Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Greg Bartlett

For some time now, law enforcement departments have been using GPS tracking to monitor the movements of certain paroled criminals, such as sex offenders, to ensure that they are not violating the terms of their parole. The ability to keep tabs on their whereabouts at all times reduces the likelihood that these criminals will commit additional criminal acts once they have been released from prison. As more uses for GPS tracking come to light, greater usage can be expected to be implemented by law enforcement to help them perform their duties more efficiently.

GPS Tracking & Criminals

One Maryland county is now considering a bill that would extend GPS tracking monitoring to some individuals who have a protective order filed against them. If the individual has a history of not complying with protective orders, he could be required to wear a GPS monitoring device in an effort to provide greater protection to victims of domestic violence. Officers could set up perimeters for an “exclusion zone” that would set off an alarm if crossed by the GPS wearer. Legitimate reasons to enter this area could be called in ahead of time. Protective orders have a dubious history of actually preventing domestic violence from occurring, since it’s nearly impossible for police to watch the offender at all times. GPS tracking makes greater monitoring possible and puts a priority on the safety of the victim. If approved, Washington County would begin a pilot program that would last for two years before determining whether the practice should be instituted.

One of the greatest benefits of using GPS tracking to monitor criminals is that it allows law enforcement departments to do a better job of monitoring potentially dangerous individuals while at the same time reducing their need for additional resources. Jobs that formerly required many officers and many hours on the clock can now be accomplished by the tracking devices, needing only one officer to monitor the computer and respond to any alerts. This allows departments to make the best use of limited funds and to do a better job protecting the community at the same time.

As police departments constantly seek better ways to ensure the safety of crime victims, GPS tracking has consistently delivered stellar results. There will undoubtedly continue to be new ideas and options brought to the table and as they are, the hope is that GPS tracking can help make every community a safer place to live.

By Greg Bartlett

Despite our current technological advances, there are still many animals about which people just don’t know enough.  For instance, scientists often lack information about endangered species, which could help preserve the animals and prevent their extinction.  Following these animals around in the wild to observe them and gather information is often just not feasible, partly because the animal may be dangerous or may travel too quickly, and partly because the environment and weather may be a serious issue.  Who wants to follow a wolf around in the arctic, anyway?

GPS Tracking Units & Wildlife

GPS tracking units now allow scientists to better study wildlife, including endangered species and those who live in climates where humans can’t easily survive.  For instance, GPS collars on arctic wolves permit scientists for the first time to find out what the wolves do during the long and harsh winters.  Wolves in Oregon have also been fitted with collars which the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife can use to monitor and gather information about the wolf pack.

Monitoring wildlife with GPS tracking units also helps protect people.  An endangered species of black bears in India have killed over two dozen people in the past four years, but now that they are wearing GPS collars, officials will be alerted if the bears come too close to people.  Officials can then alert people to the danger while removing the bears to a safer location.  In California, the Fish and Game Department tracks deer in real time, allowing them to be alerted if a deer heads toward a road.  For the many people who want to avoid running into a deer and possibly totaling their car, plus avoiding any injuries that may occur, knowing whether or not a deer is nearby would a huge comfort.

Most importantly for the animals themselves, GPS tracking units help scientists to gather as much information as possible to help protect them and further their survival.  Endangered animals such as the West African giraffe who are losing their habitats and whose existence is thus threatened can be monitored with GPS tracking collars.  Scientists can then learn more about their movements, habitat requirements, and how humans can best further their survival.

No matter what the wildlife species is that humans are trying to track and learn more about, whether it is bears, marine life, wolves, cougars, giraffes, or another endangered species, GPS tracking units are a new way for humans to care for and protect the environment in which they live.

By Harriette Halepis

Wisconsin State Journal, February, 11, 2010, Wisconsin - It’s no secret that the Department of Natural Resources has been tracking various wild animals for some time now. While this form of GPS tracking proves to be very useful, attaching and removing GPS trackers from some animals proves to be difficult.

