Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Greg Bartlett

Most people enjoy the anticipation of waiting for a package to come in the mail, wondering if today is the day it will finally arrive. Many mail carriers now offer the ability to roughly determine where the package is via internet websites. And during the holiday season, package ordering increases as people hurry to buy gifts for their friends and family. Then they have to sit back and wait, wondering if the gift will arrive on time. Where is it? Is it across the country? In your state? In your town?

GPS & Package Tracking

Some customers are just curious about the location of their packages, but some are nervous and are watching carefully to ensure that their package arrives on time and undamaged. Since visits to mail carriers’ websites has increased drastically due to the holiday shipments, sometimes the websites may have too many people and either be slow or even down because everyone wants to know where his or her package is. And calling may not help any, either, since you’ll probably just end up on hold for too long.

Thankfully, some mail carriers are trying to meet customers’ curiosity about the location of their packages. Fedex is one carrier who is now using GPS tracking for its packages. Fedex’s system is called SenseAware, and tracks your package in real-time so that you know the exact location of your package whenever the need arises or your curiosity just gets piqued. The GPS tracking device even senses temperature changes and exposure to light, in addition to whether or not the package has been opened.

Obviously, this type of package locating will be useful for consumers. Now you don’t get to just find out when your package shipped and maybe what stops it’s made, you can know exactly where it is right now. GPS tracking permits you to see if your gift is going to arrive on time and what time of day it will arrive, allowing you to ensure that you’re at the house when it is delivered.

Any time you’ve ordered a package, knowing exactly where the package is will increase your peace of mind and, during the holidays, help you to know whether or not the package containing your Christmas gift is going to arrive on time. If your mail carrier uses GPS tracking, you’ll be able to monitor everything about the package, including its exact location, satisfying curious and nervous customers alike!

By Greg Bartlett

Graffiti has been a problem around the world for many years. Many young people with too much time on their hands find it enjoyable to vandalize the property of others with their graffiti “art”. Unfortunately, since most of the time graffiti appears during the night, law enforcement officers have not been able to stop it from occurring.

GPS and Graffiti

However, a new solution has been tested and proven to work in Escondido, California. Believe it or not, a GPS tracking device is being used to catch graffiti artists. This seems puzzling. How can a tracking device that sends out signals to a satellite to report its location be helpful in discovering who is involved in vandalizing local stores? What could the GPS tracking device be used to track?

The answer may not be obvious, but it is a fairly simple one. The law enforcement officers in Escondido, California purchased a special digital camera with GPS tracking location technology. When the camera is used to photograph the acts of graffiti around the town, the GPS tracking system inside records the date, time, and exact location of that graffiti. This information can then be downloaded onto a computer for analyzing.

Since most graffiti artists vandalize stores and city property around their own homes, this GPS tracking enabled camera can be used to draw a circle of crimes around the vandal’s home. Many stores in Escondido, in fact, spend up to $300 every week cleaning graffiti off of their walls, only to have it reappear a few days later. The fact that these stores are considered favorite graffiti locations is proof that they are within a short distance of the graffiti artist’s home.

Eventually, the law enforcement officers receive enough information to notice patterns in the graffiti. With the assistance of an art expert who has some knowledge of graffiti, they can identify particular instances of vandalism as being from the same person. This is important, because it allows them to change a young vandal with as many of their crimes as possible, instead of just the one that the individual was arrested for. Charging vandals with more crimes means that businesses can recover more of the money that they have spent fixing up their stores after they have been vandalized.

In the last year, the amount that local businesses have received for vandalism has increased by almost ten times.
Thanks to GPS tracking devices, graffiti artists around the world will have to face the charges for their crimes and repay the city and local businesses for the damage that they have caused.

By Harriette Halepis

Gone are the days when children went to bed wondering when Santa would be landing on the rooftop. Today’s tech-savvy kids can do far better than imagination - GPS trackers have Santa pegged, and tracking him is as easy as logging onto a website (www.noradsanta.org).

Tracking Santa

Kids and parents all around the world will now be able to track Santa’s movements thanks to the Internet and GPS capabilities. While it may seem impossible, Santa is now under constant surveillance thanks to a group of people known as NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command).

