, and fans are cheering on their favorite players from stadiums and couches across the nation. But this year, one team is taking football practice to a whole new level. In pre-season training camp, the Buffalo Bills implemented GPS tracking devices in player uniforms to monitor player performance and help create safer, more efficient practice sessions.

GPS technology and football may seem like strange partners, but it’s not an entirely new concept. The Australian Football League, among other sports organizations, already uses similar technology to monitor player speed, total distance run, acceleration, change of direction, and other factors. That data can then be used to design practices that will accomplish specific goals.

According to Eric Ciano, the Bills’ strength and conditioning coordinator, the main goal for the devices initially is to prevent injury. By monitoring how many yards a player has run and what speed he has averaged in practice, trainers can more easily discern when a player needs to back off, particularly for high-workload positions. The data can also be used to pace players that are coming back to practice after an injury. Working at 50% is a whole lot easier when you can tabulate speed and distance in any given practice.

The Bills also have other goals for GPS tracking and football practice. The devices can help coaches accomplish goals such as:

• Tracking Player Performance

GPS tracking enables players to receive feedback on how they performed in practice and also helps coaches monitor the performance of players over time.

• Creating Position-Specific Practices

Knowing exact movements and performance levels of players on the field can give coaches the data they need to create more efficient practices for specific positions.

• Monitoring Player Workload

High-workload players have greater risk of injury if they push too hard too many days in a row. When a coach sees that a particular player has given too many high-performance practices, he can back off the workload on that player and give him a chance to rest, preventing possible injury.

Most people don’t think of GPS tracking and football practice when they watch their favorite players tearing down the field. But this season, the Bills hope that the technology will give them a leading edge on the field by helping them practice smarter, not just harder.

Google+
GPS Tracking Takes Football Practice to New Level

GPS Tracking Catches Murder Suspect in Lie

If you’re going to lie about poisoning someone, make sure you don’t have GPS tracking installed in your car. That’s the lesson learned by William J. Camuti of Sudbury, MA after his GPS tracking device revealed new evidence pinpointing his location at the scene where a dead man’s body was found. Camuti was charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Rakes, a man who figured prominently in the case against alleged extortionist James Bulger. While Rakes’ cause of death has not been positively identified, prosecutors are confident they can prove that Camuti slipped cyanide into his coffee the day before he was found dead in a wooded area of Lincoln.

Camuti had been convicted of practicing mail fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering in 1994 in connection with a real estate sale scam. According to prosecutors, Camuti owed Rakes a large amount of money and had the opportunity to lace his coffee with two teaspoons of potassium cyanide. On July 17, Rakes’ body was found in Lincoln and his wallet was missing. Camuti initially denied seeing Rakes the day of the murder, but that’s where GPS technology disagrees.

After finding Rakes’ body, investigators obtained a warrant to search Camuti’s cell phone, computer, home, car, and GPS tracking device. The data obtained from the GPS unit showed Camuti at the location where Rakes’ body was found–information that could lead to Camuti’s conviction.

GPS tracking in law enforcement has been used to assist in many different kinds of cases, including vehicle theft, bank robbery, and domestic violence infractions. The devices give police officers crucial data that they can use to track persons of interest, monitor parolees, and enforce restraining orders. In some cases, legal questions have arisen regarding the constitutionality of using the data or requiring a person to wear a GPS tracking device in a given circumstance. While these are important questions for the courts to consider and decide, the fact remains that when used in accordance with current legal stipulations, GPS tracking in law enforcement can provide essential facts that help officers perform their duty.

In Camuti’s case, there is no question that the information from his GPS tracking device was obtained legally with a warrant and that it poses serious problems for his defense. As laws about GPS tracking in law enforcement become more uniformly codified, cases like this one will undoubtedly become more common. And that’s good news for victims and for the police officers dedicated to making their communities a safer place.

