Cemeteries have taken a bad rap over the years. They have served as the scene for numerous ghost stories, frightening scenarios, and creepy encounters. Spine-chilling tales aside, cemeteries bring us face to face with death. They remind us of our mortality and force us to consider the big picture of life. Perhaps that’s why so many people have a fascination with burial places. Whether visiting the grave of a loved one or searching for the tombstone of a historical figure, many people are magnetically drawn toward cemeteries and can spend hours wandering among the tombstones. And now, thanks to GPS technology, their wandering might be a little more productive.
Tracking for Tombstones
It’s not always easy to find a specific gravesite in a large cemetery. Funerals are stressful enough as it is, and no one wants to be the person who got separated from the caravan and shows up to the graveside service late, or can’t find it at all. That’s why one entrepreneur has developed a GPS tracking solution to make the process less stressful. The solution involves assigning GPS coordinates to each specific grave or tombstone, embedding that information in a QR code, and allowing people to scan the code for information like funeral programs, directions to the cemetery, and exact location information.
Another option is an actual tracking device that can be attached to the coffin. GPS readers pick up the satellite signal, enabling staff and visitors to easily find the gravesite. Although this may seem a little unconventional, the technology can be especially helpful in natural burial sites, where graves are not marked. By identifying each grave with GPS data, staff members can help visitors easily locate the grave in question at any time of the year, even long after grass and flowers have erased evidence of burial. By allowing loved ones to find and visit the grave even without an identifying tombstone, GPS tracking can help bring closure by facilitating this important aspect of the grieving process.
History Buffs Benefit, Too
If by this point you’re thinking, “GPS tracking for gravesites? Really?” then consider another way this technology could be beneficial. Many history aficionados enjoy visiting the gravesites of important historical figures. There’s something special about standing near the burial site of someone whose life has been an object of study and respect. The new technology opens many possibilities for making these graveside visits easier. Rather than wandering around a large cemetery looking for the grave in question, the GPS tracking device could lead you directly there.
Like Finding a Needle in a Haystack
Large cemeteries with many identical or nearly identical headstones present a third potential use for graveside GPS tracking. Arlington National Cemetery is one such example. A new GPS tracking app released to the public allows visitors not only to find one specific grave among the thousands of markers, but also to experience the cemetery online if they can’t visit in person. The app provides the following benefits to visitors:
- Photos of individual headstones and monuments, both front and back
- Directions to a particular headstone or monument
- Special events information
- Opportunities to leave feedback
Not only does the app help visitors have a more rewarding experience at the cemetery, but it also provides accountability to ensure that graves are accurately marked and that good records are being kept.
Who Needs GPS Tracking for Tombstones?
While it may seem like a simple thing to visit the grave of a friend or relative, experience teaches that it’s not always as easy as it should be. That’s the purpose behind including the technology at specific gravesites. While not widely in use yet, the tracking systems have the potential to make cemetery visits less stressful and more rewarding for many:
| Friends and family members | Scan a QR code to find a gravesite, get directions, leave a message for the family, and view the funeral program |
| Students of history | Visit historically important grave sites and find burial sites for local figures |
| Visitors to natural burial sites | Find the exact location of an unmarked grave |
| Visitors to nationally important cemeteries | Pay respects to fallen soldiers, loved ones, and historical figures buried in cemeteries such as Arlington |
While GPS tracking for tombstones may not be a desirable solution for every family, it can offer a discreet, simple way to make the experience of visiting a cemetery a smooth one. By removing the stress of following a map or going from memory, GPS tracking allows visitors to focus on the purpose of the visit: paying their respects to those whose lives were well-lived and who deserve to be remembered for the legacy they left behind.
Cemetery Ramblings: GPS Tracking Leads the Way
No comments:
Post a Comment