NORAD has teamed up with On Star to create an in-car Santa tracker. Using GPS technology, children of all ages will be able to watch as Santa flies around the globe. On Star subscribers will be automatically allowed to track Santa’s every move. If you don’t have On Star, don’t worry - Santa’s movements will also be recorded on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and Google Earth.

The fun doesn’t start until December 24^th, but many kids around the globe are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa. So, when will Santa be coming to your town? Well, tune into your On Star Santa station in order to find out - one thing’s for sure, Santa won’t be able to get away with any wasted work time this year!

By Greg Bartlett

During times of economic hardship, thefts tend to increase as financial problems create pressure. Portable items with high resale value such as laptops and other electronic devices make prime targets and many people are looking for ways to ensure that their high dollar items are protected. Equipping your valuables with a GPS tracking device offers an efficient way to keep tabs on them and to increase chances of recovery in the event of theft.

GPS & Burglaries

A GPS tracking transmitter placed inside a laptop bag will send signals to your home computer at specified intervals, allowing you to see its location at any time. By logging onto a website, you can view location in real time or you can print out a report that notes movement throughout the course of the day. In the event of theft, this information can prove invaluable to a police investigation. Officers report that the chances of recovery for an item protected with a GPS tracking device increase exponentially over items that do not have that protection.

While law enforcement officers are committed to doing everything in their power to handle each case of theft quickly and efficiently, it simply is not possible for them to follow every lead. Man power and time limitations place restrictions on how quickly and how thoroughly they can investigate any given case. When you can give them exact location information from your GPS tracking device, however, they can send an officer directly to the location of the item to begin recovery procedures.

No one likes to think about being the victim of theft, and many people assume that locked doors and alarms will be enough to deter thieves. The truth, however, is that determined criminals are rarely deterred by conventional locks and alarms. Even if an alarm does go off, by the time police arrive on the scene, the thief has had plenty of time to leave the area. When you equip your valuables with a GPS tracking device, however, you take control of the situation and gain significant advantage over a would-be thief.

Anyone with valuables that would be difficult or impossible to replace in the event of theft should consider equipping those possessions with a GPS tracking device. In the event of theft, it may make the difference between stopping a criminal and suffering expensive loss. With GPS tracking on your side, you’ll experience peace of mind in knowing that your most valuable possessions are protected, no matter what.

By Harriette Halepis

Handing out cans of soup to the homeless has gone high-tech with a little help from GPS tracking systems. Food banks across the United States have begun to track food donations using GPS trackers in an effort to make food delivery more efficient.

Food Banks & GPS

While canned foods and frozen foods are certainly welcome in any food bank, many food bank managers are trying to provide healthier meals for those in need. By collecting unsold fresh meat from butchers, vegetables from farmers, and other healthy staples from community members, food banks have discovered a way to help diminish hunger in a healthier fashion.

The only problem is that delivering fresh goods within a large city such as New York City or Chicago can prove to be difficult – this is where GPS tracking comes in. By mapping efficient routes, making sure that all people are reached, and tracking the speed of delivery trucks, food can be quickly dispersed throughout large cities.

This type of food plan is already in place in many large cities, and it’s proving to be a very fast way to send healthier foods to the downtrodden. The rest of the world seems to be on a raw food, local food, slow food kick, so why shouldn’t people who need food the most be able to live healthy lives? Well, with the help of GPS tracking technology, a healthier life (no matter what your income may be) is now possible.

By Greg Bartlett

GPS tracking began as a military aid and was used to help keep track of troop and vehicle movements. With such lofty beginnings, you may be wondering how the technology can help you. We’re all aware of the GPS navigational devices that direct you to your desired destination, but what about the tracking devices? Are they invasions of privacy, or do they have real benefit for average consumers?

GPS Tracking Products

GPS tracking devices provide benefit for people in all walks of life. Far from being a privacy hazard, they ensure safety and can even save lives. Your choice to equip yourself and your loved ones with a GPS tracking device could be the choice that prevents tragedy from finding a foothold in your family. GPS tracking personal safety devices come in many forms, from a transmitter than can be clipped to a backpack or belt to wristwatches. Your lifestyle will determine the type of transmitting device that works best for you. People who do a lot of outdoor hiking, walking, or biking might enjoy a wristwatch that not only tracks location but also monitors heart rate and fitness progress. Parents of small children may want to purchase a small device that can be clipped to the child’s clothing or backpack and that would be more difficult to detect by a would-be kidnapper.

