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.

A survey by the ATA (American Trucking Association) found that the productivity benefits to a trucking company ranged from 5% to more than 25% when the fleet management used real-time GPS tracking systems. As per the ATA, not only did customer service improve due to better on-time deliveries, but also customer pick-up requests were faster using GPS tracking.

While owners of businesses have numerous fleet tracking providers to choose and select from, it is important for them to think carefully about their business objectives and how to align them using GPS fleet management, how they could change in the future, how to choose drivers, train them and streamline the system for it to be cost-efficient and effective. Listed below are some tips to choose and settle on a GPS vehicle tracking system:

Understanding and setting fleet management goals: This takes a good amount of research, but the more precise that fleet owners are, the better the chances they have to choosing what will help them and their business the best. Owners should inquire with each department what information they want regarding the fleet during a working day, and identify the most critical problems, which include improving customer satisfaction, difficulty in finding pickup locations, drivers getting lost, fleet breakdowns, employees moonlighting or taking too many breaks for personal work, keeping trucks safe from theft and reducing fuel costs.

Outlining future needs: Fleet owners need to outline what kind of functionality they will need in the future, since they’d want a system that will grow with them. Fleet owners, for instance, could consider a Cloud-based system which can be accessed from anywhere with internet, is less expensive and offers automatic, easy updates. If fleet owners go in for a modular system, it allows them to buy just as much as they need at the current time, and also have the chance of investing in more as the business grows. Fleet owners should make sure that they can check about improved productivity and profitability.

Test drives: Fleet owners should ideally narrow down their choices to 2/3 of them by watching demos, viewing videos of GPS tracking providers and products and providers, and then considering installing them. They could use different trucks and maybe install them all at the same time, thus getting an idea of how it works in real world conditions. One can also ask their other companies who have bought systems about how the vehicle tracking system is as well.

Train everyone involved: The most important tip is to train anyone and everyone even remotely connected and/or working with the fleet management and GPS system, including the drivers and even the maintenance staff. This will ensure that owners get the most out of their investment.

Garmin is a popular multi-national brand based in America, which runs on the basis of a technology developed by Gary Burrell and Min Kao in 1989. This brand was born in Kansas, Texas and has since taken over the global street pilot, fitness, communication and wrist wear markets, thanks to its tryst with technology and sleek good looks.

The Garmin range of products goes beyond mere wrist-wear and also employs advanced technology when it comes to niches like professional aviation, sports, in-vehicle GPS systems as well as wrist and palm held GPS systems. Let us find out more about some of the unique offerings by this brand.

Wearables:
• The smart watch is a system that was evolved by the Garmin brand to help people track locations, activities, and fitness levels.
• With these watches, you can actually have an automated count of where you are going, how far you have gone, how many calories you have burnt and how much further you need to go before you reach your goal for the day. That’s right – you can also set a goal regarding the number of steps that you want to cover in a span of 24 hours.
• Apart from that, the running-based apps on the watches will also synchronize the readings with the heart rate that you have reached while running so that you know just how effective your cardio for the day has been!
• The range starts from $79 for a basic Vivofit model and goes up to $899 for more complex watches with many more features!

Health and Wellness:
• The health and wellness products that are produced by Garmin help in tracking, monitoring and creating a more active environment for you.
• Also, on the basis of the tracking and monitoring functions, one can take the appropriate steps for timely diagnosis and treatment, in case any of the vitals show a sudden spike or slowdown.
• In this range, you will also find the Garmin Index Smart Scale, which shows you the bone and muscle mass. Also, it can recognize and store the information for up to 16 people so that if anything is amiss, one can compare and report it to a doctor immediately.

Community:
• The Garmin Connect Community is an active platform that engages its many users, even as the brand seeks to connect people who are invested in their wellness and fitness.
• One can share stats on equity as well as progress so that motivation becomes a full-time, round-the-clock process.
• This app also offers online challenges so that you can push your limits to reach higher goals.
• The wellness portal run by Gramin also offers you a chance to engage with an intuitive administrator dashboard. This will help in tracking participant efforts and is also a good way to get maximum participation from employees in an office, as well as members in a family. One can easily set a company or family goal which can be monitored by all, in terms of progress made!

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.

Fleet Tracking Systems, currently known as Fleet tracker GPS, are a typical application which demonstrate the versatility of IT solutions when coupled with GPS systems. There are fleet tracking systems to practically suit the individual owner of a few vehicles to large companies owning large number of vehicles operating over vast, inter and intra-state networks. There are two types of devices, passive which stores all the data, stores in the internal memory of the device and loads periodically. The other is an active system that is in constant touch with a central control center. The data collected are the same changing only on user requirements. There are choices about one way communication and two-way communication and also using GPS satellites for communication or choosing local channels like telephone networks. The individual requirements and the cost are main factors that goes into the decision.

All systems use the GPS, operated and maintained by the US government and one among the best. One can choose any of the systems like the Russian GLONASS, Europe’s Galileo or the Chinese BeiDou. Many choose GPS and GLONASS as the number of satellite covered increases the accuracy of location determination. The transit operators need some more facilities like on-time announcements of upcoming stops and other useful passenger information. Systems that cater to the transit operators provide these facilities.

