GPS Tracking and Chicago's Video Camera Network

In the November 17, 2009 edition of the Wall Street Journal, there was an article called Chicago's Camera Network Is Everywhere. The article discusses the city's video monitoring system that now has an estimated 15,000 video cameras attached to it.

OK, so we are all being watched by Big Brother, but here is the interesting part - the city of Chicago receives about 15,000 (must be a convenient number) emergency calls per day. As soon as the 911 folks receive a call, their screen shows them live video feeds from the nearest video camera. Of course this feed will often be useless, but it stimulates some thinking as to how this "network-centric" approach works.

Live video links being connected to phone calls is an interesting thought. It shows integration between multiple systems into a "network-centric" approach. Let's ponder a large construction project. I can image a time when GPS tracking systems activate live video feeds at the gate of a job site for security and project management.

• The project manager is expecting 4 trucks full of materials. As each truck passes the entrance gate it alerts the project manager and shows him/her a live video feed on their mobile device. The location of equipment going in and out of gates is viewed by GPS tracking and live video coverage.
• All heavy equipment on the job site has GPS tracking. If any of the equipment is moved after hours it alerts security and activates live video feeds to the mobile device that is carried by security officials and managers.
• Project managers hundreds of miles away can collect all the heavy equipment needed for the project from various geographic locations and track its convergence to the job site. Live video feeds and GPS alerts show the arrival of each vital piece of equipment.
• Perhaps contractors are also willing to share their GPS fleet tracking data with the project manager. This would enable the project manager to track the arrival of important materials that are needed at specific times to keep the project on schedule

GPS fleet and equipment tracking systems are readily available. Integrating these technologies with project management and live video systems is the next frontier.

For more information on Network-Centric strategies read this article.

Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com

Net-Centric Business Strategies are Dependent on GPS

In an article called Net-Centric Field Force Automation, the author Kevin Benedict discusses the concept of net-centric business strategies. This concept involves closely tracking mobile resource (employees), mobile assets and stationary asset locations and using this information to better manage operations. Let me explain each:

• Mobile resources - most often relate to employees, contractors and other team members that are part of a project or operation
• Mobile assets - vehicles, trailers, mobile inventories, cargo, heavy equipment, tools, and other assets that are moving.
• Stationary assets - buildings, properties, roads, bridges, fences, utilities, infrastructure, etc.

Think about a large contruction project and all the moving parts to a project. Net-centric strategies would incorporate tracking, managing and viewing the ongoing operations by seeing all the moving parts via GPS tracking and a GIS (geospatical information system) solution that is integrated with project management systems.

Managers should be able to look at their computer screen and see the location of all of their mobile resources and mobile assets - equipment, vehicles and employees. This information allows management from hundreds or thousands of miles away to monitor a job site location and provide assistance.

Of course for this net-centric strategy to work, all of these moving parts need to have GPS tracking equipment attached to them and identification information on each of these moving assets and resources.

To learn about GPS system integration with live video feeds read here.

Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com

School Buses and GPS Fleet Tracking

It occurred to me this morning as I was driving my daughter to school and saw the school buses driving by and kids waiting in the cold, that it would be a useful application of GPS fleet tracking to install them on school buses.

The parents and kids could check the website to see if the bus was on schedule before leaving the house to stand in the cold. I remember as a kid with a long rural bus ride standing in the rain for what seemed hours when the bus was delayed by traffic, mechanical failure, cows in the road, etc.

It would also be very useful for the bus driver to be able to send messages to the families when a pick-up or deliver may be delayed. It would note be hard. The school knows there are 43 bus stops, the current location of the bus, and that there will be a delay in dropping the kids off at 17 stops. A quick alert could be sent to the remaining 17 families.

When you start considering the utility of GPS fleet tracking, there can be a million benefits.

If you would like to discuss GPS fleet tracking please contact us.

Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com

Sears, GPS Fleet Tracking and Mobile Applications to Improve Sales

In this article Sear's use of GPS Fleet Tracking applications is discussed. It was interesting to note that the primary benefit from the implementation of GPS Fleet Tracking was not Fleet Tracking. It was that the satellite and GPRS dome on the roof of the van was also a mobile WiFi hotspot. It allowed the service technician to always be on the Internet and connected with the Sears customer relationship management (CRM), product catalog and order entry system. This in turn helped the service technician sell more products, warranties and services.

One of the key benefits in using this system was increased sales and better customer services. It is important that companies looking at the investment into GPS Fleet Tracking systems look beyond the basic tracking, monitoring and reporting features for all of the benefits.

Often the benefits of a GPS Fleet Tracking System are related to providing more services each day, selling more products each day, accomplishing more work with less people, dispatching the closest service technician to the job for faster service and lower costs, etc.

GPS Fleet Tracking can help service companies change their business model and improve business processes in many ways.

Please contact us if you are interested in discussing these ideas in more detail.

Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com

FedEx - GPS Fleet Tracking Complaint

I don't usually complain on this forum, however, this time my complaint is about GPS Fleet Tracking.

