GPS Technology Used for Early Warning Weather Forecasting

We’ve previously written about how GPS technology is used for early warning systems for earthquakes and tsunamis. GPS stations on the ground detect slight changes and movements on the earth’s crust. By monitoring the existing extensive network of GPS stations, researchers can know an earthquake is coming before the violent shaking begins. Tsunamis, which are caused by earthquakes, can also be predicted with GPS tracking systems on the ground. We are all too familiar with the devastation these natural disasters can cause, so the earlier the warning, the more lives can be saved.

Scientists have now discovered a way to use the technology to predict other hazardous events, like flash flooding. A team of researchers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Scripps Instituion of Oceanography and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are using GPS stations to develop early warning systems for hazardous storms. The technology that allows GPS to detect small movements also can measure water vapor in the air.

“A GPS receiver fundamentally is measuring the amount of time it takes signals to travel from the GPS satellites to the receiving antenna on the ground,” Angelyn W. Moore, JPL’s Geodynamics and Space Geodesy group scientist, explained. “That travel time is modified by the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. The upshot is that whenever we measure a geodetic-quality GPS station’s position, we are also measuring the delay due to water vapor. That delay can be related to precipitable water vapor with the surface pressure and temperature measurement.”

By combining the data received from the GPS stations, thermometers and barometers, weather forecasters can predict flash flood risk with much greater accuracy. There are currently around 40 weather stations tracking water vapor, and delivering estimates every half hour. However, the team hopes to improve the system to provide vapor estimates at a much more frequent rate. “We are evaluating hardware to provide water vapor [data] at 5 minutes or less at a test site, and plan to install that at approximately 25 sites,” Moore added. Currently, weather forecasters have to look up the vapor measurements via a Web interface, but Moore hopes to improve that soon as well, saying, “We are pursuing integration into their standard forecaster displays.

The GPS technology is great for measuring larger movements on the ground caused by earthquakes, while accelerometers are better for capturing smaller changes in location. The accelerometers can even detect P-waves, which preface the more powerful S-waves of earthquakes that we feel during the violent shakes or rolling waves of the quake. The properties of the P-wave can help seismologist predict the strength of the S-waves, and also allow for earliest detection and warning systems for the earthquake.

There are currently 475 GPS stations in Southern California, alone. 175 of those stations operate in real-time. Only 17 of them are equipped with accelerometers. California has a much higher density of GPS stations than say Ohio, because of the frequency of earthquakes in the region. Many of these stations were developed with earthquake detection as the primary purpose. There are no current plans to expand the stations, but Moore suggests it would be very valuable to do so.

“Certainly the spacial extent can be extended,” she said. “Existing real-time GPS stations tend to be located in California more than in Arizona, so north is the most obvious opportunistic direction at present. That would enable use of the GPS water vapor [data] for other weather conditions such as atmospheric rivers (ARs).” Atmospheric rivers are pretty similar to what you’d think. It describes and atmospheric phenomenon in which a narrow, river-like collection of water vapor in the air is transported horizontally. “While ARs come in many shapes and sizes, those that contain the largest amounts of water vapor, the strongest winds, and stall over watersheds vulnerable to flooding, can create extreme rainfall and floods.”

The GPS-enabled weather stations can monitor large amounts of water vapor across Southern California. When an AR is detected above or approaching an area that is at high risk for flooding, an early warning system can be established. This way, people can better protect their loved ones and their property. Flash flooding can be very serious, causing damage to homes and cars. These sudden floods also threaten the lives of people and their pets. With better warning systems, people will be more prepared when natural disasters strike.

According to the NOAA, there are already several hundred GPS weather stations across the United States. Unfortunately, they are all too far apart to serve the purposes of water vapor tracking. However, they could be used in the future for this purpose, if the system works well enough in California.

GPS Technology Used for Early Warning Weather Forecasting

Elephant Poaching Drops 65% in Newly Protected Parts of Kenya

Wildlife poaching is a massive and very serious global issue. We’ve discussed different ways GPS technology is used to help combat these devastatingly destructive menaces. Using funds from charity, a new effort using man-power combined with GPS tracking and other technology, is making a pretty big difference in parts of East Africa. The UK-based publication, The Independent, successfully ran a campaign to raise money and man-power for the protection of endangered wildlife in Kenya.

Elephants are a primary target for poachers in Africa. For one thing, their size makes them fairly easy to find. But the true reason is their white ivory tusks. Killing elephants for their ivory is illegal and has been for a long time. Still, the black market for the material is booming with a high demand and high price fetched for the ivory. “Thieves and bandits go into the local communities,” Simon Eturen said, “and if the poaching goes on at the present rate then we will lose the wildlife. There have been many, many carcasses.”

Despite serious ecological consequences that will likely result from extensive poaching, the illegal market is thriving. Poachers are happy to risk their lives, not to mention take the lives of innocent elephants and the people dedicated to protecting them, in order to make a profit. It is quite a profit, at that. Currently, the price per ounce of ivory is greater than that of an ounce of gold. In order to help balance the scales, Space for Giants, a Kenya-based conservation charity, has developed rapid-response teams to guard the elephants against poachers.

“At the moment this is the Wild West,” explained Max Graham, Space for Giants founder. “If you look at the distribution of carcasses this spot [West Laikipia] is the hole. The poachers have been acting with immunity here for the last three years. These new teams will make all the difference — and quickly.” In areas where the quick-response rangers are available, poaching has dropped by 65%. WIth funds raised by The Independent, this protected area can now be expanded to include West Laikipia – a hot-spot for poachers.

When the call for recruits went out, people from all over West Laikipia came to help protect the native wildlife from poachers. Looking for the best of the best, the charity organizers weeded through the dozens of applications. The recruits were tested on their physical as well as mental stamina. Everyone was thoroughly screened for any possible link to poaching gangs to ensure that there won’t be any sabotage. After the intense screening process, only 19 candidates remained from which to select two teams of six wildlife rangers. They also ensured that each team was made up of a mix of local tribes. This way, all local communities are represented, which also helps foster better trust and communication between the tribes.

It wasn’t too long ago that poachers were hunting elephants with bow and arrows. Recently, however, their weapons have improved. It’s now common for poachers to use AK-47s on elephants and any humans trying to protect the wildlife. It truly is like a war-zone in some parts of Africa, simply over the ivory black market. The dangers posed by protecting the wildlife creates a huge deterrent for the normal authorities to do their jobs. “At present it’s no-man’s-land here,” said a former SAS sergeant major and part of the task force. “The police don’t patrol it. The wildlife services don’t come.”

Once trained, the task force will spend two-weeks at a time in the bush, tracking poachers. Because of this grueling schedule, the training was equally intense. The three-day boot camp began with an eight-mile run. After that, the would-be rangers had to alternate short bursts of running with difficult sets of push-ups. They were also trained in weapons and combat, as well as first aid and team-working skills. Last but not least, the rangers were required to carry a massive log all the way down, and then back up a valley. “Every one of them busted a gut,” the former SAS sergeant major, tasked with overseeing the training, said proudly. “They’re keen as hell. The right training, the right equipment: they’ll solve the problem here.”

The money raised for Space for Giants is going towards paying and training the elite team of poacher trackers and wildlife protection agents. The members of the task force were given rifles to protect themselves (mostly German G3s), since run-ins with poachers often result in firefight. They were also equipped with top-of-the-line medical gear and radio devices for communication. Space for Giants also paid to attached local elephants with GPS tracking collars. This way, a team will be notified if an elephant is entering into a poacher’s hot-spot, so they can act quickly to protect it. The funds are also being used for community education programs, to help spread good information about elephants and the need to preserve them.

Elephant Poaching Drops 65% in Newly Protected Parts of Kenya

Union and University Debate GPS Employee Monitoring

Just a few decades ago, no one even thought of asking the question, “Is it legal for an employer to watch exactly what all his employees are doing the entire time they’re on the clock?” At that time, we knew that many employees—especially some of those who used company vehicles to travel to different work sites—conducted non-work activities while clocked in. But there was literally no way to check up on those employees, aside from physically following them around all day. GPS employee monitoring, of course, is now common practice, and the debate over it at the University of British Columbia illustrates the growing pains that the employer-employee relationship is suffering as a result.