Wildlife & GPS Tracking

Some animals that are currently being tracked by the Department of Natural Resources include bullsnakes, fish, ruffed grouse, wolves, deer, elk, rattlesnakes, and blue-winged teal. Researchers use the information gathered from GPS trackers to identify mating patterns, trekking patterns, and a wealth of other important animal welfare information. This form of GPS tracking has been used for some time now, though researchers have begun encountering a small problem involving collecting data.

The main problem with this type of GPS system is that once a GPS tracker has been attached to an animal, the tracker must be retrieved in order for researchers to collect the data. This can be done by one of two methods: the first involves the actual retrieval of the animal being tracked, and the second involves a programmable GPS collar that automatically falls off of an animal once a tracking period has ended.

While the second retrieval option seems to be the most sensible, these collars don’t always work. This often means that researchers have to capture an animal in order to gain GPS information. While retrieving a collar from a rabbit may be relatively safe, retrieving a collar from, say, a wolf is a different story.

Still, according to Nancy Matthews (Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the University of Wisconsin) “the state-of-the-art systems, which cost in excess of $2500 can transmit information back to the satellite and the information can then be downloaded by someone in an office…(Wisconsin State Journal).“

Throughout the past year, researchers have gained an immense amount of information about various species that have been track via GPS. Without this technology, myths that surround animals such as deer and elk would go unresolved. As it stands, researchers like Nancy Matthews have had the opportunity to dispel “…several myths about deer in the (Wisconsin) area (Wisconsin State Journal).

GPS tracking technology is used in many different countries throughout the globe to track wild animals. From wolves that reside in Wisconsin to elephants that live in the African Busch, GPS tracking is changing the way that the world understands wild animals. While collecting GPS collars from these animals may not always be easy, the amount of information that is gained is indispensible.

by James Neely, freelance writer: click | HERE | to check out GPS products from Rocky Mountain Tracking

If you are in the market for an anti theft device then you should look at the Smart Tracker and NavIQ software package.  The benefits are too great to ignore.  They include:

NavIQ Software

The Smart Tracker provides on-demand and near real-time tracking from any computer through a web page interface.  You do not have to purchase a monthly subscription plan for tracking, either.  You can activate the device and then locate your vehicle as circumstances require.  You save money via this “pay-per-use” feature.

Once the device has been activated the NavIQ software provides the interface and has more features than just being able to visually inspect the movements of an asset. You can also run reports and set boundaries with geo-fencing.

NavIQ software features boast these important features:

• Request locate. Institutes a polling feature that locates the position of your asset.
• Rapid Tracking. Map refreshes every thirty seconds holds the asset on the current map view. This provides real-time tracking as long as the GPS device is set to the same interval.
• Geo-fencing. Predetermined points on a map are set which form a boundary and send out notifications via email or SMS text in order to alert the recipient that the boundary has been breached.
• Speed alert. Speed thresholds are set which are triggered when they are exceeded. The actual speed is recorded along with the location.
• Navigation or routing. Turn-by-turn directions are given for routing purposes.
• Extensive Reporting. Risk Management Reports deliver information on improper use of an asset. These uses can include speed limits, and off-hours usage. There are other more in-depth reports as well.
• Google Earth’s imagery used. You can see routes and tracking via this popular software interface.
• Long-term storage. History reports are stored off-site from your facilities for future reference for up to one year.
• History mapping. All detailed activities are contained within reports that can be accessed at any time.
• Actual mapping. All map controls on the computer are easy to navigate and move around with which provides great user interaction.

The Smart Tracker with NavIQ software gives you a “one-two” punch which helps you to actively and continuously monitor your assets.  Marrying hardware and software together in this configuration gives you the advantages of being able to keep close tabs on your assets.  Whether it is a vehicle or other large, high-ticket item, you will appreciate the benefits.

When installed to specification you can pass along information to police as to the whereabouts of your property.  Police would rather be involved in the instant recovery of an item than to have it end up in a manila folder on an investigators’ desk gathering dust.

Now that you know what the advantages of a Smart Tracker with NavIQ software are, the only question is when will you make the move to obtain them for your business?  Once you do, you’ll be glad you did.

