{"id":5394,"date":"2020-04-26T10:43:05","date_gmt":"2020-04-26T08:43:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=5394"},"modified":"2020-04-26T10:43:05","modified_gmt":"2020-04-26T08:43:05","slug":"gps-tracking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2020\/04\/26\/gps-tracking\/","title":{"rendered":"What is GPS Tracking and How Does it Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

GPS (Global Positioning System) technology is one of the most innovative inventions of our time. As it continues to advance, more fleets around the world are using it to get driving directions and to monitor their vehicles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But despite widespread use, many people don\u2019t know exactly how a GPS tracker works and aren\u2019t aware of the different use cases they enable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read on to learn more about how GPS tracking works and discover a few key benefits of this technology.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a GPS tracking device?<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

A GPS tracking device is a portable unit that allows users to monitor and track its location. These devices are most commonly used in vehicles as car tracking systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While tracking devices are similar to in-car navigation systems, there are a few key differences. GPS navigation systems show drivers their location on a digital map and then provide driving instructions to get to a designated point. On the other hand, GPS trackers use GPS technology to track a vehicle\u2019s current location and trip history. The GPS data is then broadcasted to a computer, smartphone, or tablet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do GPS trackers work?<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

GPS trackers connect to a series of satellites to determine location. The tracker uses a process called trilateration which uses the position of three or more satellites from the Global Navigation Satellite System<\/a> (GNSS) network and its distance from them to determine latitude, longitude, elevation, and time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learning how to work a GPS tracker is simple. In the vehicle, the tracker will usually be powered by the onboard diagnostics (OBD-II) connector, a cigarette lighter, accessory socket, or an internal battery. The information it collects is then transmitted to the software that allows the user to aggregate and analyze the data.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do GPS trackers work with the software? Some are active trackers, meaning that they are able to provide users with a real-time view of global positioning. This type of tracker can be looped into a managed service.<\/span><\/p>\n

Passive trackers are usually less expensive than active ones as they simply store the GPS data to be viewed at a later time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How are GPS trackers used?<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

GPS trackers are used by fleet managers and vehicle owners to track the location of their vehicles. GPS tracking systems can provide useful information in a number of scenarios for fleet managers, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n