Position 1: Employers Have the Right to Monitor Employees

Employers across the world are happy to finally have a way to catch cheating employees with a minimum of effort. According to this position, the employer is paying his employees to perform certain tasks and providing company resources for those purposes. Since the resources and the employees’ work time belong to the company, the company has the right to monitor how they are being used. If that monitoring reveals abuse of company resources and time, the company also has the right to take disciplinary action against the employee, even firing him if appropriate.

Position 2: Employees Have the Right to Privacy, Even While on the Clock

The problem that many employees have with GPS tracking is that it nearly always goes beyond the employer’s intentions. For example, it is difficult to ensure that tracking does not occur outside work hours or during breaks when a company car is involved. Also, GPS employee monitoring can make it look like inappropriate activity is happening when it is not. Here are some examples:

• An employee takes a detour due to road work, which could be misinterpreted as a non-work related side trip.


• Sitting in a traffic jam could show up on a GPS report as idling, which wastes company resources.


• Judgment calls in the field about how to best serve customers easily translate into questionable activity on GPS tracking reports.

An employee who responds to unexpected conditions on the roads might well find himself forced to answer questions from his supervisor about his activity. He may even see disciplinary action when he has done nothing wrong. Even worse, his employer might use tracking information collected outside of work hours when making decisions about promotions or work assignments.

Reaching a Consensus

At the University of British Columbia (UBC), school officials and union leaders recently came to an agreement concerning GPS employee monitoring. While the union has grave reservations about the use of GPS to track workers, it recognizes the school’s right to protect its property and supervise its employees with the tools that are available. The following table summarizes the main points of the agreement:

Union’s Concern	UBC’s Agreement
Employees could face questions raised by GPS tracking info	GPS data will only be used to confirm or refute allegations of wrongdoing
Employees have the right to know who is watching them while on the job	UBC will notify employees if their vehicles are equipped with GPS trackers
Individual employees could be discriminated against, scrutinized for questionable activity	The GPS trackers only monitor vehicles, not the individuals driving them.

When used responsibly, even union leaders recognize the great value that GPS employee monitoring provides. No one argues that UBC should protect its investment (company vehicles) and increase efficiency. Additionally, there is a great safety benefit for employees themselves. UBC employees sometimes venture into remote areas, where even radio signal is spotty. A breakdown in one of these areas, particularly in extreme weather, would be dangerous. GPS data allows a rescue team to respond quickly to stranded employees without organizing a search effort.

The UBC/employees’ union agreement should serve as a pattern for companies considering GPS monitoring or facing questions about their current GPS policies. Using GPS data as infrequently as possible is a safe move—to check up on complaints that an employee did something wrong with a vehicle, for example. Anonymous GPS data is also safer than employee-specific data, and can still help company officials increase efficiency and safety.

GPS Employee Monitoring: Here to Stay

Those who drive a company car should assume that a GPS monitoring device will appear on their vehicle before long. Numerous privacy issues have yet to make their way through the court systems in both the United States and Canada, but hardly anyone still believes that the practice will be struck down. The benefits, efficiency potential, and risk minimization offered by GPS tracking are huge—as long as it is used responsibly. That’s where unions come in, protecting the rights of their members while advising companies on the best way to use this powerful new tool.

Union and University Debate GPS Employee Monitoring

Life Isn't a Game...Or Is It?

Psychologists regularly debate to what extent entertainment affects our real-life behavior. Do teenagers who play violent video games show violent tendencies at school? Do the movies and TV shows we watch alter our personalities? As video games incorporate more and more elements of real life (online chat, in-game purchases, real-time action, etc.), even skeptics can see just how blurred the line between fantasy and reality has become. At least one new game is using GPS-generated data to pull life experience directly into its gameplay.

As with most GPS applications, ethical and moral questions loom on the horizon. Is it a good idea, for example, to allow children to play a fantasy game that uses their real-world surroundings as its setting? For better or worse, GPS is invading the world of video games. Here’s how:

Groundbreaking Game Technology

Gamers will immediately recognize the title “Gran Turismo” as one of the top racing games available. Now in its sixth edition, the realism, incredible graphics, controls, and feel of the game lead the industry in almost every aspect. In Gran Turismo 6, gamers will have a new option: driving a route generated by their real-life driving activity.

A user can download an app that accesses his smartphone’s GPS tracker. While driving to work, to the store, or around his school’s campus, the user sets the app to record the route. After returning home, the route can be uploaded to Gran Turismo 6’s course creator and quickly turned into a drivable course. The outrageous possibilities immediately spring to mind: who hasn’t dreamed of finding out just how long it would take to circle the campus if they could drive as fast as they wanted to? How quickly could you really make it to work from home?

While the length, contour, and shape of your route will appear on the course creator, the surrounding elements will not. You will have to physically add buildings, trees, and whatever other items you can recall. If you have the skill and time to do that, theoretically you could end up with a very interesting recreation of your real-life driving environment.

The full functionality of the GPS feature was not available by the time Gran Turismo 6 was scheduled to be released in December 2013. But the developers promise that it is right around the corner and will be available as a post-installation addition to the game. Until then, gamers will have to be content with driving their traditional routes at legal speeds!

Other GPS Games

Gran Turismo 6 is certainly not the first video game to make use of GPS technology. Developers’ minds have been whirling with the possibilities that GPS could bring to gaming ever since it appeared on the scene. Here are a few of the more well-known games that have done so, with varying levels of success:

Game	Description	How it Uses GPS
Dragons Adventure	Tablet-based adventure game for kids	Game automatically ends when the car reaches its destination. Other game features, such as bodies of water, reflect real physical features along the car’s route.
Plundr	Nintendo DS pirate game	Turns actual environment into a “treasure map,” with different gameplay possibilities based on the player’s actual location.
Shadow Cities	iPhone world domination game	Uses actual world as gameplay field. Players network with each other to reach and conquer different regions of the globe.

A major difference between these games and Gran Turismo 6 is the importing of collected GPS data into the game, rather than the use of real-time location to affect gameplay.

What’s the Limit?

It is relatively easy to see how a GPS device could collect route data and turn it into a virtual race course. But what about going further? Could a system such as Google Earth, filled with street-level images and 3-D structures, link with a GPS device to gather even more detailed route data? If so, it may not be long before gamers can sit on their couch and drive through a world that looks fantastically like their own, down to the concrete goose on their neighbor’s front porch.

In fact, we could even see ethical issues come into play if such GPS-generated data powers online environment games. In these “alternate realities,” users assume new identities and stroll through virtual worlds, conducting activities and developing relationships all within a game. If the environment in that game were a very close copy of the player’s actual environment, a psychologist may well get worried about the implications of spending too much time playing it. As the lines between game and life get more blurred, a reality check now and then might be in order.

For the time being, gamers look forward to the addition of GPS course creation to Gran Turismo 6. Driving around your neighborhood will never be the same after you’ve done it at top speed in a European car worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Life Isn't a Game...Or Is It?

GPS Used to Reclaim the Past

GPS technology can do so much more than just help you find your way around an unfamiliar place. Imagine having a general idea about where something is that was lost long ago, but not being able to find it. This is just one more thing that GPS can help people do. Military engineers in Great Britain have recently used GPS technology and 3D scanners to find the whereabouts of a crashed World War II Spitfire in a field on Salisbury Plain. The team of engineers was working with a military outfit of recovering injured soldiers to do archaeological digs in Great Britain. The GPS technology was integral in helping the engineers find the exact location of the crashed plane, which was shot down in 1940.

Using GPS Technology to Find the Past

The GPS technology used in the dig was handled by the 135 Independent Geographical Squadron Royal Engineers, who are part of the British Army. This group specializes in using geographic information obtained through the use of GPS technology and other devices to provide information to British military intelligence. They also use GPS technology to record the locations of their various digs for each excavation site. The engineers are active in archaeological digs featuring GPS technology to find more than just the remains of old fighter planes. They have also been involved in a variety of cultural archaeological digs to learn about cultures that lived in Great Britain over the years.

