Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Harriette Halepis

To a farmer, livestock is irreplaceable. Unfortunately, keeping track of a large farm can be rather impossible. Animals wander off, become hurt or injured, and often lose their way. This tends to result in livestock that is lost for good, which can often cut into a farmer’s pockets.

Thanks to innovative GPS technology, it is now possible to track farm animals using GPS trackers. Small tracking devices can be placed around an animals’ neck of hooves, which makes it possible for farmers to use GPS tracking software to keep virtual eyes on their animals at all times.

Tracking Other Animals

As beloved as farm animals are to a dedicated farmer, other farm pets are also important. Many farmers own numerous herding dogs as well as farm animals. These dogs often act to herd sheep, protect the farm, and keep farm animals from wandering astray.

When a farm herding dog becomes lost or injured, the entire farm suffers as a result. Using GPS tracking technology, herding dogs can now be tracked. By placing a GPS-equipped collar onto a farm dog, farmers can ensure that these much endeared pets won’t be lost, stolen, or injured.

Ensuring a Safe Farm

There’s nothing more important to a farmer than keeping a farm safe from harm. While GPS tracking technology is defenceless against animal predators, it can help farmers to find animals that are missing. Up until this point, farmers were forced to rely upon instincts in order to ensure animal safety.

Now, with the help of GPS technology, it is possible to keep an eye on all farm animals at all times. With the installation of GPS software, farm owners can monitor animals from inside of their home at all hours of the day – particularly helpful during the evening hours.

Farming technology has come a long way from its humble beginnings. With the dawn of new farming equipment, newer tactics, and innovative ideas, farming has become a high-tech way of life. By utilizing GPS technology, famers can now control every single corner of their farm – even if those corners can’t be seen by the naked eye.

In addition, the addition of GPS technology on a farm can help farmers to cut back on employee costs. While some farms employ farmhands to monitor animals, this can now be done by using effective GPS technology.

By Greg Bartlett

Vehicle thefts are on the rise and law enforcement departments sometimes struggle with the best way to curtail the problem. Cars and motorcycles make likely targets for theft because they are high dollar commodities that can easily be resold. Venues that attract large crowds such as the bike weeks that take place on the east coast each year are breeding grounds for theft rings. Motorcycles can be stolen and dismantled quickly and thieves can sell parts on the black market for a quick profit. However, some law enforcement agencies have chosen to combat the problem by using one of the most effective tools on the market today: GPS tracking.

GPS tracking allows the location of a vehicle or object to be monitored remotely on a computer or other receiving device. The transmitter sends a signal to the receiving device which can be viewed in real time or as a report detailing location at given intervals. Other vital information such as speed and direction of travel or number and length of stops en route can be viewed as well. Officers can know for sure that the vehicle in question is the one that was stolen, rather than a look-alike, and they can follow its whereabouts accurately within a few feet.

In order to break up established theft rings, some police departments have begun using vehicle plants, known as bait vehicles, to attract thieves. These vehicles are generally high dollar options that would appear to be an easy target. By attaching a GPS tracking device to the bait vehicle, police can follow its progress after it is stolen with the hopes that it will lead them to the ringleaders responsible for recent thefts. The web based technology saves the department time, money, and manpower since multiple vehicles can be tracked by one person at a computer rather than by designating someone to tail each theft. Rather than relying on guesswork and a certain amount of luck, departments can gain the upper hand and go into each situation equipped with accurate information.

Law-abiding citizens shouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of theft each time they go to a special event. The GPS tracking used by law enforcement agencies helps make it possible for honest people to enjoy a well-deserved vacation and for police officers to perform their jobs more quickly and accurately than would otherwise be possible.

By Greg Bartlett

It’s a well-known fact that teen drivers are among some of the most dangerous drivers on the road. More teens die in car crashes each year than from any other cause, and fatality rates among teen drivers are four times higher than those for older drivers. The reasons for these statistics are varied. Much of the problem can be attributed to inexperience in knowing what to do in a risky situation.

What you don't know can hurt everyone!

It’s also true, however, that teens engage in more risky behaviors such as speeding and running red lights than their older and more experienced fellow drivers. Problems like these have caused insurance rates for teen drivers to skyrocket, but fortunately for parents, some insurance companies are beginning to take a second look at the problem. Companies such as SafeCo have begun offering GPS tracking based programs that allow parents to receive an insurance discount for their teens.

The programs use a GPS tracking device installed in the car to monitor teen driving behavior. Parents can set maximum speed limits or mileage limits for their teens and the device will send them a text message if the limits are exceeded. In this way, parents can monitor their teen’s habits and instigate a discussion before an accident happens. They can also view data such as location, stops made, and destination arrival times via online software.