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking devices to meet any need.  Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business.  You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

By Greg Bartlett

Large and small businesses, law enforcement offices, and the military have all reported significant benefits from using GPS tracking to help them conduct their operations on a day to day basis, but perhaps one of the most important GPS applications for the average person is personal safety. Everyone, from the very young to the elderly, can benefit from the protection a GPS tracking device offers to its wearer.

GPS Tracking & Personal Safety

Imagine that your elderly grandmother is out for a drive. She’s getting out of her vehicle when suddenly she is grabbed from behind and forced into a van. Helpless to struggle or call out, she is carried away before she knows what is going on. That’s exactly what happened to a grandmother in Chicago recently when she was kidnapped by three men and spirited away from her family. Fortunately for the family, GPS tracking helped the police find their grandmother and her kidnappers before it was too late. But suppose that next time it’s your grandmother or child in the back of the van. Would you be able to give police officers the information they needed to help recover your loved one?

GPS tracking for personal safety can also protect you when you’re alone in an unknown area. If you’re a jogger, hiker, or skier, for instance, you can wear a GPS tracking device that will allow your family to find you if you don’t come home when expected. Some devices also have alert buttons that allow you to notify your family or friends if you are lost or injured and need help.

A third personal safety benefit of GPS tracking is monitoring of loved ones who cannot care for themselves. Alzheimer’s disease is rampant among the elderly, and the tendency of patients to wander away from home can present serious dangers. If your elderly parent or relative has Alzheimer’s, a GPS tracking device can help you keep an eye on them to ensure that they are kept out of harm’s way. Perimeter capabilities on some models allow you to set up borderlines which, if crossed, will cause an alert to be sent to your email or pager.

The typical American’s busy lifestyle does not allow for constant vigilance over loved ones, but with GPS tracking, you can still ensure that your family members are protected and that you know immediately if they need your help. You may never be faced with a kidnapped child or lost loved one, but if you are, you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that you’re ready to meet the challenge.

By Harriette Halepis

WKBW, February, 11, 2010, Buffalo, New York - When snow falls in any city, the first thing that city-dwellers want to know is: how quickly will snow be removed from city streets? In the past, this question was met with a bit of fumbling and a lot of guesses. This is no longer the case in Buffalo, New York, where more than 80 city snow removal trucks have been outfitted with GPS tracking technology.

Snow Removal & GPS Tracking

Salt trucks and snowplows alike are now equipped with GPS trackers that tell the Buffalo Public Works Department how much snow has been removed, what streets have been plowed, and whether or not streets have been salted. Steve Stepniak told WKBW news that the new GPS trackers give the city “…tracking ability, vehicle information ability, whether the plow is down up, spreading salt (WKBW).”

A federal grant paid for Buffalo’s $175,000 GPS tracking system. The system has already proved its worth, and the city believe that snow removal will be even more efficient next year. Stepniak promises citizens that they will “…see better services and more efficient services…when we miss a dead end we’ll know and we’ll be able to make adjustments, so you don’t see those chronic mistakes (WKBW).”

Not only are the GPS trackers ideal for tracking snow plows and salt trucks, trash trucks and street sweepers will also be outfitted with the trackers during the warmer months. This will help street crews to keep track of roads that have already been cleaned, while paying more attention to those roads that need cleaning. While the street sweepers and trash vehicles aren’t equipped with GPS trackers yet, Buffalo has applied for an additional federal grant.

The city of Buffalo hopes to place GPS trackers on nearly 545 different city vehicles within the near future. Other cities that have received a lot of snowfall in the past are currently looking towards Buffalo’s experimental GPS tracking program. So far, the program proves to be worth every penny, and residents of other cold climate cities can expect to see similar programs implemented within the next few years.

GPS tracking devices are really beginning to change the way that public employees and vehicles operate. From tracking the whereabouts of city employees to tracking the effectiveness of snow removal, GPS technology has made it possible to manage seemingly unmanageable public works departments across the nation.

By Greg Bartlett

When you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, your world changes. Not only do your care responsibilities increase, but your anxiety and stress levels as well. Alzheimer’s can cause people to forget, but it can also cause dangerous behavior such as wandering from home and becoming lost. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that six out of every ten Alzheimer’s patients will wander away from home at some point, and that half of those who wander could meet with injury or death.