Spitfire Discovery
Discovery	Spitfire Mark I, shot down October 27, 1940
Location	Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, Great Britain
Pilot	Officer Paul Baillon, RAF
Excavation	Excavated by 135 Independent Geographical Squadron Royal Engineers, assisted by The Rifles, a group of wounded veterans who find therapy in excavating archaeological digs

Operation Nightingale

While GPS technology is important for the 135 Independent Geographical Squadron Royal Engineers, there is another aspect of their work that is very significant as well. Operation Nightingale is the codename given to a project that provides archaeological work for injured soldiers. As military activity continues in Afghanistan, Operation Nightingale provides a chance for injured soldiers to recover in a way that is productive and allows them to incorporate some military techniques and training into their excavation work. There is a great deal of similarity between certain military applications and civilian work (like archaeology). On the battlefield, soldiers use survey skills to find ordnance, but they can also use that skill to find cultural sites. They look very closely at the ground and pay attention to the finest details in order to find improvised explosive devices, but can also use that skill to find artifacts on the site. While all archaeology is not as strenuous as Hollywood would lead you to believe, the rigors of military life fit right in with the excavations. This project allows the recovering soldiers to also learn a skill that can be useful outside of the military.

Operation Nightingale
Purpose	To provide opportunities for wounded military veterans to gain confidence and self-esteem in an environment that can be very rewarding
Archaeological finds	Aside from the Spitfire, the group has worked on a variety of sites that have unearthed artifacts from the Bronze Age and Iron Age.

The Recovery of the Plane on the Plain

The plane that was discovered had been shot down on October 27, 1940, by the German Luftwaffe. The engineers were able to use their GPS tracking technology to find the plane. The general location has been known since the crash, but the ability to use GPS technology has allowed them to pinpoint the actual location. The pilot, Paul Baillon, survived when he ejected before the plane crashed, but was killed in action under similar circumstances only a few weeks later. Baillon’s daughter, Rosemary, who was not yet born at the time of the crash, attended the excavation and was able to glean a little bit of insight into the father she did not know. Amid the destruction of the plane were a few objects of a personal nature that will be cherished by Rosemary. She shared memories of her father through the correspondence with her mother.

What’s Next for the Rifles?

As the Rifles work to finish the dig on Salisbury Plains, they will plan to be there a little longer to make sure everything is documented correctly. While the Spitfire find helps to make the headlines, there are centuries of culture also buried at the spot that need to be sorted through and document. Before the Spitfire, the group also found a Liberator bomber. The group will continue to work with the 135 Engineers to continue their therapy as they bring new artifacts to light. The soldiers will be able to create and enhance skills that will continue to help them in their future. And that will ultimately help to make make all of the soldiers better.

GPS Used to Reclaim the Past

Who’s Tracking You?

The history of global positioning systems had its start back in the late 1950s with the launch of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik satellite. Scientists found they could track the satellite’s location on its orbital path based on the Doppler effect of its signals. This discovery eventually led to the development of today’s Global Positioning System (GPS)—the ability to use satellites in orbit to bounce information to people on Earth about their own location—and not just their location, but also up-to-the-moment information on their rate of speed, the shortest route from their current location to a proposed destination, and so on. GPS was fully launched in 1994, and today it’s difficult for some of us to imagine taking a trip of any distance without accessing GPS data available as close as our cell phone.

In more recent years, though, GPS technology has more and more frequently been used to track the location of individual citizens, often without their knowledge. Such use of this technology has understandably caused widespread concern. Where do individuals’ rights to privacy end and corporations’ rights to access data begin? Is it OK even if the data is “randomized” or “anonymized”?

Examples from the United Kingdom

In August and September of 2013, some Londoners were shocked and angered to discover that the GPS technology on their phones was being used not only to help the phones’ owners get from point A to point B, but also to provide information to government agencies and private companies about the owners themselves. At least two events revealed creative harvesting of GPS data by companies that did not have owners’ permission to do so.

• The City of London Corporation required a company called Renew to turn off the monitoring capabilities of, of all things, trash bins that had been installed in a dozen different locations in the city. The bins were equipped with technology that would allow them to obtain GPS data from passersby and send it back to the company. The purpose of such data-gathering would ostensibly assist companies in marketing efforts, helping them know the types of people who tend to gather in a certain area of the town and target the digital marketing that appears on the trash bins to specific demographic groups. Renew’s CEO defended the company’s practice, claiming that as long as people’s names and addresses were not attached to the information, there was nothing illegal about the activity. As mentioned above, the City of London Corporation disagreed and required that the devices be turned off, and the Information Commissioner’s Office vowed to follow up.


• On the heels of the events above, London’s Daily Telegraph revealed that England’s Highways Agency was harvesting GPS data from Brits’ cell phones. The data can be used for one of two purposes. In one case phone companies use information on cell phone owners’ locations by tracking their movements, noting when they move from one mobile phone “cell” to another. In another case, the Highways Agency is able to obtain location information retrieved through drivers’ uses of GPS technology. According to the Highways Agency, they “anonymize” the information and want it only to help track how crowded roadways are and also to note trends in traffic patterns.

Cell Phones in the UK

How widely used are cell phones in the UK? The following information is provided by the Mobile Operators Association (MOA). The MOA is a support organization that represents England’s four mobile network providers (Vodafone, EE, O2, and Three) and deals with mobile phone technology’s effects on town planning and health and safety. Their published information for 2013 includes the following facts:

• England boasts nearly 83 million mobile subscriptions.


• 94 percent of all Brits own a mobile phone.


• In 2011, approximately 31 million subscribers used their mobile phones to access the Internet. In 2012, over 40 million subscribers did so—an increase of 29 percent.


• In 2013 only one-half of one percent of UK homes lacked 2G mobile coverage and over 99% of connected homes also had access to 3G coverage.

What Does the Future Hold?

It’s the age-old question when it comes to science: just because we can do something, does that make it acceptable to do it? GPS technology can be used to track users’ whereabouts, but should it be? Probably most people would answer no, if the technology is used without the owners’ knowledge. But what if owners agree to it? Or what if the freedom for companies to track your location becomes part of one of those wordy End Users’ License Agreements that so few people read?

GPS technologies are a great tool for mankind. How their use will continue to evolve in the future remains to be seen. But as that evolution occurs, it serves consumers well to keep in mind the old saying, “Let the buyer beware.”

Who’s Tracking You?

Trade-offs for Global Positioning Systems

Citizens in North America have been relying on an aging GPS satellite system for over a decade now, with the current oldest satellite in use at over 20 years old. As technology improves and the needs of GPS users are constantly changing, the U.S. government is looking at ways to improve and possibly replace the current system. As the General Accounting Office (GAO) is considering different proposals for bids, there will need to be a trade-off between cost and risk for the proposals. Unfortunately, all of life’s decisions involve some kind of trade-off and the government has to make the decision that will be the most affordable for the foreseeable future, as well the most effective. GPS users should be aware of this, because it has the potential to affect their services at the day-to-day level.

Balancing Risk vs. Cost

Proposed Plan	Expected Risk	Expected Cost
Current GPS 3 Program with enhancements in command and control and regional protection	Low	$25 billion
Current GPS 3 Program	Low	$23 billion
GPS 3 modified for dual launch	Low-medium	$22 billion
GPS 3 modified for dual launch and augmented by positioning, navigation, and timing satellites	Medium	$22 billion
GPS 3 modified for dual launch and augmented by positioning, navigation, and timing payloads on other satellites	Medium	$21 billion
GPS 3 modified for dual launch and augmented by navigational satellites with all military and civilian signals	Medium	$20 billion
GPS 3 modified for dual launch and augmented by navigational satellites with some military and civilian signals	Medium	$18 billion
NavSat constellation augmented by three positioning, navigation, and timing satellites	High	$14 billion
Constellation becomes entirely NavSat based	High	$13 billion

 

The High Cost of Technology

The U.S. government is continuing an ongoing battle over budget dollars, so anything that costs as much as the proposed systems needs to be approached delicately. The government can’t afford to make the wrong choice here and have our GPS system, which affects so many important military and civilian devices, end up faulty. The proposals range from a high of $25 billion to a low of $13 billion and involve a variety of options. Unfortunately, as the price goes down, the overall reliability and capabilities of the services rendered goes down as well. The current contract with Lockheed Martin scheduled to launch in 2015, as well as a modified and enhanced version of that one cost the most, at $25 and $23 billion. These two choices both offer the least risk to make sure the system will continue without problem. The lowest priced options carry the highest risk.