Parents have more reasons than just lower insurance premiums to keep an eye on teen driving habits. More than 7000 teens have car accidents that involve a fatality each year and over 5000 of those deaths were the teens themselves. While some have expressed concerns about privacy, many parents and teens agree that GPS tracking is a basis for trust, not for snooping. Safety is of primary importance and parental knowledge of teen habits is a great way to build trust in the ability of a teen to act responsibly behind the wheel of a car. When mistakes happen, parents can assess the situation knowledgeably and discuss with their teens ways of making a better decision next time.

The moment a teen gets behind the wheel of a car by himself for the first time can be a cause of either pride or panic in the heart of a parent. With GPS tracking, parents can take advantage of the opportunity to allow their sons and daughters the independence they crave, while at the same time providing a cushion of safety and accountability.

by James Neely - freelance writer for hire

How many ways can GPS Tracking devices assist your asset tracking efforts? Let us look at some of the more compelling ones. GPS Tracking helps a business keep track of their assets that are out-of-sight. This means that they are great for businesses with large outdoor operations.

Here are a few of these businesses: golf course management, amusement parks, farming operations, maritime businesses, lawn maintenance businesses, taxi businesses, public transportation companies, delivery businesses, and a the list goes on.

Tracking & Maintenance Software

GPS Tracking has now made its way into these businesses because of the advantages that it offers to those who use them:

Fewer employees keeps payroll low. With higher expenses comes ways to decrease them in order to keep profit margins high. This means learning how to use technology to your advantage. Just like toll-free phone numbers and automated attendants have revolutionized the way businesses interact with their callers, so too has GPS Tracking devices changed the landscape for business operations. It now is possible for just one employee to manage many assets by him/herself. It makes sense because of the options presented.

Saves money on fuel costs. The cost of fuel keeps going up and down. Right now, the cycle is in an upward trend, so it makes sense to do what it takes to keep fuel costs low. The way to do this is to closely monitor company vehicle usage to make sure it is in compliance with known and stated business objectives.

Saves money on insurance premiums. Insurance companies are looking for ways to protect their profits and GPS Tracking devices are one answer. When a GPS Tracking device is installed into a vehicle, it affords the owner the ability to track with incredible precision (to within several meters). This means that if the vehicle is stolen, the exact location can be submitted to the authorities to help with recovery efforts. Insurance companies win because they do not have to pay off a loan. You win by getting your vehicle back for your use.

It is becoming more and more common to find GPS Tracking devices in items that have never before been explored in the ability to provide security and safety as well. These reasons along with the ones above give businesses an edge over their competition and keep profits flowing with little interruption. You should begin using these devices today. It is a decision that you will not regret.

By Greg Bartlett

The 911 dispatchers just received a call. There’s a fire on the outskirts of town. Now the dispatchers have to determine which fire truck is closest to the fire and alert it to head out immediately. But there’s another call, this time an accident that requires a least one ambulance. Dispatchers must locate the nearest ambulance and get it there right away if the victim’s life is to be saved. And yet another call, a bank robbery. Which police officers are closest to the bank and could arrive in time to stop the robbers?

In emergency calls, a minute could mean the difference between life and death. So every minute between a 911 call and the time the emergency vehicle arrives on scene is vital. With GPS monitoring, dispatchers no longer have to guess about which vehicle is closest – they can know.

And emergency response personnel no longer have to rely on memory to find the fastest route to an emergency site – the GPS device will find it for them.

A number of cities are beginning to use GPS monitoring to keep track of emergency vehicles so that dispatchers can send the closest vehicle, cutting down on response time and thus saving lives. Dispatchers can monitor emergency vehicles in real time, and when a call comes in, it only takes a moment to locate the nearest appropriate vehicle. Knowing the precise location of each emergency vehicle also allows dispatchers and drivers to find the fastest way to the emergency site.

GPS tracking has become popular with police departments, who recognize that GPS can provide safety for their officers, monitoring them even while they are in dangerous situations, and also help decrease response time to emergency calls.

One fire department in Georgia uses GPS monitoring on their vehicles and on their fire hydrants. When a fire is reported, fire fighters can find the fastest way to the site, but they can also know exactly where the nearest active hydrant is before they arrive.

Using the GPS devices has already increased efficiency and cut down on response time and the time it takes to hook up to a hydrant.

Decreasing the response time to a 911 call is critical and can save lives. If emergency vehicles are equipped with GPS monitoring, dispatchers can help fire trucks reach the fire faster, ambulances to arrive at the accident scene within minutes, and patrol cars to show up in time to capture the bank robbers.