GPS Tracking & Alzheimer's

The question that must be answered, then, is how you can reduce those statistics when someone you love is faced with Alzheimer’s. While adding structure and routine to a person’s life can help prevent wandering behavior, many families have turned to GPS tracking for help in increasing the personal safety of their loved ones. A GPS tracking transmitter can be clipped to the patient’s clothing, concealed in the sole of a shoe, or carried in a pocket or purse, depending on the severity of the disease and how likely it is that the person will try to remove the device.

Once you know that your family member has the GPS tracking device with her, you can monitor her remotely, checking in on her from time to time throughout the day. The transmitter will send signals to your computer at specified intervals and you can view the wearer’s location in real time or you can choose to print a report of her activities throughout the day. In this way, you can monitor patterns, so that you can recognize immediately if something is out of the ordinary. Some devices will also allow you to set up perimeters or zones. If the patient wanders outside the designated perimeter, the device will send an alert to your pager or email allowing you to check on her immediately.

Many families dread the thought of putting an elderly parent or sibling into a nursing home or assisted care facility. GPS tracking can be the tool that allows you to keep your loved one at home instead of needing to rely on twenty-four hour care in a home for the elderly. Alzheimer’s disease throws a curve ball into the day to day life of a family, but with GPS tracking, you can keep your loved one’s routine as normal as possible, providing stability and comfort for him or her, and peace of mind for yourself.

By DONNA SANTI / guest columnist

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

-          Donna Santi is a creative writer for LandAirSea Systems, a Woodstock, IL-based manufacturer and distributor of expertly-engineered GPS tracking systems, software and accessories. For information about LandAirSea, visit www.landairsea.com. To contact the writer, email donna.santi@landairsea.com

Animal researchers and legislators, puzzled and concerned about a 13-year decline in the moose population in Minnesota, plan to use hi-tech GPS tracking equipment to get some concrete answers.

Wildlife & GPS Tracking

The state’s Department of Natural Resources does an annual head count of the large mammals by flying over their vast range in northeastern Minnesota. The numbers are estimates, because it is difficult to type the migrating moose by age, sex and direction of travel based on a brief glimpse from the sky.  But researchers say they’ve seen an obvious pattern that cannot be denied: When compared with the moose populations in other states, Minnesota has fewer of the animals in overall number, and fewer females (cows) accompanied by calves.

The number of moose deaths, non-related to hunting, has risen, but researchers cannot pinpoint an obvious cause. It could be the result of vehicle accidents, disease or predators.

Another possibility is climate change. Moose are built for the cold. Summer temperatures in the state impact their mobility and health so they must move to marshier, forested habitats.

There are currently about 5,500 moose in the DNR research area (down from 7,600 last year). The one-year drop was significant enough for state lawmakers to take notice. A research and management committee was organized and state funds were earmarked to find out where the moose go for food, shelter and mating; and how they die. Those answers will come from GPS tracking devices.

In February, a group of 14 adult moose - both bulls and cows - were captured briefly in Voyageurs National Park and furnished with GPS tracking system collars.  GPS tracking technology has moved well beyond the obvious applications such as vehicle tracking, fleet management and prisoner monitoring. Similar GPS systems are successfully used to monitor all types of wildlife, including bears, birds, tortoise and wolves.

Since 2002, moose in Minnesota have been tracked with radio frequency tracking systems, built into collars. But traditional radio tracking collars must be removed to retrieve the data. Also they require researchers to stay within a certain range of the collars to get readings, so the project is labor-intensive.

Real-time GPS tracking collars are a newer, more reliable technology. Once the GPS tracking units are securely attached to the animals they’ll record and transmit location data every few minutes. The readings can be seen and studied from any Web-enabled electronic device, anywhere in the world, from the comfort of a home, vehicle, or research center. The high-tech moose trackers are engineered to be highly sensitive GPS receivers, so they will work in all sorts of terrain. The tracking systems have a long-life battery and are designed to come loose and fall off the animal shortly after the batteries lose their power.

