One could have numerous reasons for keeping track of the whereabouts of one’s vehicle. For instance, one might be trying to avoid car theft if it is prevalent in the area that they live in. Another example is if you are the parent of a child who has recently started driving, so you want to ensure their safety and security at all times. GPS vehicle tracking devices ensure peace of mind when it comes to car and driver safety and security, apart from ensuring route planning, directions instructions, vehicle upkeep, etc. Listed below are the best tracking devices you can install in your vehicles:

Zubie ZK30012M GPS Tracker: Zubie focusses mostly on new driver training, complete with real-time GPS tracking, safe drive monitoring which includes alerts for acceleration and hard driving, excessive speeding, etc. The feature called the Fuel Finder’ locates the cheapest fuel near you, as well as send alerts for low fuel, oil changes, worn out batteries, and check engine lights. It is priced at $99.95. Its advantages are monthly driving reports generation, maintenance alerts and easy setup, and disadvantages are delays in data updates, frequent app updates and sharing data with third parties according to user agreement.

Spy Tec STI_GL300: This portable, mini real-time GPS tracker is more of a spying’ module which doesn’t require being plugged into the car’s OBDII serial port, so it can remain hidden from the driver. The two-week lasting battery, the one-year data backup to a Cloud service, receiving alerts for geo-fenced areas, and accelerometer detection makes Spy Tec a great real-time tracker. It is priced at $69.95 (50% off the MSRP) with a subscription price of $25/month. Its advantages are two-week long battery life, one year data backup, and the tracking platform working on any device

Optimus Real Time GPS Tracker: This GPS tracking system sends alerts for panic, battery status, and geo-fencing, in addition to speeding. The system has an iOS and Android app both, with unlimited saved data history for the tracker. Additionally, they make a highly-recommended magnetic waterproof case for the system as well. The Optimus Real Time tracker’s price is $79.95 (19% off MSRP), with a subscription price of $19.95/month. Its advantages are great customer service, two-week battery life and dedicated mobile apps, and its disadvantages are lack of constant tracking and tracking.

Vectu Portable Vehicle Tracker: The Vectu is another great battery-powered unit, which employs the my Apsenta app on both Android play store and iOS. It provides standard notifications, either via SMS or in-app for aspects such as unauthorized movement and entry into geo-fenced areas. For those who have multiple vehicles. The USP of Vectu is the subscription cost, which is $15/3 months or $50 prepaid annually.

Vehicle navigation is one application of all the aspects of GPS Systems that the common man uses the most. With the advent of smartphones which are GPS-incorporated, car navigation has become immensely popular. However, it has introduced a limitation that an internet or a mobile service is necessary for its operation. These navigation systems are equipped with various other facilities that has made driving safer and more relaxed activity. This write up tries to explain the intricacies of the system in jargon free language. There are various devices in the market with many added features.

The navigation device has the following elements.

The GPS antenna receiver receives the signals from the satellite.
The direction sensor provides the direction in which the vehicle is travelling.
The speed sensor provides the speed of the vehicle and the system calculates the distance has yet to travel to reach the destination.
The display screen to show the navigation computer output.
The Map data base checks the information from the antenna and sensors against the map database and sends the outputs to the display screen using the control circuitry of the navigation computer.
Navigation computer, which is the brain of the system. It compares the information received from the antenna, the various onboard sensors and compares them with the map database and determines the vehicle’s exact present position, and calculates the time of possible arrival at destination, taking into consideration the remaining distance, vehicle speed etc. It shows the remaining distance to the distance also.

Another important function the navigator is to perform is route selection and constantly monitor traffic on this and other parallel routes to avoid traffic congestion and resulting delays.
These functions it performs by using the four following databases.

Road Network data, road configuration, connection conditions, attributes etc.
Background data which gives information like rivers, shorelines, railroads, contours etc.
Site information data such as building names, addresses, representative structures etc.

Voice data voice guidance: Firstly, the current location is determined consulting current location details. Secondly, it finds the destination and setting using the destination details. Third, the route to the destination is searched and fixed. Lastly, it searches for a route which is shortest and quickest, and recommends the same to the driver.

Background data are searched to provide guidance using the voice guidance.
Route details are displayed.

Finally, it collates information received from various agencies like traffic police other drivers and informs of traffic congestions. All in all, it makes driving to any destination hassle free and smooth.

When combined with other IT based technologies, one’s own imagination and innovativeness seems to be the only limit to the applications. The first civilian department to use GPS was the survey department. The advantages to survey was so huge that the then US president ordered to share the GPS data for civilian use.

The usefulness of GPS-aided devices in the civilian sector is infinite and the numerous device manufacturers have risen to meet the challenges admirably. Truly, it is only one’s imagination limits the opportunities. Given below are some of the uses to which the GPS system is put to good uses.