By Greg Bartlett

How much do you really want someone to follow you and find out everything you’re doing, even if it is perfectly legitimate? Sometimes this age of technology can be disturbing, especially when the options that some items such as GPS devices offer may invade privacy to an unacceptable degree.

Many GPS devices allow the owner or person monitoring the item, vehicle, or individual to track every movement. For instance, a GPS tracking device in a vehicle will tell you where the car went, how fast it was traveling, every stop it made, how long it was at each stop, and, well, pretty much everything. Some parents like to use GPS tracking devices to monitor their teens, while other individuals want to find out where their car or their spouse has been.

Companies need to know where their drivers and vehicles are and use GPS to help manage their fleets. For most of these, the monitored individual is aware and willing to be tracked, or if not, the individual tracking him or her has the right to do it – such as putting a device in your own car whether or not the driver is aware and consenting to the device’s presence.

The privacy issue, for most people, arises when police use GPS devices to track a suspect. GPS tracking can provide police with a plethora of information, and it doesn’t take the police a lot of time or energy to get that information. The GPS device does most of the work for them. As the number of individuals arrested and brought to court because of evidence collected through GPS monitoring rises, more courts are struggling over the issue of warrantless tracking of individuals.

Do the police have the right to ignore an individual’s privacy and track the individual with GPS without a warrant?

The courts still aren’t in complete agreement about whether warrantless GPS tracking is legal. Some courts have ruled against warrantless tracking, saying that it violates state constitutions and the reasonable expectation of privacy. However, other courts have claimed that no warrant is needed to track a vehicle with GPS tracking.

Setting people’s minds at ease about whether or not their privacy will be invaded is simple – get a warrant first. Because of the necessary precautions the police must take first to obtain a warrant, most individuals are willing to let GPS devices be used to track people – including themselves – if the expectation of privacy is protected through a warrant.

By Greg Bartlett

GPS tracking has exploded in the last several years and many options are available which may leave some people confused about which system will work the best for them. Let’s take some time to compare and contrast cell phone tracking and vehicle tracking devices.

All cell phones can be tracked for emergency purposes as required by federal law because of the September 11 tragedies. Approximate geographic location can be determined, but this is not as accurate as actual GPS trackers and can only be accessed by law enforcement officers in an emergency.

Satellite and Stratosphere

In order to get GPS tracking added to the phone package, the cell phone in question must have internet capabilities and the cell phone owner must agree to the tracking. GPS tracking on cell phones is not as detailed as vehicle tracking devices. Cell phones only give location, whereas vehicle tracking devices can also give speed, and information about where and how long the vehicle was parked. Cell phone GPS is also reliant on cell phone reception which is not always available. The cell phone must also be turned on for the tracking to work. Someone who does not want to be tracked can keep the cell phone off and remain untraceable. It is also possible that the cell phone user could tamper with the phone in a way that would hinder tracking.

Passive vehicle tracking devices (those that are removed from the vehicle and plugged into a computer to transfer information) are the most economical option. Cell phone and vehicle tracking prices depend greatly on the specific company’s contract, but they are more expensive than passive systems which only have the purchase price not a monthly contract fee.

However, cell phone tracking does have its advantages. Teenagers and others that you desire to track are not always in their vehicles. If a parent is concerned for the safety of their teenager or child who likes to bike to friends’ houses and around the neighborhood, a GPS device on a cell phone would clearly be the best option. Also, if a teenager was to be abducted while at the mall or another similar location, the car would remain parked and it could take the parents several hours to discover that anything was wrong. In this circumstance, a cell phone tracking system would be more useful.

In the next few years, GPS-enabled cell phones will continue to improve, but for now, vehicle tracking devices are clearly the most accurate and reliable systems to use.

by James Neely - freelance writer for hire

If your dog ventures out a lot unsupervised, then you know how easy it is for them to wander away and not to return until later. Sometimes they do not come home ever again. These realities are what are forcing some dog owners to look at various solutions for answers.

True, a good dog collar with a tag that includes all of the pets’ information is a good start. But what if the dog is not in an area where there are houses and people? What happens if the tag comes off of the collar? What if the pet is stolen?
You can get the answer to your question of where your dog is with a GPS pet tracking device. Here are the benefits of using one of these devices:

Sends alerts with geo-fencing. Should your pet stray beyond where they should be, you would get an alert via the geo-fencing option. Then you can look at the data to see which direction they are headed.