GPS 3 Options

The current contract with Lockheed Martin offers several options that can create a variety of cost options, but all run a medium amount of risk for their operation. This is important for users of GPS technology to make sure we have a reliable system. These options involve the government setting up a dual launch to get two satellites in orbit at a time, instead of one. The cost for these options varies from $18-22 billion and all present more risk than launching the satellites one at a time. There are options for more savings by having satellites augmented by launching them with other satellites, putting them higher into orbit to take advantage of other satellites, or putting them with other commercial or government-owned spacecraft. These plans all may require decreasing the sizes and capabilities of the satellites. The savings created by doing this is real, but not significantly better than going with existing plans.

Using Cheaper NavSats

The cheapest, but riskiest, option involves using NavSats, which are smaller satellites, and would not be able to perform all the functions of GPS satellites. Another possibility would come from using geostationary orbiting satellites, which are locked to a point a certain distance above a location on earth. Geostationary satellites are also limited in function and would be unable to do things such as nuclear detonation detection.

Ongoing Research

The GAO is continuing to look for cheaper alternatives. Smaller satellites are being considered, but again they will run the risk of not being able to do as much as a full sized satellite. There is also the problem of time, as many of the potential satellites are a full five or more years from being launch ready. Another wrench that might be thrown in is the sheer number of satellites that may be required.

GPS tracking and locating has contributed to a very efficient society. The first and second generation GPS satellites are nearing the end of their run, but it is comforting to know that the government is making plans to continue with this endeavor that has so many civilian and military applications. Hopefully, this will continue in the future.

Trade-offs for Global Positioning Systems

Taking Your Cell Phone for a Ride

The Napa County, California Transportation and Planning Agency (NCTPA) is working with Napa County commissioners to use, among other things, GPS signals given off by cell phones to map out and track travel within Napa County. The GPS signals given off by cell phones can be used by NCTPA to figure out when cell phone users (commuters) travel and by what means they travel. From that data, officials are hoping to discover the general traffic patterns of drivers and other commuters in and around Napa County.

What the County Hopes to Discover

Napa County hopes to find out how to better use its resources for roads as traffic patterns are continuously in flux due to the school year and harvest times. They hope that by using this information from GPS technology, they can better create driving conditions that will be beneficial to all. The study will cost about $180,000 to complete, but a similar study was conducted recently in Monterey, California, that provided good information for planners.

Using Cell Phones Through GPS Signals

According to officials, GPS signals given off by cell phones will be determined by the NCTPA with assistance from Air Sage, a company that tracks the movement of cell phones through GPS. Travel will be determined by monitoring where the phone “sleeps” or where it is during normal sleeping hours (“home”). Then information will be gathered about when that phone is on the move to detect where it is going, how it got there, and what mode of transportation it used. Carpoolers would have multiple signals meeting up and travelling together; public buses would have multiple stops along a route, and so on. Wherever that phone is during normal working hours will be considered “work.” Air Sage maintains an ongoing collection of data points given off by GPS signals from cell phones and can easily determine the movements and patterns of cell phone users.

As Air Sage and NCTPA work together on this project, it is important to note that the GPS signals that are mined and discovered will not allow for pinpoint accuracy beyond a 200 X 200 meter perimeter. No personal information is going to be gleaned from this activity, so personal information is safe. This is not an action by the government or the NSA to keep tabs on you!

What to Know about the Data Collection

• Cell phone data collected over three non-consecutive one-week periods


• Researchers have no access to information on cell phones, just location and its movement


• License plate recording took place on 10/4/2013

 

Cause for Alarm or No Big Deal?

Local residents became a little concerned over this when the information first came out, but county commissioners and other officials insist that there will be no collection of personal information or other identifiers other than movements made by cell phone users. The ACLU has an interest in this case, but their only concern would be over using personal information, which this study did not do. The GPS data collected by Air Sage will not include any kind of private information that citizens need to worry about.

Others are a little turned off by communications companies allowing the use of this kind of information without giving remuneration to the owners of the devices. Some people have even suggested that companies should reimburse cell phone owners some of the profits from this use of their personal information.

As a side note, it is worth reminding smartphone users that they can disable their device’s GPS function at any time if they are concerned about location privacy. Many experts advise taking this action as a matter of course, especially if children frequently use the phone.

Other Aspects of the Study

Another method used by NCTPA will be to collect pictures of license plates during three separate one-week studies, and then cross reference those images with Department of Motor Vehicle plate records to find out addresses for commuters. The commuters would then be mailed voluntary surveys to ask for self-reported records of their travel. Wineries in Napa County will also have counters set up in driveways, as well as asking visitors to take surveys at individual wineries. Schools would also be part of the poll to find out the most current information.

While using GPS technology to track the whereabouts of people without their knowledge is not new, Napa County and NCTPA are definitely offering a creative solution to an problem that is as old as the automobile. Congested traffic can occur any time and any place, but knowing where to expect it more can help county officials make the necessary plans and changes to get the most out of their travel dollar. That kind of savings makes a lot of sense.

Taking Your Cell Phone for a Ride

Stopping Crime in Its Tracks

Robbery these days is more dangerous than it used to be. The likelihood of getting caught has drastically increased, thanks to GPS tracking. The devices can be attached to anything from jewelry to bags of cash to laptops, and a thief never knows when the police could be tracking his every movement. It takes risk of discovery to a whole new level, as an Ocala man learned after helping himself to over $2,500 of laptops, shoes, and electronics. Police followed the signals of a GPS transmitter inside one of the stolen laptops and apprehended Akyl Anthony Sean Howard at his home, where he had a shed full of stolen computers and other items.

GPS Tracking and Law Enforcement

GPS tracking has been used by police departments in a wide variety of circumstances. The little devices can go places officers can’t, following perpetrators to their homes, their cars, or other places where they might try to conceal stolen items. GPS tracking has helped crack cases across the spectrum, including:

• Bank robberies


• Car thefts


• Stolen laptops


• Stolen cell phones


• Motorcycle thefts


• Boat thefts


• Drug rings

Perpetrators often receive an unexpected surprise when police officers easily track them down and identify the stolen items based on a GPS tracking signal. The devices also ease the burden on cash-strapped law enforcement departments by reducing the number of hours and officers needed to solve a theft case. GPS can perform hours of surveillance work for a fraction of the cost it would take an officer to perform the same job.

GPS Monitoring for Crime Prevention

Not only can GPS help capture a thief, but it can also help track known criminals in order to prevent crimes from reoccurring. For instance, a sexual offender who has been released on parole can be tracked using an ankle bracelet to ensure that he follows the conditions of his parole. The following table identifies some of the ways law enforcement departments can use GPS tracking to prevent crimes:

Domestic Violence	Offenders wear a bracelet, alerting victims and/or police if they cross a specified boundary
Sexual Offenders	A GPS bracelet alerts police if the wearer crosses a designated perimeter such as the area around a school, neighborhood, or playground
Auto thefts	“Bait vehicles” with GPS tracking devices installed can lead police officers directly to a ring of auto thieves

In addition to providing vital information to police officers in the event of a violation, GPS tracking can also offer safety and peace of mind to victims, especially in the case of domestic violence. When the court orders an offender to wear a GPS transmitter, the victim can be instantly alerted via text message if a boundary is crossed. By giving the victim time to get to safety, GPS tracking could save lives and prevent serious injury.