Surveying
Surveying normally entails tugging heavy cumbersome equipment around. Surveying depends on fixed reference points too. Imagine the difficulty in surveying long river or any water body where it is next to impossible to have a fixed reference point. GPS allows surveying using GPS data which are space based and far more accurate and more easily obtained. The whole process of surveying is greatly simplified, and eliminates the tugging of heavy and cumbersome equipment along. It reduces the manpower requirement, increases accuracy and greatly reduces both cost and time.

Cartographers could increase their accuracy manifold times using these devices. Accurate aligning of tunnels bored from both ends is now possible.

Navigation on the high seas
Navigation in high seas have challenges, conventional methods are limited by visibility and other weather conditions. Day time navigation is limited by the absence of adequate fixed reference points. GPS data helps to locate one’s position accurately in any weather condition very accurately.

Air traffic control
Air traffic gets streamlined as aircraft locations and distances are available with much greater accuracy in all weather conditions and time. The airports locations are also more accurately available. All these improve navigation and reduces flight time, saving costs.

Vehicle tracking
GPS technology has greatly benefited the trucking industry and indirectly logistics. The tracking applications are so sophisticated that besides knowing the exact location, it also has an estimate of time that it would take to reach its destination. The operator can know the fuel available in the tank, the locations the trucks stopped and the durations of the stops. All this information helps the company to increase their efficiency and punctuality and vehicle turn around.

These few examples show how greatly the GPS system has benefited the society. In recent times, as other IT solutions emerged and combining these two has increased the opportunities manifold times.

Fleet management for transit fleet operators is slightly different as their requirements need other facilities than the commercial, engineering and other routine managerial requirements of truck fleet operators. Taking inter and intrastate passengers transport requires additional requirements of passenger safety and conveniences to be looked after. Another activity the transit fleet operators undertake is managing the logistical requirements of events of even state, national and international dimensions. Accountability for safety of patrons, punctuality, communication with guest of different nationalities, and coordination between different operators of different modes of transport and interpersonal relation management are exceedingly high. The necessary inputs for all these activities need to be generated and made available in real time to the concerned authorities.

Passenger requirements are inboard warning of opening of doors and their non-closure, written and voice announcement of upcoming stations, any route deviations for whatever reasons, and management of any medical emergency of both running staff and passengers and avoidance of panic in the vehicle. In short, a high customer satisfaction is a valuable asset to any business.

International Event management is a different cup of tea. The very magnitude is huge. Some of the requirements of the system are very sophisticated. One should have the facility of live dispatching. The operative manning, the tracking map should have the nearby vehicles and volunteers of your team be able to dispatch them on line to the location of requirement. Needless to say, they too need these facilities at their disposal. Similarly, it should have a very quick rerouting capacity or the volunteers sent to sort out the problem should be able to walk them out of the jam and get into the fast track quickly.

Huge multi party events are always managed by a team comprising of many players. Interoperability is an essential requisite and an integrated software suite so the needs of all participants are met seamlessly. Safety and security are a huge concern and any unauthorized vehicle movement or change in the route should be immediately notified to the concerned authority. Fleet operators today have installed high-tech fleet tracker GPS systems in all of the vehicles in their fleet in order to ensure passenger, driver and vehicular safety. It is equally important to keep your volunteers and logistic managers safe and a panic feature to alert the dispatcher and supervisor to the emergency and react.

The above is just a sample only and is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. It is to just indicate the magnitude of sophistication that is required to meet the requirements of a successful transit fleet operator. These are in addition to the normal fleet operators’ requirements.

If you own a fleet of vehicles and are planning to invest a significant amount to have GPS vehicle tracking systems installed in your fleet, then it is one of the best choices you have made for your business. Not only does a vehicle tracking system help cut operational costs and help you regain control of your fleet/drivers, but it also ensures a smooth running of your business. It also ensures timely delivering goods or services, thus helping the owner make sure that the drivers of their fleet of vehicles aren’t making unauthorized stops and are following the prescribed routes.

Listed below are some of the best GPS fleet tracking systems of 2017:

Verizon:
Verizon Networkfleet, with a price/vehicle per month of $34.95, hardware price/vehicle of $295 and installation cost of $65, has a complete range of features, including extra perks. The vehicle tracking system company offers a full specimen of GPS fleet tracking features, including tools that monitor maintenance, fuel consumption, safety, routes, etc. The software is easy to use and reports are easy to read. Its advantage is that the company has nationwide roadside assistance include, but suffers from the disadvantages that the hardware is visible to the drivers.

Fleetistics:
The high-quality Fleetistics is a comprehensive software with a plethora of features, such as excellent readability of its reports, sends alerts, reports, and has an interactive map, tracks high-quality data in order to reconstruct an accident, if need be, tracks stops and routes for each vehicle as well as provides safety information on every driver. Fleetistics has a price/vehicle per month of $25, hardware price/vehicle of $99.5 and zero installation cost, but has a $25 start-up fee.