Allows you to see where they have been. Once the dog has returned, you can get data on where they have been. Dogs can develop habits of going to the same places. This is especially true if there is food involved. Or perhaps a companion dog is a draw for your pet.

Location if they are lost. Should your dog become lost, you can know the location of him/her within a few meters of their actual location. This allows you to go to the area and begin a search in a relatively confined area. Your chances of finding your dog are high.

Pet owners understand the importance of maintaining control of where your dog is at all times. You can make this job easier with a GPS pet tracking device. The RMT PT-200 GPS product makes this a breeze. It is the smallest device available and comes with collar options for your dog.

These devices are very valuable for dog owners who live in rural areas and live on large tracts of land such as farms. In fact, if you have other animals that are important to keep track on their movements (horses, maybe?), then you should consider adding a GPS pet tracking device to them as well.

Knowledge is power and it keeps you in control of your pets and their location. You will have to look far to find a better solution. And, the cost is affordable as well. Consider one of these for your pet today.

by James Neely - freelance writer for hire

With warmer weather in the upper states comes the desire to get out and exercise more.  Running is a common physical workout for many people.  The cardiovascular workout is hard to beat.  The investment in clothes and shoes is minimal.  There are no monthly dues or fees.  And you get to experience the great outdoors at the same time.

There are inherent risks in running that should not be ignored.  These include rude drivers on streets and roads, unfettered dogs that chase after you, and even weather.

One item that runners should add to their regimen to help increase safety is a GPS Tracking device.  Here’s why:

Track progress.  If you have not yet mapped out your running circuit, then you might not know the distances which you are running.  A GPS tracking device maps your running for you so that you know exactly what distances you are running and the time that it takes you to complete your route.  This helps promote consistency of distances and times.  You can compare your times and find out how much improvement you have made over a period of time.  This becomes especially important if you are a runner that competes in marathons and mini-marathons.

Safety and security.  Having the ability to locate you in case of a problem is priceless to those who are interested in your whereabouts during your running times.  You never know what circumstances you might encounter, so it is better to be prepared than not.

Map out running routes.  Mapping out different running routes helps you to be able to run different routes so that they do not become mundane.  Also, different terrain offers different challenges to runners.  Routes that have a lot of hills add time to your runs and supply resistance which helps your body become stronger.  But, you might not want to run that route all of the time.  Or maybe run a shorter route when you do.  With a GPS tracking device, you can print out your maps and compare them and make decisions according to the data presented.

Track marathon races.  If you are into the marathons, you can track your races along with the times.  Yes, these are kept for you in the race, but you can compare your own data to see which is more accurate.  Keep a log of all of your races and use the data supplied on the GPS tracking device as your primary source of information.  You will become used to it and comfortable using it over anything else.

There are several GPS tracking devices available, but the Tracking Key is one that you should consider if you are a runner.

By Harriette Halepis

There’s nothing new about teens being truant. In fact, it’s practically a rite of passage for teens to skip school once in awhile. However, the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) doesn’t quite see it that way. Instead of trying to guess where truant teens may be located, this school district is relying upon GPS trackers to do all the work for them.
 
One school within the district has a particularly high dropout rate (15%), which has prompted the district to do something about teens that dare to skip class. Using this school as a sort of “test school,” the students of Bryan Adams High School are presently getting a crash course in GPS tracking.
 
The Plan

Six students from Bryan Adams High School have been chosen to participate in the new GPS test program. These students have been fitted with GPS trackers similar to the ones worn by those under police house arrest.
Each student has been assigned a case worker that effectively tracks all movements and daily activities. In addition, these case workers help family members to work with their teens in order to avoid truant behaviour.
 
The Cost

There’s nothing cheap about the $26,000 that the district has spent equipping these six students with GPS tracking devices. However, when that amount is compared to the amount of money lost due to drop-outs, and the amount of money it costs to place truant teens in a detention facility, the initial investment might actually be worth it.
On the flip side, there is another cost to think about – the cost of a student’s privacy. Many truant teens have various other problems occurring in their lives that have nothing to do with school. Home life, drugs, full-time jobs, and other factors play a large part in not arriving on time for school.
 
How Important Is School?

While some people believe that the new GPS tracking program is a good idea, others believe that it is a basic violation of human rights. As one Texas legal authority recently stated: “… ankle cuffs used in an earlier version were reminiscent of slave chains (NY Times).”
 
Is school attendance so important that truant teens should be tracked like those under house arrest? Or, is there another reason why some districts might want to begin tracking teens? Some believe that the true underlying cause of tracking students lies with the fact that districts that lose students due to truancy often lose a large portion of money that is given to the district. Does this new GPS tracking plan violate students’ rights?