How GPS Tracking Catches Crooks

Most electronic devices already have a GPS tracking device installed. Cell phone users, for instance, can download a tracking app that makes use of the GPS locator already inside the phone. If the phone is lost or stolen, the owner can go online and identify its precise location, making the job of police officers much easier.

In the case of non-electronic property items, owners can purchase a GPS tracking device to attach or include in a carrying case. Cars, boats, bikes, jewelry, and many other items can be protected in this way. Such items can be extremely difficult to locate and recover without the help of GPS tracking; with the devices, however, recovery rates sky rocket and police officers can accomplish the task much more quickly.

Many thieves, like Howard, aren’t even aware that the items they have stolen carry tracking devices. When confronted, Howard admitted to the crime and even took the officers out to his backyard shed where he had hidden his haul.

Protecting Your Property 

One of the best ways to protect valuable items is to install a GPS tracking unit. Cars, trucks, tools, equipment, shipping containers, and more can all benefit from having a tracking device in the event of theft. By protecting the items from would-be crooks, GPS tracking can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in replacement costs. They can also provide peace of mind when traveling or moving to another part of the country. If the item gets lost or misdirected, GPS tracking makes it much easier to find it again rather than swallowing the loss.

In the case of Akyl Anthony Sean Howard, officers were able to find and recover the stolen items and apprehend Howard based on the signals they received from the GPS unit. As more people take the precautionary step to equip valuable items with the technology, GPS tracking can play an essential role in helping police departments across the nation stop crime in its tracks.

Stopping Crime in Its Tracks

Saving Our Shorebirds

GPS tracking at the beach is now a reality for hundreds of threatened shorebirds. Regular beach-goers can identify numerous shorebirds that make an appearance along the East Coast, gobbling up tiny crabs, mussels, clams, and fish. Some of the bird species have staggering migration patterns, traveling thousands of miles over the course of the season. And some are finding that trip more and more difficult due to habitat loss and diminishing food supply.

One of those species is the red knot, a small bird about the size of the robin that relies on horseshoe crab eggs, mussels, and clams for the majority of its diet. The birds travel in huge flocks, making stops along the East Coast during their migration from South America to the Arctic. In order to track the migration of the red knots, scientists have begun using GPS tracking locators as part of their research process.

GPS Tracking and the Red Knot

Wildlife researchers have expressed concern that the red knot population has decreased by 75 percent over the past thirty years. As part of an effort to learn more about the habits and needs of the species, a group of researchers captured and tagged a flock of red knots that were making a stopover on the Cape Cod shoreline. Each bird was fitted with a GPS locator, measured, and weighed before being released. Scientists hope the devices will provide information about where the birds routinely make stops along their migration route.

The program is designed in part to determine whether the red knots should be added to the federal list of endangered and protected species. It has already been designated as an endangered species in the state of New Jersey.

How GPS Supports Animal Studies

GPS tracking for the purpose of studying animals has been used in a wide variety of circumstances to study animals on almost every continent. The technology has given scientists insight into animal behavior patterns that could never have been obtained otherwise. Because GPS can go where human beings can’t, it can record information like migratory patterns, animal movement within a region, and locations of individual animals over time. All of the following animals have been studied and tracked using GPS technology:

Animal Studied	Behaviors observed
Whales	Feeding patterns, behavior under ice layers, diving depths, response to various conditions in the water
Lions	Social structure, feeding patterns, population, roaming habits
Deer	Home ranges and movements within the range
Wolves	Roaming patterns, attack prevention, protection of ranch herds
Elephants	Habitats, herd movements, protection from poachers
Sharks	Feeding habits, breeding locations, attack prevention

 

These examples represent just a small handful of the animals being tracked by scientists using GPS technology. Not only can scientists observe behaviors directly, but many of the devices can also send text messages or tweets at intervals, making it possible to create a timeline of the animal’s behaviors and habits.

What’s Next for the Red Knot

Federal administrators hope that the red knot will be added to the threatened species list in order to receive protection under the Endangered Species Act. GPS tracking will be a key part of the decision. By providing accurate information about the bird’s habits, migration behaviors, and feeding locations, scientists will be able to determine whether its primary stopover points are significantly affected by climate change, habitat loss, and diminished food supply.

Red knot stopover points have been observed up and down the east coast, including:

• Canadian Arctic


• Delaware Bay


• Southern Chile


• Argentina


• Tierra del Fuego

Knowing these locations can help scientists determine which food sources the red knot relies on, enabling them to identify the relationship between food sources and population growth or decline. Based on this data, biologists have discovered that the red knot feeds heavily on horseshoe crab eggs such as those found in Delaware Bay. As the horseshoe crab population declines, scientists have observed a corresponding decline in the size of red knot flocks that stop in those locations. Biologists hope that adding the red knot to the endangered species list will make it possible to protect their habitats from human interventions that contribute to species decline.

Although the red knot is one of the most well-known shorebirds, it is by no means the only one in danger of drastically reduced populations. Scientists estimate that nearly 70 percent of shorebirds are shrinking in numbers. They blame the decline of these species on loss of food sources at key stopover points, habitat changes due to human intervention, and climate change. By providing the data needed to pinpoint specific locations relied upon by migrating shorebirds, GPS tracking plays an essential role in the preservation and protection of these animals. Conservation workers plan to recapture the birds at a later date, observe the changes in population and animal condition, and continue the study with the goal of protecting the lives and homes of these beautiful and plucky little birds during their 10,000 mile migration journey.

Saving Our Shorebirds

Iran: GPS To Reduce Prisoner Numbers

Here in the US, many prisons rely on GPS tracking devices in order to monitor those who have been released in the hopes they stay on the straight and narrow. Iran’s Judiciary is planning to introduce GPS technology in its prisons as well, but for the opposite reason: to reduce the number of people locked up in prison. The idea is to affix GPS tracking devices on those prisoners who did not commit a violent crime.

The less violent offenders will be able to spend their jail time at home. Though it won’t be quite as bad as jail, it does impose restrictions on one’s life. The prisoners will be restricted to stay within a specific area, spelled out in their sentence.

Deputy Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raeisi said, “Our judges should use alternative punishments whenever they can. In addition we are going to use electronic GPS monitoring that the prisoner has to put on his hands or feet so that the authorities can monitor his moves and make sure that he does not move out of the jurisdiction that he is supposed to be in.”

The project does not have a set date of implementation, but the judiciary has conducted its preliminary study of the plan. What they found during these preliminary studies, according to the spokesman for the Majlis Legal and Judicial Commission Mohammad Ali Esfenani, was that they could reduce the number of inmates by removing one thousand qualifying prisoners in the first stage alone.

“There are around 7,000 to 8,000 inmates in Iran that I think are qualified for the program. We have already bought around thousands of these GPS [devices] that can be used around prisoners’ hands or ankles,” said Esfenani. “Most of the prisoners that qualify have committed financial crimes. I think that a plan will effectively reduce the number of prisoners.”

The GPS devices can be used anywhere the prisoner goes, even in subways. The system only sends out location data every half-hour, showing authorities their whereabouts. Besides the US, the Netherlands, Thailand, and France are also using GPS devices to keep tabs on prisoners.

The difference between the way the US approaches the GPS tracking of criminals and the way Iran approaches it lies in the fact with what type of criminal is being tracked. Where Iran feels the less dangerous criminals should be tracked, we concentrate on the dangerous bunch.

Most of the time, those in the US who are tracked have committed a violent crime, whether against a woman or child, and the GPS monitor is placed for the safety of the victim(s). It’s the best way to keep them safe while ensuring the criminal is abiding by parole terms.

However not everyone agrees that it is a good idea. While most will agree that it helps reduce the number of prisoners taxpayers are feeding in the prisons on a daily basis thus making room for more dangerous criminals like murderers, it can become an issue of privacy rights.

I can hear you out there — how can someone expect any right to privacy when they have so egregiously violated the rights of another human being by abusing or harming them? Well, some states are doing this for the life of the offender. Some advocates believe that this lifetime tracking is far longer than any human should have to endure having their every move monitored. They’ve served their time, say the advocates, so there should be a definitive end to the monitoring.