Google+
GPS Tracking Catches Murder Suspect in Lie

GPS Tracking for Parolees

One of the great benefits of GPS tracking is that it allows people to know where others are. This use has several applications, such as keeping track of your kids, your car, and even your computer. Law enforcement in some states is also using GPS tracking to keep track of criminals on parole. This action allows officers to monitor where the parolees are going in order to make sure they are following the stipulations of their parole, such as avoiding bars, and–more importantly–making sure convicted sex offenders are kept away from locations used by children, such as schools and playgrounds.

Protection from Sex Offenders

Many states have rules that require sex offenders to reside more than a certain distance from any school, park, or playground. In California, the law is known as Jessica’s Law or Proposition 83, and it requires a distance of 2,000 feet. Generally speaking, convicted sex offenders on parole are fitted with GPS tracking devices to make sure this distance is strictly observed.

Challenges in California

A man is currently challenging this law, especially the parole aspect of it. In this case, the man was convicted of sexual battery in Tennessee in 1987, but was on parole in California for charges related to robbery and receiving stolen goods. The man is contending the use of GPS tracking while he is on parole for an offense not related to his earlier crime involving sexual battery. At the present time, the 9^th Circuit Court in California is considering the case.

Benefits of GPS Tracking

While this case is being decided, it is important not to play down the benefits of GPS tracking for criminals. Many people convicted of crimes become changed men and women once they have paid their debt to society. Others, however, remain a threat to those around them. GPS is an important way to ensure the safety and security of the population at large.

While GPS technology may have some legal hurdles to overcome, its benefits cannot be denied. Parents concerned for the safety of their children can sleep a little more easily at night thanks to efforts like Jessica’s Law. The difficulties faced by generations of abused men, women, and children can finally allow for the creation of something that will protect future generations.

Google+
GPS Tracking for Parolees

GPS Tags to Track Your Belongings

GPS tags promise to quickly revolutionize the way individuals search for missing objects. Instead of wandering aimlessly around their house, they would be able to use an app to direct them to the item’s location.

The Basic Idea

Everyone has suffered the frustrating experience of misplacing keys, a purse, or another necessary item. When the loss is realized, some individuals search frantically, while others try to logically recall where they last saw the item. A company called Tile has developed an idea that could be a much more efficient third option. They offer small white tags that can be attached to important items. Each tag can be tracked via GPS technology to determine its location. Users then download Tile’s app to their phone and use it to locate their missing object. The app has a number of methods to assist in finding the item. It will give indications as the user gets closer to the item, and the user can even trigger the item to “ring” to make finding it even easier.

The Larger Picture

Tile developers are not content with just a simple idea, however. They want to create a Tile community. To make this idea work, users can share GPS tags among family or friends. They can also log in on a friend’s device to locate their GPS tagged item. The most ambitious concept, however, has to do with using other users’ Tile apps to help locate stolen items. If a GPS tagged object is stolen, its owner can register it as lost on the Tile app. Then the devices of all other Tile users will be on the lookout for the item. This action, of course, occurs in the background and is not visible to any user. If a Tile device detects the missing object, it sends a message to the owner with the item’s location, again in the background and not visible to the actual user of the device.

Hesitations

While the concept of Tile is quite innovative and very attractive, there do seem to be a few possible issues, especially with the Tile community concept. The most obvious problem is that the success of the process depends on a large number of users. Since there is a cost associated with the GPS tags and the app is not compatible with Android devices, it is anyone’s guess as to whether the idea will really take off enough to generate a sizeable community. For individual use, however, using GPS tags could be very practical and useful, especially for individuals with a track record of losing items.

Google+
GPS Tags to Track Your Belongings

GPS Locator to Improve Train Safety

A train company in India has announced that it plans to install GPS devices in its trains to improve their operational safety. The devices will gather data that will then control the functioning of problem-prone lights in the parcel car of the train.

Risk of Fire

Indian Railways has a history of issues with fires in the parcel cars of their trains. Three major incidents over the last couple of years have sparked panic among passengers and resulted in damage to both the trains and their contents. The fires appear to be caused by a short circuit in the lighting system of the parcel van. While the lights are needed when the train is stopped at a station for loading, they are not necessary while the train is in motion. The simple solution would be to turn off the lights before the train starts up again, but one worker’s forgetfulness can create a fire hazard for the entire train and its passengers.