Whatever device you choose, keeping track of your loved ones is simple. The transmitter sends a signal to your computer or other receiving device at specified intervals, allowing you to observe its location. Most devices are accurate to within a few feet, and some narrow the margin of error down to inches. You’ll be able to log on to your computer at any time and check on the location of your child or spouse whether they’re late getting home or whether you just need reassurance. Some models also come equipped with an alert button that can be pressed by the wearer in case they need help. You’ll receive an email or text message letting you know they’ve sent you an alert, and you can immediately locate them and provide help.

Purchasing a GPS tracking device for your loved ones can provide peace of mind and a level of safety that is not attainable any other way. No one likes to think of the dangers that could present themselves at any moment, but it’s better to be prepared for the worst than to wish you had taken preventative measures after it’s too late.

By Greg Bartlett

So, you’re a teen, and you don’t always think through the consequences of every action. And this summer, when your friends suggested breaking into a house and getting a few items – for fun – you said okay. Not a big deal, right? You get a little money out of it, but the people don’t lose much, and it’s just for fun.

But there’s bad news. The police just showed up on your front door, and they’re here to arrest you. But no one saw you, so how could they even know? The answer’s fairly simple. One of the items you stole was a television, and the owners had installed a GPS tracking system which allowed them to notify police the moment the television was stolen. Police officers then tracked you right to where you were sitting, enjoying the profits of your venture. And there’s more bad news. The courts really don’t care that it was just for fun. You’re still going to jail.

There is some slightly good news: you’re not alone. Burglars in Florida recently learned the hazards of stealing items with GPS tracking devices when they stole furniture and appliances from a home. The owner notified police the moment his possessions were moved and the police captured the burglars, recovering the stolen items and returning them to their proper owner.

And burglars in Tennessee ran into the same problem. They had been systematically going through rental cabins and taking whatever they wanted, until what they wanted was a flat screen television – a lot like the one you took. Police used the GPS tracking information to catch the burglars, put a stop to the theft, and return the property to the rental cabins.

Actually, a lot of people are starting to use GPS devices to track their possessions, especially expensive ones, appliances, and other items that are often targeted during burglaries. And in the rush of going through a house and trying to get out before someone sees you, you probably won’t have time to go through each item meticulously to determine whether or not it has one of the small devices hidden somewhere on it.

So, yeah, if you really want to have fun this summer, reconsider your decision to burglarize houses. Not only is it wrong and illegal, but the chances of your being caught have risen. And with GPS tracking devices possibly hidden on items, do you really want to take the chance?

By Harriette Halepis

Since 2005, Dr. Henrik Rasmussen (in collaboration with Save the Elephants) has been using GPS tracking technology to follow Marsabit elephants. These elephants have eluded researchers for quite some time, and GPS data is proving that previous notions may have been entirely false.

Up until a few years ago, researchers thought that the Marsabit elephants spent most of their time in the forest. However, this is not the case. Thanks to GPS data, researchers now know that these elephants actually spend a very limited amount of time in the forest.

In addition, researchers have discovered that these elephants only use a small portion of the mountain where they live to graze. This information is in stark contrast to the earlier hypothesis that the elephants used the entire expanse of the mountain for grazing purposes.

Why does any of this information matter? By knowing more about wild animals, researchers can help to protect them from their environment. In addition, some wild animals need protecting from humans, which is an entirely different reason why GPS tracking is vital to the animal world.

The Marsabit elephants live in Kenya, which happens to be an area of the world where elephants are not entirely safe from humans. While ranger patrols try and stop any poaching activity, this is not always possible. With the help of live GPS tracking, researchers are not only able to keep an eye on the elephant’s patterns, but they can also spot any poaching activity.

By simply monitoring the Marsabit elephants, the Save the Elephants group has made Kenya a safer place for these animals. Save the Elephants works with the Environmental Systems Research (ESR) Institute in order to keep track of the elephants. The ESR provides real time tracking capabilities that have changed the way that researchers keep tabs on these wild creatures.

