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