Governed by GPS

In response to the risk, the railway company developed a rather ingenious way to use a GPS locator to solve their problem. The device is installed in the generator coach of the train and connected to the light circuit of the parcel van. The locator collects data to determine the location of the train, and thus its speed. When the speed exceeds 20 kilometers per hour, the device cuts off the power to the parcel van’s light circuit. Having the lights off decreases the chance of a short circuit and thus alleviates the fire hazard. The device even logs each time the lights are extinguished in this matter. A light on the locator indicates if a GPS signal is available to the device. If a signal is not detected for some reason, the device will turn off the lights after a certain amount of time has passed.

A Successful Outcome

Although the system has only been installed in one train line so far, it appears that the technology will accomplish its purpose quite effectively. The company developed the GPS locator system completely in-house, so the cost of the system is quite reasonable. It is certainly less expensive than the cost of property damage from a fire. The company plans to install the GPS locators in the rest of its trains in the near future.

Google+
GPS Locator to Improve Train Safety

GPS Satellite Test Vehicle

The recent delivery of a GPS Satellite prototype to Cape Canaveral marks an important step in the process of upgrading the entire GPS network. This prototype will be and has been used to save both time and money throughout the development process.

The Project

As both the civilian and military sectors find more applications for GPS technology, the current, aging GPS satellites can no longer keep up with the demand. To rectify this problem, the United States Air Force launched their GPS III program. This project aims to launch brand new GPS III satellites into space, starting in 2015. The new satellites are expected to provide much higher accuracy and also produce a new civilian signal that will be compatible with the GPS used by other countries. Lockheed Martin will be producing the first four of these new satellites and has also received funding toward the production of four more.

The Prototype

As part of the GPS III project, Lockheed Martin developed a GPS satellite test vehicle on which to test every stage of satellite development. The prototype, known as the GPS III Non-Flight Satellite Testbed (GNST), is both functional and full sized. It was initially used at the Lockheed Martin satellite production facility to evaluate the production process. In July of 2013, it was delivered by air to Cape Canaveral, where it will be used to test the satellite facilities there as well as the pre-launch processes. Lockheed Martin personnel report that the GNST has already saved a large amount of money and time in the production process. It is expected that the test vehicle will be able to achieve the same results in its new home in Cape Canaveral. Thus, when the first satellite arrives at Cape Canaveral next year, the personnel and systems there will already be prepared and equipped to handle it.

Nearly every individual has at some point in their lives done a dry run – they have tried a new idea or concept on a model or test audience. Applying this basic principle to GPS satellite production seems to be an intelligent and quite logical move. Hopefully, the use of the GNST prototype will speed the way to full deployment of the much-anticipated GPS III network.

Google+
GPS Satellite Test Vehicle

GPS for Boat Safety

The death of four tourists in January in a houseboat accident in the state of Kerala, India, has led to a new idea for using GPS tracking devices. Authorities in Kerala are piloting a program to put GPS devices on 100 houseboats to create a safer environment for tourists and locals alike. By using GPS tracking devices, the government will be in a better position to maintain awareness of the locations of houseboats, which attract many tourists but also run many risks in backwater areas within Kerala.

How it Will Work

The main part of the program using GPS technology with houseboats will be to use a tracker to keep track of the location of a houseboat and monitor what is happening with it. There are possibilities of using a “geo-fence” to know immediately if there are any variations or alterations in the expected routes of houseboats, which may be the result of an accident or the influence of criminals. Tourists will generally be able to enjoy the added benefit of knowing where they are at all times with their location being tracked at all times.

Potential for Use Outside India

The idea of using GPS tracking for houseboats in India helps create possibilities for watercraft in America and other countries. By keeping up with tracked boats and other water vehicles, it allows many the freedom associated with knowing where someone is, whether it is a family member or someone borrowing or renting a boat. It would be beneficial to know immediately that someone has charted a different course so that you have a chance to try to figure out why. It might also provide a situation similar to using Lojack for cars, to make sure that no one is stealing your boat.

