Introduction to

GPS Vehicle Tracking

Technology
Technologies Involved

• GPS – Global Positioning System

Allow GPS receiver to determine its exact POSITION in longitude and
latitude, velocity, direction etc.

• GSM – Global System of Mobile

Allow this POSITION information to be sent to central control room as
SMS or GSM data call

• GPRS – General Packet Radio Service

Allow transfer of multimedia content like photograph to central control
room or other mobile unit

• GIS – Geographical Information system

City maps with technical information which allow converting the
POSITION information into possible address, street or place.
What is GPS?

Developed by the U.S. Department of Defense for the

military, the Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide,
satellite-based, radio navigation system that will give you the
exact position of your vehicles, no matter where they are,
what time it is, or what the weather is like. A total of 24
satellites orbit the Earth, monitored continuously by earth
stations. The satellites transmit signals that can be detected
by GPS receivers located in your vehicles and used to
determine their location with great accuracy.
How does GPS work?

Each GPS satellite transmits radio signals that enable the

GPS receivers to calculate where its (or your vehicles)
location on the Earth and convert the calculations into
geodetic latitude, longitude and velocity. A receiver needs
signals from atleast three GPS satellites to pinpoint your
vehicle’s position.

GPS Receivers commonly used in most Vehicle

tracking systems can only receive data from GPS
Satellites. They cannot communicate back with GPS or
any other satellite.

A system based on GPS can only calculate its location

but cannot send it to central control room. In order to
do this they normally use GSM-GPRS Cellular networks
connectivity using additional GSM modem/module.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• GPS Receiver can communicate (receive and
send data) to GPS Satellites
WRONG, GPS Receiver can only Receive data
and cannot send data to Satellite (s)
• GPS Satellites know the position of your GPS
receiver mounted on vehicle
WRONG, GPS satellites do not know the
position of a GPS Receiver. GPS Receiver
calculate its position using data from 3-4 satellites
and no single satellite know the calculations done
by GPS receiver or its position.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• We need to pay GPS Satellite company for
enabling GPS receiver to receive data
WRONG, GPS Satellite service is freely
available throughout the world, anyone anywhere
can receive GPS data by buying any off-the-shelf
GPS receivers.
• GPS Satellites are standard satellites like for
Television broadcast, VSAT etc.
WRONG, GPS satellites are different satellites
and can only send small and week radio signals
to earth.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• GPS Satellite Signals can be received anywhere
WRONG, GPS Satellite signals are weak and can be received normally with
GPS antenna (external or integrated with GPS receiver) facing open sky. GPS
signals cannot be received inside the home, building, garage, bridges. Even
clouds and Trees can prevent GPS signals from reaching GPS receiver. Hence
no GPS receiver can guarantee performance. Certain advanced and sensitive
GPS receivers can receive signals in above situations but performance is still not
satisfactory.

• GPS Receivers give accurate position information

WRONG, GPS receivers have cannot give accurate position, Normally errors
from plus/minus 5meters to 25 meters are possible.

• GPS receiver is enough to know about Position or Location

WRONG, GPS receiver only give Latitude, Longitude and Velocity calculated.
To know your location you need highly accurate map. If maps are not accurate
you will have much high error in location. Normally accuracy of Maps is
considered more important then accuracy of GPS Receiver.
What is GSM ?

GSM, Global system of Mobile, is a popular

Mobile communication system provided by
Cellular service providers or GSM Operators
in most countries internationally.

It is used for in most mobile handsets used by us.

GSM Mobile communication system can be intelligently used by

electronic devices which can collect some data and send it to the
central place using SMS or GSM data call.

GSM is required in Vehicle tracking systems because GPS system

can normally only receive location information from satellites but
cannot communicate back with them. Hence we need some other
communication system like GSM to send this location information
to central control room.

Other technologies can also be used but they are more costly.
 What is GPRS?

General Packet Radio Service, is new communication services

introduced by GSM operators. These services are part of same
GSM network. These services allow secure and confirmed transfer of
content like digital photos or other data to other GPRS capable system.

example of services based on GPRS is MMS (Multimedia Messaging

Service)

GPRS is required in case we want to take snaps and transfer them to the
central control room. They are not required for GPS tracking etc.

GPRS does not involve additional hardware but we need to use more
advanced GSM modules which support GPRS.

GPRS services are not provided by all GSM operators.

IMPORTANT POINTS
• GPS Receiver is enough for Tracking Vehicle
WRONG, GPS Receiver cannot send its calculated position to your
computer hence it is not enough for tracking vehicle. You need
second technology or device to do this which can do two way
communication with your office or internet.

• GSM-GPRS (Cellular Network) is not required for Vehicle

Tracking
WRONG, GSM-GPRS is most suitable two way communication
system available to complement GPS receiver and send location
information to Mobile phone, Office or Internet. GSM-GPRS
Modem/Receiver can allow you to receive GPS position by SMS or
Data.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• Satellite two way communication technology can be used instead of
GSM-GPRS to complement GPS receivers
CORRECT, Though GPS satellites do not allow two way communication,
Other communication satellites allow it. Hence we can buy Service Plans and
Equipment from those communication satellites companies to enable satellite
based Vehicle Tracking. But it has been found that only in few regions
such communication satellite services are available for use with GPS
receivers. Enabling these services in many countries is very
complicated or not possible currently. Also these services are costly
and may require government approvals.