And that’s the other problem. Each state is different, so there are different sets of rules no matter where you go.

David Sobel, general counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center said, “Bottom line is that decisions on the use of this kind of technology, which can be characterized as very invasive of the individual’s privacy, need to be made on a case-by-case basis… If it is used it should be the exception and only applied in the most egregious cases.”

Sobel feels that the majority of these offenders are actually doing the right thing and trying to change their outlook and tendencies. “Lifetime monitoring would erase the concept we have of people paying their debts to society and moving on in an equal footing,” said Sobel.

But others disagree, arguing some offenses just warrant extreme measures. For example, in Missouri, a bill was sponsored by Sen. Matt Bartle, spelling out stricter rules for those found guilty of committing a sexual offense, mainly that they would be required to wear a tracking device well after their sentence was served.

“I think the general public is really not terribly confident that we’re getting it right when it comes to pedophiles — that this individual, case-by-case approach is leading to some very horrific situations.”

Where do you stand on the issue of GPS monitoring of criminals? And which idea works better — tracking those committing serious offenses, or those who merely committed a financial crime? We’d love to hear your stance on the issue.

Iran: GPS To Reduce Prisoner Numbers

Mumbai Officials Address Water Theft With GPS Tracking

Getting water in America is easy. Simply walk into the kitchen, turn on the tap, and instantly receive a stream of pure, clean, drinkable water. In many parts of the world, it’s not that simple. Safe drinking water is a valuable commodity in places like Mumbai, India. Many communities do not have continuous supplies of water, and government intervention has been necessary to help improve access, especially in rural areas. In some places, water tankers line up at water filling stations, ready to carry water to remote areas. But not all of that water is being handled legitimately. “Tanker mafias” have been responsible for water theft across Mumbai, and some people have expressed concern that corrupt civic officials are in on the thefts as well. And that is where GPS tracking comes in.

GPS Tracking Provides Accountability

It’s unclear exactly who is responsible for the water thefts, although there has been plenty of speculation. That’s why some officials have proposed that each tanker be fitted with a GPS tracking device. The device would track the movements of the tanker, making it possible for officials to keep tabs on where the water is being delivered. Proponents of the system hope that the devices will help crack down on thefts and ensure delivery of the water to its proper destination.

It’s not the first time GPS tracking devices have been used to curb improper use of vehicles and property. Many companies, both publicly funded and private, have installed the systems on their fleet vehicles to keep track of driver activities and ensure efficiency. Although not every company has to deal with blatant theft, fleet managers can still help drivers improve driving habits and put a stop to problems like personal use of company vehicles and unauthorized routes or stops. Companies using the technology have reported numerous benefits including:

• Reduced fuel usage


• Cost savings based on fuel usage and more efficient delivery times


• Identification of shorter and more direct routes


• More deliveries accomplished based on better route choices


• Driver accountability curbing unauthorized stops and habits


• Better driving practices including speed limit observation and reduced idle times

GPS Cracks Down on Theft

Not only will GPS tracking provide accountability for drivers regarding deliveries, but it can also help reduce or eliminate property theft. The devices have been used to track everything from bicycles to laptop computers to shipping containers, and they have proven to be an effective way to prevent theft as well as to recover items that have been stolen. Private companies and law enforcement departments have both used tracking systems as part of their routine theft prevention and identification procedures. Some of the most common uses include the following:

Automobiles	Police officers use “bait vehicles” to identify car theft rings in a given area
Construction equipment	Construction companies track their equipment so it can be recovered if stolen from a job site
Shipping containers	Tracking devices ensure that a shipping container reaches its destination and that it can be found easily if stolen or misdirected
Cell phones	The GPS tracking chip located in every cell phone can help police track it down easily if it gets lost or stolen
Personal items	Laptops, jewelry, and other valuable items can be easily tracked when in transit by placing a GPS transmitter in the container
Bank robberies	Several bank thefts have been foiled by a GPS tracking unit included in the bag of money taken by the robber

Of course, these are just a few examples of items that can be tracked for the purpose of theft prevention. The water thefts in Mumbai carry greater significance in terms of how they affect daily life for the people who don’t receive what they should, but the goal of the tracking is the same. With GPS tracking, managers can easily determine where the shipment is going and stop improper use or theft based on accurate data.

Stopping Water Theft in Mumbai

Ultimately, preventing serious water thefts by tanker mafias depends on government officials having the information they need to identify the thefts and then taking the initiative to act on that information. Although GPS tracking can’t solve the problem of corrupt government officials, it can provide vital information to help turn the tide of tanker mafia thefts. Hydraulic officials in Mumbai plan to install the devices on all water tankers, including those operated by the private sector.

By taking action to install location-monitoring devices on each tanker, Mumbai officials demonstrate that they are serious about getting water to the communities that need it the most. GPS tracking has reached into numerous aspects of daily life across the world, and this is just one more way it can make a difference by protecting the valuable assets needed in rural communities around the globe.

Mumbai Officials Address Water Theft With GPS Tracking

Is There an Ethical Problem with Child GPS Tracking?

The smaller GPS trackers become, the greater their potential to become a legal football, passed between lawmakers and the judicial system of our country. We’ve already seen this battle begun in the contexts of law enforcement and employer-employee relations, and some people believe the next big GPS argument will center on tracking family members.

GPS Can Undoubtedly Save Vulnerable Lives

A tiny GPS tracker can give worried family members a way to secretly, unobtrusively, and safely monitor each other’s locations. The person being tracked could be a child headed to preschool for the first time; a preteen with unpredictable actions due to autism; a teenager who might be tempted to misuse the family car; a spouse who is suspected of cheating; or an elderly parent with dementia. Clearly, some of these situations are ethically questionable, but it is hard to argue with a person’s right to track their children or vulnerable elderly parents.

For a moment, let’s set aside the question of tracking people to catch them doing something wrong. Instead, let’s focus on safety-related tracking. Across the U.S. and in developed countries around the world, local police forces are encouraging people to start using GPS trackers with their children and seniors. Each time a senior wanders from home or an autistic child disappears from their house, police devote time and manpower toward finding them. If they could simply follow the tracker’s signal, they could find the missing person immediately—or the family could do the same and avoid contacting the police altogether.

Why Object?

Some groups are pushing back against the use of GPS trackers even for safety purposes. Admittedly, this is a small movement—most people acknowledge that it is fully ethical for a family to monitor the activity of its vulnerable members, even without their consent. However, the objectors look ahead to potential problems that could arise, such as:

• Tracking a senior who does not have dementia, thereby infringing on his privacy


• Monitoring the activity of an adult child without their knowledge


• Tracking a child who has been placed in the custody of someone else by the state

The objections to potential issues should not dissuade families who believe that GPS tracking can protect those they love who are in danger of wandering off. Time is one of the most critical factors when trying to recover a missing person, especially in extreme temperatures or bad weather. A GPS signal dramatically reduces the amount of time needed to track down a wanderer, not to mention the number of searchers needed.

Other Purposes

It’s easier to understand the objections that people raise when the purpose for tracking another person is questionable. In recent years, U.S. judges have ruled on a number of cases:

Year	Court	Question at Issue	Verdict
2012	U.S. Supreme Court	Can police track a suspected criminal without his knowledge?	Not without a search warrant
2013	New York State Court of Appeals	Can an employer track an employee without his knowledge to find out if he is lying about working?	Not if the tracking extends beyond work hours
2009	Court of Appeal of California	Can the state track a juvenile offender while on probation?	Yes
2011	New Jersey Appellate Court	Can a wife secretly place a tracker in her husband’s car?	Yes, but complicating factors could affect legality

In general, people should be careful about secretly tracking spouses, adult children, relatives, and acquaintances who themselves have a right to privacy. And they should always remember that, if they are tracking someone in order to try to gain evidence against them in court, that evidence will probably be thrown out unless it is supported by a search warrant. There is even a possibility that the defendant in such a case would turn it around and sue the plaintiff for breach of privacy.