Benefits of fleet tracker GPS
There are huge benefits to the fleet operators by using these applications. Information is power, and power is always an advantage. GPS tracking devices help the company know where their vehicles are in real time, where they were and where they will be in any future time. Rerouting can be done to improve the committed time lines if required. This allows the operators to update their customers about delivery of or picking up of their consignments. This improves the trust of the customer in the company, a very valuable asset in business. It helps monitor the driver’s driving habits and helps to comply with federal regulations and avoid penalties and also improve punctuality. The systems provide information like vehicle speed, traffic condition, engine conditions, precise time of arrival of vehicles at scheduled stations, driver’s medical aid and other critical requirements. They also help improve vehicle utilization, say by picking up unscheduled consignments or rerouting.

Other benefits are requirements of driver retraining, improve fuel efficiency, reduce maintenance cost, increase fleet availability by improved maintenance scheduling, and the list is endless. All these improve company reputation and bottom lines.

It is probably hard to imagine a life before GPS systems were introduced. And because they are so convenient, they have become a significant component of every car. However, if you are ready to purchase your new car, choosing the right GPS can be a daunting task. So, to assist you, here are the top car GPS systems that you must know about. 

Boss Audio Systems GPS Navigation
If you are looking for an advanced GPS system, then this can definitely be an excellent choice. Its impressive features offer up-to-date maps for both North and South America. In addition, its multiple language feature makes sure that you get to operate all the functions in any language of your preference. Most importantly, your maps get automatically updated as per your location. Also, it boasts a 7-inch touchscreen and built-in 256MB RAM. 

Cestovet Car GPS Navigation
In the long list of high-tech GPS systems, this is another reliable option. Its 7-inch touch screen allows you to clearly see all the maps. Moreover, updating the maps is absolutely hassle-free. Along with this, its intuitive voice feature immediately warns you about the sharp turns, speed cameras, and nearby school zones. This technologically advanced GPS even allows you to view the maps in 2D and 3D modes. 

Garmin Drive 51 USA LM GPS Navigator System
This GPS system, equipped with a smart driver alert feature, intends to keep you safe by warning you about the potentially dangerous curves. This feature offers maximum convenience, especially when you are driving on a route you have never been on before. Additionally, it can give you incredible suggestions regarding the top-most hotels, restaurants, and other attractions you might want to explore. It even alerts you about the red-light cameras so that you do not violate any traffic rules.

Ineed GPS Navigator System
This device is easy to start and is accompanied by a manual that makes it simpler for you to operate it. It also comes updated with the latest maps, so you do not have to spend any time updating them. In fact, you can customize the best routes on such GPS systems to minimize traffic. In addition, what makes them highly preferable is their excellent customer and after-sales service. 

If you plan on purchasing a GPS navigation system, it is necessary to consider multiple factors such as size, ease of use, storage, and language. Mentioned above are some of the high-end and futuristic GPS systems that you can purchase. 

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.

The GPS, or Global Positioning System, has been operational since 1973. It functions through an intricate network of satellites in the orbit. This satellites help in determining the location as well as the present time of the device. Today, this cannot be called a niche technology as almost everyone possesses mobile phones and tablets with integrated GPS tracking in it. The Federal Commission has made it mandatory for smartphones to have GPS tracking capabilities.

Every person should look for GPS enabled smartphones. This technology can help in tracing and recovering a misplaced or lost phone. Here are some instances where cell phone GPS tracking will spare the owner from unwanted hassles and troubles.

Recovering sensitive data stored on cell phones: Regardless of whether a phone is used for business purposes, losing it can lead to a host of troubles. It not only costs a substantial amount of money to replace it, but can also expose sensitive information. Cellphone tracking can show you exactly where your phone is so that it can be recovered without further delay. There are also service providers that allow you to lock your device or wipe out sensitive information. This way, you can rest assured that your data and information are absolutely safe.

Improving customer service of delivery companies: Many delivery enterprises are also using GPS enabled cell phones. Tracking cell phones of employees can help the business owner trace his employees. This can aid in finding out whether they are performing their job diligently or not. The person in charge can effortlessly check whether the staff are at their desired locations. This helps to refine procedures for bettering customer service. The business can also let the customers know the exact location of their parcel and an estimated time of delivery.

Tracking children: As a responsible parent, you should always know the whereabouts of your kids. But sometimes children may be errant and not inform their parents. Today, most kids have mobile phones which they rarely put down. Tracking a cell phone will enable you to know where exactly your kids are. You don’t have to worry where they are and you can easily find them in emergency situations.

Cost Effectiveness: For some vehicle fleets used in business, the overall cost of installing GPS trackers in the vehicles can be very expensive. On the other hand, installing a cell phone tracking system can be much cheaper. Since most cell phones manufactured in recent years are GPS enabled, you will simply have to activate the device.

Almost every individual in the United States possesses a smartphone. These mobile communication devices are now crucial for both businesses and individual consumers. The advancement of mobile technologies and GPS continues to offer a host of advantages to smartphone users.