• GSM-GPRS allow tracking of the vehicle anywhere

WRONG, GSM-GPRS services are not available in many location or may
not perform as expected. Hence they cannot provide assured tracking.
 What is GIS?

Geographical Information System, GIS is a software which consist of

specially developed comprehensive and detailed maps of the city with
longitude and latitude information of each place, street, junctions and
address.

These maps are useful to locate the address of a vehicle fitted with GPS
system.

GPS-GSM system only provide the longitude and latitude of the vehicle but
GIS software if properly developed can provide details of exact or nearby
address where the vehicle is.

In case one does not have detailed GIS maps of the city it would be very
difficult to track and teach the vehicle in very short time.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• Accurate GIS Maps are available for all parts of the
world
WRONG, Accurate GIS maps like street level maps are not available for all
parts of the world. For countries in USA and Europe they are easily
available but for most other countries you need to search for their
availability.

• It is not possible to use GPS vehicle tracking without

accurate maps
WRONG: GPS Vehicle tracking can be implemented even without accurate
maps. Many software allow you to mark location of your offices, warehouse,
customers etc. and do vehicle tracking based on them. More then 50% of
the fleet management systems do not even use maps. They work on the
basis of simple reports generated by software that give you the approx
address (using waypoints) of the locations visited by your vehicle instead of
showing maps. For achieving your return on investment and benefiting from
the system normally you may not need maps at all.
Simple GPS Products

GPS Mouse/Receiver for

Laptop/computer

GPS Compact Flash card

for PDAs

GPS Bluetooth Receiver

for PDA’s , Mobile
Phones
 Satellite Modems

Inmarsat-D+ Satellite Transceiver DMR-200

Satellite modems are used in Vehicle Tracking systems along with GPS
Receivers because GPS Receivers cannot transfer coordinate data to control
room server via GPS satellites. Also GSM Modems can operate only in areas
where GSM network is available. For Global tracking Satellite Modems are
required along with Service plan from Satellite service provider.

These satellites are different satellites then GPS satellites. Also Many
satellite service provider offer services only in USA & Europe. Satellite
Modems and service plans are very costly and not considered cost effective
for fleet management or personal vehicle tracking operations
GPS Vehicle Data Logger

• Integrated GPS Receiver

• Records 20000 GPS logs in its memory
• Can transfer logs to laptop via USB/Bluetooth
• Log download and analysis software availabe
• Useful for Spy work or recording vehicle routes

GPS Data logger simply store changing

GPS coordinates in its memory , which
can be downloaded later on computer.
What is Automated Vehicle Location (AVL)?

AVL systems are computer-based vehicle tracking systems that

use a positioning system-GPS (Global Positioning System),
GSM (Global System of Mobile) and GIS (Geographical
Information System). Vehicle locations are transmitted at regular
intervals to dispatch center, where “GIS map matching" software
convert it into location and address on map for decision making.
 Simple GPS-GSM Vehicle Tracking Unit

Optional Inputs/Outputs like

Emergency button, Alarm signal etc. Main Vehicle Tracking unit
consist of Vehicle Controller,
GPS Receiver, GSM Modem

GSM Antenna

System work on 12VDC or 24VDC

from Car power supply

GPS Antenna
Where to install AVL device?
 SMS based GPS-GSM Vehicle Tracking
Destination
tower send SMS
GSM Tower to destination
send SMS to GSM Modem
destination
Tower

6 GSM Modem
connected to
Server deliver
GPS Receiver SMS to Server
Receive signals
from 3-4
satellites
GSM Modem
1 7
GPS Receiver
calculate its
5
Position

Server display

2
location on the
GPS Receiver computer with
maps

3 GSM Modem
send position to 8
Vehicle Controller
4
nearest GSM
Tower via SMS
GPS Receiver
communicate its
position to GSM GSM Modem
Modem via
vehicle controller
 GPRS based GPS-GSM Vehicle Tracking
GSM Modem

6
directly makes
connection with
the Server
connected on
INTERNET the Internet

GPS Receiver Server continuously

Receive signals receives data from
from 3-4 GSM Modem
satellites

1 GSM Tower
connects GSM

GPS Receiver
calculate its
5 Modem to
Internet
7
Position

Server display

2
location on the
GPS Receiver computer with
maps

3 GSM Modem make

GPRS connection to
8
Vehicle Controller
GPS Receiver
4 internet through nearest
GSM Tower. GSM
Modem can be always
communicate its
position to GSM GSM Modem connected to the
internet
Modem via
vehicle controller
 Satellite based GPS Vehicle Tracking
Satellite connect

5
Satellite modem
on vehicle with
Satellite modem
on Server

Satellite Modem
GPS Receiver connected to server
Receive signals deliver data to Server
from 3-4
satellites

1 GSM Tower
connects GSM Satellite Modem
6
Modem to
GPS Receiver Internet
calculate its
Position

Server display

2
location on the
GPS Receiver computer with
maps

3 Satellite Modem make

connection with server 7
GPS Receiver Vehicle Controller side satellite modem via
communicate its Satellite

4
position to
Satellite Modem
via vehicle
Satellite Modem
controller
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