The Horizon of GPS Tracking for Safety

While courts and lawmakers work to determine exactly where the line between legal and illegal tracking lies, it seems clear that GPS tracking products for keeping vulnerable people safe will become more common, smaller, and easier to use. Additional features that could help accomplish this goal include an alert system that would notify family members if the individual crossed a designated boundary; miniature trackers that could be embedded in eyeglasses or clothing; and linked communication devices that could allow family members to speak to the individual as soon as they begin wandering away.

As in many areas of family life, open communication can defuse many of the potential privacy problems with GPS tracking. A teen who knows the family car is equipped with a GPS tracker is likely to drive it responsibly. Children who know their parents are watching their cell phone location signal will probably not take side trips on their way home from school. And an honest conversation with an elderly loved one may be enough to convince her that that wearing a GPS tracker will help keep her safe, even if she does not suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Is There an Ethical Problem with Child GPS Tracking?

GPS Technology Used In IBM Smarter Cities Initiative

Anyone who’s lived in a big city, or just had experience traveling to or through one, knows that traffic can be difficult. GPS navigation systems have helped many travelers get from point to point, but it’s not much help during rush hour or if there’s been an accident on the highway. IBM is developing a Smarter Cities Initiative, using GPS tracking and other technology, to help improve traffic conditions in cities. “Given real time traffic conditions, we can predict what up to the next 60 minutes of traffic will look like in different parts of the network,” explained Naveen Lamba, associate partner and Smart Transport leader in IBM’s Global Business Services.

The story was first reported by Bert Latamore at the Silicon Angle blog. “One of the areas that we’re focussing on is treating the whole network as one integrated multimodal system instead of trying to optimize each mode on its own, which is how it’s done today,” Lamba said. “If there’s an accident on the road, can the transit system do something to alleviate that situation? For example, advising travelers to park and switch to public transportation where feasible. They can switch to a train and so on, and vice versa.”

“There are multiple solutions, and as many of them as you can deploy, you’ll be that much better off,” Lamba said. “Each city is unique in itself and has very specific needs… Most cities start with a specific problem to gain some efficiencies. It’s up to the city whether they want a cloud-based or hosted solutions, some of which depends on their existing infrastructure.”

“What we found is many cities have solutions that advise travelers of arrival and departure times on the bus stop, for example, the next bus will arrive in 12 minutes. And that counter will keep going down as the bus gets closer. But what ends up happening is those 12 minutes may take 18 minutes to tick down to zero if the bus got delayed at some point in its route, or may continue to show an arrival time of x number of minutes even if the bus has already arrived. This is what contributes to traveler frustration and a lack of trust in the system. To regain that trust is very hard. By increasing the arrival time accuracy, traveler satisfaction is improved.”

IBM’s Smart Cities Initiative has already been tested in a number of large cities around the world, including Dublin, Ireland. “In Dublin, solutions are being deployed continually, but the rate of increase in cars and traffic has continued to grow pretty fast. By the time a solution is deployed, traffic has outpaced those deployments. So it’s hard to measure improvements because by the time you implement a vertical type of solution, you’er not dealing with the same traffic you were when you started that solution.”

In the U.S., the trend of traffic conditions is actually going in the opposite direction. “Traffic is actually tapering off,” Lamba said of traffic conditions in the U.S.. “This allows you to deploy solutions and actually see some benefit out of it.” Although it might be hard to notice in places like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City, fewer people are commuting using personal vehicles. This makes testing different traffic improvement systems a lot easier.

“Analytics-based, data-driven technology platforms can help cities provide a higher level of service to their citizens while either keeping costs the same or actually even lowering them. We think it’s not going to be a choice. Cities will almost be forced into it because the demands on the city’s physical infrastructure are going to continue to increase as more and more people move to cities. In order to meet that demand, the physical infrastructure footprint is going to increase very slowly, so you have to use approaches like the Smarter Cities approach to be able to handle the higher demand.”

“There are also going to be sensors on the physical infrastructure itself. For example, an intersection would always know how many vehicles are approaching from which direction at what speed and would continually optimize the green signal timing so that the throughput through the intersection is maximized at all times.” Lamba added.

“The computing power, the analytics power, is greater than it has ever been,” Lamba explained. “The question is how you harness that capability to get the most out of existing assets that we have. How do you leverage all the data that’s out there and make quick actionable decisions that can improve the efficiency of a system? The goal is to adopt analytics-based solutions with a net effect similar to adding a lane to a highway, for example, but at a much lower price point and a much shorter period of time.”

GPS Technology Used In IBM Smarter Cities Initiative

GPS Devices Aid in Thwarting Bicycle Theft

Bicycle theft is sometimes viewed by the public at large—and, unfortunately, sometimes by law enforcement agencies themselves—as a sort of “lesser crime.” While everyone would agree bicycle theft isn’t on the same level of crime as physical assault, bank robbery, or even car theft, it should not be dismissed as an unimportant or insignificant crime. For many people, a bicycle represents a significant investment of money, and it is often not merely a recreational vehicle but someone’s primary means of transportation.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, in the 14 years following 1996 sales of bicycles in this country increased by nearly 20 percent. Why are bikes becoming increasingly popular? A number of factors contribute to it:

• Americans’ growing concerns over the environment and desire to reduce their carbon footprint as well as to reduce noise pollution


• Americans’ frustration with congested traffic


• People’s needs to exercise to reduce weight and lower their risk of heart disease and other health risks

While most people would agree that riding a bicycle is a good idea for many people, some people refrain from purchasing a bike because they are concerned that it may be stolen. Stolen bikes are often not reported. And they’re often not recovered. However, GPS technology is starting to change all of that.

Using GPS-Enabled Bikes as “Bait”

Police forces in locations in England, Canada, and the United States have instituted programs that use bicycles that are covertly equipped with GPS technology in order to apprehend bicycle thieves. Bikes that are GPS equipped can be continuously tracked from a central location as they move throughout an urban area, allowing police officers to apprehend thieves with the stolen item, catching them “red-handed.”

Generally these systems work the same way: police officers leave a GPS-equipped bicycle locked, but not very securely locked, in an obvious location and monitor their GPS screens from a remote location. Not only does this allow them to catch bike thieves, but it also provides additional data about crime patterns, the thief’s habitual haunts, and has led, in some cases, to the apprehension of criminals wanted for crimes much more serious than bicycle theft.

Virginia Tech: A Case Study

College campuses are popular places for bicycles—young students are often in good physical shape and enjoy riding them from the residence halls to classroom buildings, to the dining hall, and so on. Campuses can be too small to conveniently drive a car from here to there (and parking is nearly always a challenge on campus), but walking may take too much time or be too physically taxing. And, of course, a bicycle is a far more cost-efficient mode of transportation than is a car. All these reasons contribute to the popularity of bikes as a mode of campus transportation.

Unfortunately, the proliferation of bicycles on campuses also leads to increased problems with bicycle theft. In order to combat the problem, Virginia Tech’s on-campus police instituted a “bait-bike” program in 2013, using GPS-enabled bicycles. These bikes look like any other student bicycle and are mixed in with students’ bikes at bike racks across campus.

Virginia Tech (VT) has only one police officer for every 300 students, so being able to remotely track a stolen item has appeal for the force. Campus police recommend that students do the following to deter bike theft:

• Register the bike on campus


• Memorize or keep a copy of the bike’s serial number


• Use a high quality bike lock

VT campus police note that, as of September 2013, no one had actually stolen a GPS-equipped bait bike. But they credit the fact that fewer bikes have been stolen in 2013 than were in 2012, at least in part to the fact that the bait-bike program is widely known on campus. The program itself is an effective deterrent to theft.

Campus police also note that bike thieves are often repeat offenders and may have several bikes in their possession when they are apprehended. Other thieves, though, are not habitual offenders but may be merely “lazy students” looking for a quick ride across campus. They may not view their activities as “stealing” but as “borrowing without permission.” However, as far as campus security and the bicycle owners are concerned, “borrowing without permission” constitutes theft and can result in the loss of the bicycle to the owner and a significant financial burden to him—and prosecution for the perpetrator.

