Real Time Inspections with Integrated GPS and Geo-referenced Digital Photos

I came across this powerful case study today that documented the use of Trimble's Juno handheld computers and ESRI's ArcPad software to help assess and inspect the damage following the terrible fires that killed 173 people in Australia last year. Here is a quick summary of the inspection project to give you a perspective of the size of it.

By the time the project was complete, they searched 5,781 properties, conducted 3,352 separate searches on buildings, sheds, vehicles, and water tanks, took 9,600 photos using geo-referenced cameras, and sent 1,539 geo-referenced records from the Trimble Juno SC handhelds to the GIS server without a single problem.

One of the biggest problems that the police had was inspecting neighborhoods and communities that had been completely destroyed. There were no street signs, trees or other landmarks to help them determine their locations. They needed a different strategy for systematically inspecting areas. They determined that the use of GPS enabled mobile devices with mobile data collection software applications was the answer. Developers quickly created standardized inspection forms using an ArcPad applet for use on the Trimble Juno handheld computer.

After bodies were discovered in already inspected areas, the police were required to search all possible sites where missing people could possibly have taken cover. Detailed inspections that documented all search efforts and sites were added to the mix.

On-device maps helped them determine their location, and as each inspection on each parcel was completed, the parcel would change colors on the map. This helped all the groups involved to know exactly what inspections were completed, and which ones needed more work.

The Victoria Police were so impressed with the use of the Trimble Junos for mobile data collection, that they are now using them on patrols, inspections and other data collection projects. They are also planning to implement an entire GIS (geospatial information system) for the police force.

The Victoria police estimated that it took only a third of the time, using the Trimble Juno, that it would have using paper forms.

They used the Trimble Junos with integrated GPS and geo-referenced cameras that took photos with GPS coordinates included in the digital files. They created ArcPad applets for their inspection software and wireless synchronized this data with central database servers for real time visibility.

This is an excellent example of real time GPS tracking of inspections. We provide GPS fleet tracking software to give management real time and historical views into the use and locations of their high value mobile assets. Please contact us if you would like to discuss in more detail.

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.

Mobile Asset Management and Street Sweepers

We met recently with a company that owns street sweepers. The company provides street sweeping services for a fee and the biggest assets of the company are several $100,000 giant street sweepers. Here is the interesting point - the owner has no visibility into how the street sweepers are being operated, nor if they are actually providing the services in all the contracted areas.

As a business person, I can say that not knowing if you provided the services you were contracted to provide is a bad thing. You need proof that the services were provided. It eliminates invoice disputes and unhappy customers. One easy solution is to install fleet tracking GPS systems in each street sweeper so their street sweeping activities can be monitored and recorded. Trimble Fleet Tracking is one relatively inexpensive and easy to install system.

When the Trimble Fleet Tracking system is in place, the owner of the street sweepers, and the person accountable to the customers, can login to a browser based online application and see the exact areas covered by all street sweepers each day. These recorded "bread crumb" paths can also be provided to the customer.

Let's now consider the value of the mobile assets, the giant $100,000 street sweepers. Nearly all of the owner's business assets are mobile and not under his or her direct physical observation and supervision. It is like having $500,000 leave the garage each day without the owner being able to care and monitor it. Street sweepers are large motorized vehicles. Safety is a big concern as is damaging things. It is very important that safety processes and safety laws are observed and enforced to protect the business and others. It is also very important to have a good safety record when selling your services to government municipalities and private businesses. Fleet Tracking systems can monitor many different aspects of the vehicles' operation including speed and driving habits.

Another important consideration in running a business is managing expenses. Fuel and maintenance is a big factor when operating a business based upon large vehicles. Fleet tracking systems can help you monitor idling time, operational time, sweeping time, start-up and stop times, mileage and other important factors. Many maintenance procedures are based upon hours of operation, while others on mileage. These can all be monitored by the fleet tracking systems and alerts can be set-up to remind as each maintenance milepost is reached.

The bottom line, if you have hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars worth of equipment running in remote locations and you have a personal responsibility for their maintenance, operation, safety and efficiency, then it would be a good thing to have visibility into how your mobile assets are being used.

If you would like to discuss this fleet tracking solutions in more detail please contact us at Info@L2DataCollection.com.

Trimble Fleet Tracking's Basic ROI

In this article we want to discuss fleet tracking and why companies invest in it. I think a good place to start is by first defining fleet management so we can understand the role of fleet tracking.

Today, Wikipedia defines fleet management as follows: Fleet management is the management of a company's vehicle fleet. Fleet management includes commercial motor vehicles such as cars, vans and trucks. Fleet (vehicle) management can include a range of functions, such as vehicle financing, vehicle maintenance, vehicle telematics (tracking and diagnostics), driver management, fuel management and health & safety management.

Fleet tracking is the use of GPS tracking and most often web based technologies to monitor, in real time or near real time, a large number of different data points on your fleet. These data points can consist of the following:

• View real-time locations of your mobile workforce
• Track stop times and milage totals
• Receive alerts on speed, vehicle idle time and/or landmark proximity
• See traveled paths
• Connect to the RS 232 to receive vehicle diagnostics

All of these data points are synchronized back to a web-based map and reporting application. This web technology enables you to view the location of your entire fleet, with multiple views and reports.

Why do companies implement fleet tracking? Fleets are valuable assets and the way they are used and managed can significantly impact profitability. Aberdeen Group lists some of the top reasons companies want fleet tracking:

• Reduce service response times (57%)
• Reduce fleet related operating costs (46%)
• Increase service related productivity (41%)
• Extend life of service vehicles (16%)

Improving customer service, reducing fuel and operating costs and increasing productivity are all very good things.

What kind of companies are using fleet tracking? Really any company that has a fleet and is interested in managing and reducing the costs associated with it. In this article you can read about other more sinister and dangerous reasons to get fleet tracking.

If you would like to discuss Trimble's fleet tracking in more detail please contact me.