Using GPS for Safety

While it is hard to say that using GPS on houseboats in general will prevent any future accident or mishap, the use of GPS tracking on the water can mean the difference in life or death, due to the speed at which help can be dispatched. There will also be time saved in locating exactly where the craft went down.

It sounds like Kerala Tourism has a viable way to keep their people safe. Vacationing in Kerala is now a little safer, thanks to the use of GPS tracking.

Google+
GPS for Boat Safety

GPS Technology Used In Tree Conservation Effort In India

We often report stories where GPS tracking is used in wildlife conservation efforts. Typically, when we think of wildlife, we think of bears, birds, elephants and other living creatures that move around. One of the major benefits of using GPS tracking on wildlife, is that researchers can monitor their movements remotely. You might be interested to know that GPS devices are used on stationary living things as well. The Bombay Natural History Society’s (BNHS) Conservation Education Center (CEC) in Goregaon is tracking native trees with GPS devices.

Of course, no one is expecting the trees to move. The GPS is more of a cool fund-raising feature to help keep track of specific tree locations. The BNHS CEC is hoping to spread awareness and education about native trees by putting the trees up for adoption. Adopting a tree costs R10,000 ($160). “The 33-acre forest at BNHS CEC in Goregaon has been safeguarding more than 125 indigenous tree species for the past 30 years. It is a natural forest with old trees. Trees such as Asan, Teak, Kusum, Red Silk Cotton, Bonfire, Elephant Apple, Kalamb, Grewia and Tetu, among others, are native species to the area,” explained Atul Sathe, BNHS India’s manager of communications.

Those interested can contact the BNHS CEC and choose the species of tree. The BNHS will then provide you with the GPS location of the tree, photos, an adoption certificate, and place a name tag on the tree with the owner’s name. After the tree is adopted, BNHS will remain in contact with the owner for five years via email. They will send updates about the tree, including observation of bees, butterflies and birds on your tree. You will also be sent pictures of fruits and flowers blooming on your tree. BNHS will also keep track of your adoption anniversary and invite you to celebrate. “We are doing it so that people feel more involved in the project,” said Sathe.

Google+
GPS Technology Used In Tree Conservation Effort In India

Bears in Connecticut Tracked with GPS Devices Surprise Researchers

We frequently write stories about GPS technology assisting wildlife researchers. More often than not, these stories involve conservation efforts for endangered species. In this case, biologists from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection are using GPS collars to monitor a thriving population of bears in Connecticut. Certainly, reading about growing wildlife populations feels better than reading about some species nearing extinction. However, this story isn’t all roses. More bears mean more area is needed for habitat and foregoing for food, which winds up with more bears wandering into urban areas.

“As the population grows, there are going to be bear intrusions into more and more suburban and urban settings,” explained Paul Rego, a biologist with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. “We receive many complaints about bears. We spend a lot of resources dealing with complaints.” 25 bears have been fitted with GPS collars. The collars help biologists monitor the bears, but they aren’t much help in preventing or avoiding conflict. When bears have been trapped and taken far from people, GPS tracking shows that they quickly return to the area they were just removed from.

The tracking study has revealed some fascinating behavior of the bears. From previous, less precise tracking methods, female bears were believed to stay within about a seven mile radius. GPS shows that the range is actually around 15 miles, and one bear was tracked traveling 50 miles, presumably scavenging for food. “We never would have known that otherwise,” said Jason E. Hawley, also a wildlife biologist. “Our GPS collars are opening up a whole new world for us.”

The bear population in Connecticut could be as large as 500. Getting a precise number of the bear population is very tricky. Tracy A.G. Rittenhouse, assistant professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Connecticut, is working on a method to get a better grasp of the numbers. They’ve placed barbed wire around trees, with a scent trap in the middle. The bears are attracted to the scent and the barbed wire will likely collect some of the bear’s fur. These lures are called “hair corrals” and there are 150 all around northwest Connecticut. The hair will provide individual bear DNA, which will give a much better idea of the real population number.

Google+
Bears in Connecticut Tracked with GPS Devices Surprise Researchers