NexTraq:
NexTraq features some of the easiest to-read reports high-quality customer support and no vehicle minimum. The easy-to-understand software has a great interactive map, ensuring safety even in rough weather, can track the routes the drivers take and also the stops that they make, and also allows users to tell which driver is in which vehicle using the driver ID option. Moreover, the hardware is easy to install and doesn’t require a professional to do it, saving money and time. NexTraq has a price/vehicle per month of $34.95, hardware price/vehicle of $179 and zero installation cost, but has a $99/unit start-up fee.

Rhino:
Formerly known as ‘Track What Matters’, Rhino Fleet Tracking helps improve efficieny at lower costs by using GPS technology to track stops and routes made by each driver, allows driver to be dispatched to a new location easily, sends drivers turn-by-turn directions for a faster ride, tracks speed, mileage and amount of idling time for each vehicle, and allows generation of custom reports. Its advantage is that it allows monthly rather than an annual contract, but lacks driver ID and seatbelt wearing options. Rhino has a price/vehicle per month of $16.95, hardware price/vehicle of $39.95 and zero installation cost, but has a start-up fee that varies.

Tomtom GPS is a company engaged in the manufacturing of GPS aided appliances and other applications that seek to enhance their already existing line of products. The company specializes in the field of fleet and public travel. Millions of people need to travel from one place to another and the company concentrates on providing smart devices to help this segment. The products are road navigation devices, maps etc. The company has four segments of interests. These are automotive, consumer, telematics and licensing.

The features of each of them are listed below:

Automotive segment provides modular components like maps, traffic and navigation software to car manufacturers. Each component can be a standalone product and also integrated into the Connect Navigation System. The navigation aide has features like updating through Wi-Fi. User can incorporate the updates sitting in the car itself. These applications are compatible with all smartphones. User can get intelligent routes that avoid traffic. Other facilities are life time world maps and Advance Lane Guidance. There are navigation aids for motor bikes also.

Consumer segment concentrates on products which are location based. These are applications which help users to know where they want to go. They produce GPS aided spot watches and smartphone navigation applications and PNDs. Their products provide intuitive user interfaces, innovative designs and features and strong GPS performance. The Spark watch among the DC RAINMAKER series for example has an optical sensor with music and GPS tracking capabilities. It has programs for running, cycling swimming, stopwatch all in one.

Licensing department sell maps, navigation software, cloud based platforms that allow developers to access and create location enabled application of their own. The department gives licenses to use their applications and products in the licensee’s applications.

Telematics looks after the business dealings. It is this department that provides navigation, two-way communication devices, job scheduling and report logging applications and organizations. They also provide fleet management systems to fleet owner and operators. They also partner insurance industries to provide usage based insurance products. WEBFLEET Software-as-a-Service solutions helps third parties to integrate their applications offering ISO 27001 standard information security.

The products as a rule have very user friendly and innovative user interfaces. It has elaborate GPS functions. The products have more than money’s worth features and quality. They are suppliers like maps to original equipment manufacturers. Tomtom supplies maps and traffic data to one of the cab-hailing companies.

Tomtom GPS is a company well known for their traffic applications like navigation aids, maps, etc. One of their navigation aids is GO. The latest GO navigation aids seamlessly and integrates with smartphones. It can read out text messages and allows full use of the phone’s personal assistant. It can update the maps through the built in WiFi. Starting up and planning the route is very simple and fast. Magnetic mounts can be fixed on the dash and the GO can be docked into it. Alerts about latest fixed mobile speed cameras, and other alerts from other users about traffic conditions can be recorded in Tomtom traffic. The company has long years of experience in analyzing traffic and that coupled with the information, users on the road give. This helps to update traffic and the same can be seen on Tomtom Traffic. It can be easily accessed and viewed on any device. This information allows for extremely hassle free driving, and maps can be updated any time at no additional cost.

The downloadable app, MY DRIVE, permits the user to pre-plan the route, check live traffic and save favorites on a smartphone or PC. Tomtom GO will pick up any destination or favorites set on MY DRIVE as soon as it powers on the car and connect your smartphone. Destination can be set using phone, tablet or PC using a contact from the phone, or a favorite place already stored and sent it to Tomtom GPS device and get the exact route. The device will indicate a detailed route to the destination. The user can even personalize the map by tapping the location needed or typing them in. It can also be edited any time. There are three models to choose from and GO 520/620 is the most sophisticated.

The best devices for Motorcycles is called the Tomtom Rider 400. It has lifetime maps. Menus are available to set the most exciting roads. The user can set the levels of challenge and level of wilderness. One can choose to stay at sea level or climb the peaks to be determined by the user. One can even set new routes by tapping on the area on the map, highlight the areas and decide the duration of the trip.