While real time GPS tracking proves to be quite useful for researchers, this technology can also be used by the public. By logging onto the Save the Elephants website, individuals can also watch the Marsabit elephants go about their daily lives in real time.

GPS Tracking is used all over the world to protect numerous species. Thanks to this innovative technology, animals that might have faced extinction are now being protected. The information that a GPS tracker provides is priceless…both for the lives of animals and for the lives of future generations that will be able to enjoy them for many years to come.

By Harriette Halepis

The UK Sekonda RS Feva National Regatta is a major event amongst sailing enthusiasts and fans alike. Sailing has become extremely popular as of late, with more than fifty boats expected to enter the Regatta by race day.

In order to appease anxious fans, all of the boats that are part of the RS Feva Regatta will be equipped with GPS tracking devices. These devices will allow fans to track the progress of favourite boats from the comfort of their own homes.

As soon as the GPS tracking has been activated, a web link that can be accessed by all fans will be announced on the Class Association site. This is big news for Regatta fans that (up until this point) had to rely on post-dated news in order to find out where each boat stood in the race.

Thanks to GPS tracking technology, all boat performances will now be tracked live online. While there has been some controversy surrounding GPS technology in the news lately, this Regatta proves that the devices do, indeed, have many unique purposes.

The GPS trackers that will be onboard the regatta boats are waterproof, sturdy, and able to withstand harsh winds, mighty waves, and the occasion dousing of salty water. No matter what course a boat might be on, fans across the world will be watching the race online.

In addition to being a great way to keep up with race statistics, the trackers onboard each boat will also provide emergency crews with exact locations should an accident occur. While it is expected to be smooth sailing for most contestants, accidents can occur during any boat race.

Should a boat veer off course, rescuers will be able to locate any boat with the help of each GPS tracker. This assurance is something that has never been present before, but it is a welcomed addition. Needless to say, both crews and fans are thrilled at the new technological addition to this traditional race.

Thus far, the competition already signed up for the Feva Regatta is looking rather stiff. With more competitors expected to make the sign-up deadline, fans can expect a great show this time around. If you can’t make it to the regatta, make sure to monitor all the race action online.

by James Neely - freelance writer

Imagine trying to maintain control over a herd of animals in the jungle with no tools or method of watching and following along. That is the same frustration faced by managers of vehicle fleet operations on a daily basis. It is like operating a business in the dark. You cannot see what you have and where it is located.

The advantages of a GPS Tracking system takes off your blinders and gives you binoculars in helping to follow your assets as they traverse the landscape that makes up your business jungle.

Fleet of Delivery Trucks Utalize GPS

Set up boundaries. Virtual fences can be set by your system. You can know instantly when an asset is out of the established areas via alerts that you create.

Promotes responsible and safe driving. Your fleet drivers are varied in their experience and level of alertness to their driving. Their skills can be addressed, but the ability to keep them in ‘view’ all day helps you judge their job performance on an intricate basis. Just knowing that they are being watched helps promote adherence to laws and rules.

Slows down your drivers. When they know that they are under constant surveillance, they are more responsible on the roadways as well. You can show them that speeding not only places them in jeopardy of getting a moving violation ticket, but also does little to help them increase the speed at which they complete their routes.

Makes efficient delivery schedules. GPS Tracking allows you to create efficient routes and stops for your fleet. You might find yourself creating all new routes based upon the data that is provided from these systems.

Confirms stops. You no longer have to ask about completing stops by your drivers. You will know from the reports generated by the system where they were and how long it took them in completing their tasks.
Makes for accurate billing. Your invoices can include summaries of routes and times. This helps you maintain a level of service that has not been possible in the past. Customers appreciate it as well.

Prevents compliance complaints. When you are able to show compliance to contractual obligations with evidence that is admissible in a court of law, any complaints are few and far between and are easily deflected. Also, if there is a violation, it can be addressed head-on and restitution can be made. This tells the customer that you are not above making mistakes and are willing to make changes to help insure that it does not happen again.

There are so many incredible advantages of GPS Tracking systems for fleet operations that it is unimaginable how a business such as this can operate without them in place. Your business depends upon the advantages of these systems. You will be glad that you incorporated them and wonder why it took so long to do so.