Larger-scale operations, such as construction companies and city vehicle fleets, could benefit from the same theft prevention strategy. Simply putting up notifications that GPS trackers are installed on vehicles may be enough to prompt potential thieves to move along in search of a different target instead of helping themselves to a new ride.

GPS Devices Aid in Thwarting Bicycle Theft

GPS Protected Public Transportation

Many of the American universities with long-standing reputations now reside landlocked within America’s cities, in areas that have been built up around the spreading institutions—only to move on and leave them behind as time goes on and economics fluctuate. GPS protection in many forms has already become common on campuses, the next step that naturally followed the security many felt with the mere ownership of a cell phone.

GPS Protection Projects

Some of the most effective GPS protective measures have focused on minors and the vulnerable. Common use of GPS for protection include a wide variety of devices and applications but all share the same goal and purpose.

GPS Device	Participant	Purpose
Chips in collars	Pets	Finding and retrieving lost pets before they come to harm
Tags and locators	Children	Ensuring safety while traveling to and from school or while in a crowd
Wristbands	Lone adventurers	Providing freedom for exploration with safety

The success of these various projects continues to inspire continued brainstorming on expanding uses for GPS to provide safety in a culture that seems increasingly dangerous and threatening. One logical expansion of this idea of safety and protection covers the vulnerability of college students attending universities in now dangerous parts of growing—or shrinking—cities.

GPS at Georgetown University

Already implemented in Georgetown earlier this year, a GPS app for the shuttle transportation NextGUTS has been successful in providing more accurate information to students and motorists in the surrounding area. Safety benefits of this system—as well as the many others that are being implemented across the country and around the world—include the following:

• Precise timing for meeting buses


• Accurate information for escorts


• More information for travel time

While these benefits are helpful for daytime services, Georgetown has recently realized that they are even more necessary for their nighttime service, SafeRide.

Already reflecting a concern for students out at night, Georgetown’s Department of Public Safety has decided to take another step toward providing students with much-needed protection in an area that has had over 290 reported crimes in the past two months.

Expanding GPS Benefits

Acknowledged by the Chief of Police and by several student advisory boards, the particular danger of nighttime transportation for college students studying and living in areas with high crime rates lies in the seclusion often experienced while waiting for even a reliable and much used services such as SafeRide. With the new app and GPS tracking program implemented for the nighttime service, students can access information using:

• Websites


• iPhones


• Androids

The precise information regarding the location of the service and the arrival time allows students to follow the instructions they’ve been given to wait in a safe and secure place—and still meet the transportation service when it arrives.

Improving GPS Protection

As universities, cities, counties, and individuals continue to apply GPS technology to increased protection, flexibility in the systems and applications seems absolutely necessary for improvements to be made on a continual basis. Some of the main features needed for any new implementation of GPS protection include soliciting and responding to feedback from users. Some of the suggestions already received from Georgetown students are in the process of implementation by Georgetown’s department of public safety:

Suggestion	Purpose
Eliminate phone call through the expanded use of the app	More efficient contact
Message generation from driver	Immediate notification of pick-up time

 

GPS App for Prime Protection

With the GPS tracking app for SafeRide and NextGUTS easily available for download from the iOS App Store or Google Play, students at Georgetown experience an immediate increase in safety on the streets. Using the inherent updating ability of apps in general, these GPS tracking apps enable continued improvements to current systems like those being used at Georgetown—and increasing opportunities for those looking to increase security.

The team at Georgetown has committed to providing updates and improvements on a regular basis as the app continues to be used by those who already keep SafeRide busy, providing over 1,000 rides a week to students concerned for their safety in a crime-heavy area.

Private Development of GPS Apps for Personalized Protection

As officials at Georgetown demonstrate, privatized development of specific apps opens great possibilities for the application of GPS technology to safety and protection. With possibilities as broad and wide as the limits of imagination, GPS apps can be created for customized needs of students in multiple communities.

But the application doesn’t just stop with students; as people in general become aware of the amazing access to immediate information and contact through GPS apps, apps tapping into this resource may just begin to explode.

With a touch of the screen, students in Georgetown—and perhaps soon kids on any given street—can call for immediate help in unsafe circumstances using GPS technology at their fingertips.

GPS Protected Public Transportation

Filling In the GPS Gaps

When a system like GPS becomes extremely popular and widespread in a short amount of time, it is easy to focus on its abilities. There are so many ways that GPS enhances our daily lives that we aren’t even aware of all of them. We take it for granted that we can tell our dashboard navigator where we want to go and it will lead us to the doorstep, however remote it might be. We assume that our smartphone will orient us in our precise location and direction, pointing us toward a new restaurant we want to try. But sometimes we come up against a shortcoming that takes us by surprise. If your destination is in deep in an urban area, for example, you might find your navigator getting confused. And as soon as you walk inside that new restaurant, your smartphone is likely to forget completely where you are. These GPS gaps are the next frontier for some groundbreaking technology developers.

An Example from Sports

Football teams across the U.S. have adopted GPS as a powerful training tool. A transmitter attached to a player’s jersey records a dizzying amount of data during practice, which helps coaches keep track of each player’s distance, average speed, and other important statistics. This routine has provided immense benefits on the practice field, but typical sports arenas are a global positioning system’s worst nightmare. The playing field is surrounded by high walls that interrupt a transmitter’s signal unless the satellite is directly overhead. Some stadiums even have retractable roofs that close during poor weather, cutting off access to satellites altogether. Is there a solution for coaches who want to gather activity data during games and stadium practice sessions?

The Locata Corporation has one. This Australia-based company focuses on the gaps in GPS coverage—indoor, urban, and other difficult areas. Their products also promise “backup” service in the event of a GPS failure. Locata has developed the following products, among others:

• An indoor locator that mimics GPS navigation for indoor vehicle crash testing


• A network that allows Air Force planes to navigate near their base even when GPS signal is intentionally jammed


• A gold mine navigation system


• “Safety net” navigation system in Sydney Harbor, providing accurate location signal in case GPS fails


• Athlete recording system that works within stadiums and indoor arenas

Not Global, but Local

Although users will inevitably refer to indoor positioning systems as “GPS,” they function using totally different technology. Instead of communicating with satellites above the earth, transmitters and receivers will connect with devices strategically placed around the designated area. This area could be as small as a floor of an office building or as large as Sydney Harbor.

The Locata Corporation hopes to gain a reputation as the world’s leader in local positioning technology. Here are the highlights of the company’s development thus far:

1994	Locata Corporation is founded
1997	Locata turns focus toward filling “GPS gaps”
2012	Contract with U.S. Air Force to construct positioning network at White Sands Missile Range

In order to fit as closely as possible with existing positioning technology, Locata hopes to build transmitters and receivers that will work seamlessly with GPS. In theory, a device such as a smartphone could use GPS when it is available, then switch to an indoor positioning network when necessary—all without the user being aware of the change. The devices built by Locata are still large and expensive, but the company’s founder anticipates that they will follow the example of GPS devices and quickly shrink in physical size and price. Before too many years are past, even the gaps in GPS coverage may disappear.

Getting Around the Stadium

Athletes, their coaches, and training staff members aren’t the only people who could benefit from a local positioning network inside a sports arena. Gift vendors, food stands, first aid stations, and restrooms are all ideal candidates for quick location by spectators, although GPS in its current form is not up to the task when an overhead roof is involved. Even finding your seats may someday be a simple matter of following an arrow on your smartphone display, just as you do when driving your car.

One major drawback, at least at first, is the fact that Locata’s system must be installed on an individual basis. Each shopping mall, stadium, skyscraper, and airport would have to invest in its own system, and it could be quite some time before the idea catches on sufficiently to serve users on a large scale. It may be that we are in for a technology race between two ideas: the local positioning network and a smaller, simpler device that could extend traditional GPS into indoor areas. The first invention to gain widespread use will certainly reap incredible benefits for its producers as it fills in those troublesome “GPS gaps.”

Filling In the GPS Gaps