Scientists have long suspected that something is causing the state’s moose to die, well short of their expected life span. Other preservation and monitoring methods failed to solve that mystery, because the animals often died deep in the woods and their bodies were never recovered.  Now researchers will be able to tell almost immediately when one of the animals dies, because the tracking data will show no movement. No matter how hidden the body is, the moose can be found by its GPS tracking coordinates. The animal can be examined and tested for cause of death.

Sources: Duluth News Tribune, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

More organizations are benefiting from the location pinpointing ability of GPS tracking devices. One of the more innovative uses has been implemented by a Texas county to keep kids from skipping school. Offenders must appear before the Justice of the Peace, where they are given a GPS tracking device that they must carry during a probationary period.

GPS Tracking & Truancy

The GPS tracking device monitors the location of the students at any given time, and enforcement personnel can check at any time to ensure that they are attending classes as they should be. While traditional methods such as mentoring, court orders, and jail time for repeat offenders have yielded spotty results, the new method has resulted in 95% of monitored students attending classes as they are supposed to.

GPS tracking has proved useful for other law enforcement purposes as well. Departments routinely use the devices to monitor paroled sex offenders and have also seen a measure of success in using GPS vehicle tracking to keep an eye on suspected drug traffickers and other criminal suspects. While controversy exists over whether or not the technology violates privacy, the court system has upheld the use of GPS tracking in general, although some states require a warrant for tracking suspects without their knowledge.

The benefit provided by GPS tracking to law enforcement offices includes the ability to monitor multiple suspects or parolees without the need for additional manpower. They can also assist police with finding stolen property including automobiles and construction equipment, two prime targets for theft. Already strained departments can put their resources to the best use possible instead of placing officers on numerous stakeouts and information gathering assignments. Proponents of the technological solution say that placing a GPS tracking device on a suspect’s car is no different from assigning an officer to follow that suspect, since the transmitter cannot give any information beyond what could be gathered with the naked eye.

As more GPS tracking uses surface, the courts will undoubtedly have to contend with the constitutional question of whether GPS surveillance equates with unreasonable search. For now, departments are singing the praises of the devices, since they save not only manpower, but also limited department funds.  More cases will undoubtedly be brought before state judicial systems as time progresses, but in the interim, the public can expect to see more innovative uses of the technology cropping up in law enforcement departments across the country.

By Greg Bartlett

Just how safe are domestic violence victims, really?  Will that piece of paper with the words “restraining order” written across the top really help?  Is the offender going to come back and surprise the victim at work or home, or maybe while she’s picking up the kids?  Even if he doesn’t hurt her, his presence will frighten her and make her feel threatened in the areas where she’s supposed to be safe.

GPS Monitoring & Victim Safety

Domestic violence victims have already gone through enough pain and trauma.  They don’t need the additional worry that the offender will show up in their safe areas, areas the offender has been forbidden by the court to go.  But what if the offender goes anyway?  The victim will be at least frightened, at worst injured or even killed.

Keeping domestic violence victims safe has long been a challenge since offenders often have to be released back into the community eventually, and no one can keep track of them every minute of the day.  At least, not until recently.  Advances in technology now allow courts to use GPS monitoring to help ensure that domestic violence victims stay safe.  With a GPS device, police, probation, and parole officers can tell exactly where an offender is at any time, allowing the offender to be released from jail or prison but still closely watched to ensure proper behavior.

Perhaps even more importantly for the victim, GPS monitoring will alert the victim and police if the offender enters certain areas.  Usually these areas will be the victim’s home, place of work, and her children’s school.  Although the GPS device won’t stop the offender, it will give the victim advance warning so that she can avoid a face-to-face meeting and perhaps thus avoid injury as well.  If the offender gets too close, she’ll be notified and can leave while the police, also having been alerted, will pick up the offender for violating the order to leave the victim alone.

Despite assurances of the court and promises of a restraining order, domestic violence victims are often not safe and are often pursued by the offender, who may eventually injure or even kill the victim.  Many victims’ families, having lost a loved one because a domestic violence offender wasn’t stopped, are pressing for courts to use GPS monitoring devices to help protect the loved ones of others.  Domestic violence victims aren’t safe yet, but GPS monitoring is a strong step towards helping to fully protect them.