I ordered a new laptop computer the other day. I was efficiently notified that the manufacturer received my order. I was efficiently notified that the order was shipped from the warehouse. I was efficiently notified that it arrived here in Boise, Idaho. I was efficiently notified it was on the delivery van at 9:03 AM. Up to this point all is good, efficient and professional, however, once my laptop was placed in the delivery van I am simply given a 6 hour window for delivery and I am required to be here. I have no idea if I can run down to Starbucks and grab a Mocha. How uncivilized is FedEx?

Six hours is a big window. Some people are actually important and have jobs that require them to move around. Doesn't it seem reasonable that FedEx could narrow the window and post their expected delivery time within 1 hour perhaps? Don't they have GPS fleet tracking on their vans? Couldn't they notify me when they are within 1 hour of delivery. Perhaps they can then update me every 15 minutes. OK, perhaps I am just hyper, but we know that the technology is there to provide more accurate delivery windows than 6 hours.

What if we could actually see where the delivery van was going to be? Perhaps use LBS (location based services) to notify all customers that the van was nearing. Perhaps we could drive to a scheduled location and meet the delivery van. It would save FedEx time and fuel. I am sure there are many reasons not to give crazy people like me the exact location of their vans, but a 6 hour window???

What are your thoughts and comments?

Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com

Fuel Prices and Trimble GPS Fleet Tracking

Fleet management applications are getting more and more sophisticated. I was told recently of a giant multinational company that has a department that monitors commodity and fuel prices in real-time. When events are pointing to rising fuel costs, this department instructs all of the various fleet managers to fuel up all of their vehicles. Some fleets have volume discounts negotiated with certain retailers. In these cases GPS fleet tracking systems, like Trimble's, can show the fleet managers where all of the vehicles are located and where they can fuel up for the least amount of money.

Very interesting!!! If you have 1,000 vehicles and you can save $10/vehicle on fuel today, that can add up fast.


Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com

Dynamic Ride Sharing Concepts and GPS Fleet Tracking

In this article from the blog Mobile Strategies for Businesses, on the concept of Dynamic Ride Sharing the author ponders possible businesses cases for sharing your travel plans with others that may want to share the ride and help pay the costs. The key to this concept is the ability to communicate and promote your planned travel routes, utilize GPS tracking to show progress, and have a method of collecting payments.

What other business uses could gps fleet tracking equipment mounted into a vehicle provide? I wrote earlier about tracking mobile inventories, what other uses are out there? I would like to hear your thoughts!

Here is another idea, many field service technicians have been certified or qualified on various equipment. When a customer calls in and requests a repair on a certain piece of equipment, how does the service company know which certified service technician is closest to the customer and available to provide the service? The qualifications of each service technician should be associated with the GPS tracking equipment.

Over the past week we have discussed associating vehicles, equipment, inventory, certifications and qualifications to a GPS tracking system so the office can better manage their operations and mobile assets. Please share your thoughts and ideas on other useful associations.

GPS Fleet Tracking is Not Just About the Vehicle

Often when people think about GPS fleet tracking they think of vehicles. They think of vehicle location, fuel consumption, maintenance and proximity to job sites, etc. However, tracking the vehicle is not the only value. Tracking inventory, tools and equipment is also important.

The concept of mobile inventory works like this - a truck or van backs up to the inventory warehouse and uses a bar code scanner to scan parts, supplies, tools and equipment to check them out of the warehouse inventory and then scans the truck or van bar code to designate the new location of the inventory. This provides the inventory management system with a detailed record of the exact location of all inventory, tools and equipment. The challenge is that the new location of the inventory is mobile.

The GPS fleet tracking software can now not only track the vehicle, but all the parts, tools and equipment inside it. Why is this useful? If another service technician requires a specialty tool or piece of equipment, the dispatcher in the office can look up the equipment location, identify the van where it is located and see it on a map. A route or meeting place can be quickly arranged and the part, tool or equipment can be transferred.


Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com

Where is Your Fleet Today? Boise Seminar Announcement

Seminar Announcement - Boise, Idaho:


Have you considered using GPS Fleet Tracking to manage your fleet and control your costs?

Mr. Russ Michel, Regional Manager with Trimble Mobile Resources, will be in Boise on Friday, November 13, 2009 at 9:00am to discuss GPS Fleet Tracking and the unique needs and challenges associated with managing a mobile work force, including real-time vehicle tracking, engine idling, vehicle speed, unauthorized use, monitoring PTO, as well as many other cost-saving and enhanced safety features.

In addition, Mr. Michel will also discuss the savings now available to government and non-profit agencies through the purchasing power of The National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA).

As recently announced by NJPA, Trimble has been awarded, through a national competitive bid-process, the exclusive contract to provide pre-negotiated GPS Fleet Management equipment and services to NJPA members, now over 30,000 strong. (www.njpacoop.org)

Trimble has been an industry-leading GPS innovator for over 30 years, with 4,000+ GPS fleet tracking units currently installed and over 30 GPS related U.S. patents. Trimble’s extensive network for support and training is unsurpassed in the industry. (www.trimble.com/mrm)

If you or someone in your organization would like to attend the seminar, enjoy a light breakfast with Mr. Michel, and learn more about the benefits experienced by current Trimble customers, please contact Lori Vawdrey at L2 Data Collection, a locally owned and authorized Trimble dealer, for seminar location and directions.

Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com