Traditional GPS systems are designed to direct drivers along the fastest route between two points, but newer GPS systems and telematics software are introducing smarter navigation that can significantly reduce fuel consumption.

GPS Navigation that Cuts Fuel Costs

The default setting for GPS systems is to send you along the fastest route. That’s fine when there are no other factors to take into account but what if time is not always your primary concern, or you have other considerations that are just as, or even more, important?

Newer model GPS systems have begun offering drivers alternative routing that focuses on other factors, such as economy or traffic congestion. For example, Hyundai and NAVTEQ recently announced a “green” option for their built-in navigation system. An independent study conducted in conjunction with Magneti Marelli showed a minimum saving of at least 6% in fuel consumption per trip, compared to the equivalent fastest route.

NAVTEQ, who have been developing “green driving” technology that focuses on CO2 reduction for several years now, also works with telematics provider Telogis to deliver green fleet systems.

Using GPS to tackle Rising Fuel Costs

Green fleet systems are more than just showing drivers the most economical route between two points on a map. It’s much more, and that means much greater fuel savings.

• Curb excessive idling – Reduce excessive engine idling by up to 25%. With every hour of unnecessary idling burning at least a gallon of diesel, large fleets stand to make big savings with this one feature. Remember idling gets 0 MPG so whichever way you look at it, it’s a poor return on your fuel bill.
• Avoid gridlock – A big contributor to excessive idling is traffic congestion. Vehicles stuck in traffic are burning fuel and getting nowhere (unless they are equipped with new stop-go hybrid engines). So help your drivers out by routing around traffic, with advanced real-time traffic data information.
• Manage speeding – Every 5 mph driven over 65 mph represents a 7% decrease in fuel economy. It’s sometimes also a symptom of aggressive driving, which itself has been known to increase fuel consumption by up to one third. GPS systems with accelerometers can detect, record and report wasteful driving in real-time including hard braking and acceleration.
• Avoid the hills – Driving on the flat is generally more fuel efficient than hilly terrain. Smart ADAS map data is used by geospatial engines such as Telogis GeoBase to help mapping solutions navigate around inclines.

Start saving today

The sooner you invest in a smart GPS system that cuts your fuel bill, the better that investment will be. In fact, most fleets that have installed a green fleet system such as Telogis Fleet report a positive ROI within 120 days. That means within just four months, the system has actually paid for itself. Savings beyond that mean your telematics software is actually paying you!

On average, Telogis customers report experiencing a 10-15% reduction of their annual fuel bill. With fuel prices hitting record highs that comes as no surprise.

LBS is powered by advanced mapping engines such as Telogis GeoBase, an SDK that can be downloaded for free, and used to create any sort of application that can provide users with accurate mapping, routing and other location-based services, such as the nearest point of interest.

And now Telogis have recently released version 3.6 of the popular geospatial mapping engine, with a bunch of new features that developers will no doubt find exciting uses for, as part of their customized mapping applications.

GeoBase 3.6 – What’s New?

The release of Telogis GeoBase 3.6 included several new features that will help developers build smarter, more flexible routing solutions. We’ll just discuss two of them here – waypoints and traffic layers.

Routing with custom waypoints

Firstly what are waypoints? They are like normal route stops but differ in that they do not trigger arrival or departure events, and are not disclosed on the directions provided, but the route will still pass through these points.

Waypoints can be used to modify routing to make sure certain roads are taken on the way to the next stop, influencing how drivers get from one point to the next. They can be used to check drivers are passing through a particular checkpoint along the route, without telling them the marker is being recorded or making them stop there.

Traffic Layer

In a perfect world, routing would be simple. You would choose the shortest distance between two points. But in the real world, it’s not that straightforward. There are a lot of factors to take into account to decide the optimal route between your starting point and end destination and traffic is one of those very important factors.

Telogis GeoBase 3.6 provides developers with the ability to layer traffic conditions on their map (see below) and route accordingly. This is a feature that offers huge commercial advantages to any business where being on-time is vitally important, whether it’s emergency services trying to reach a dying man or a news van trying to beat the competition to a recent event.

As shown in the diagram below traffic conditions are color-coded with red being the worst (traffic is moving, on average, less than 31% of the speed limit e.g. around 15mph on a 60mph road) to green (traffic is moving 92% of more of the imposed limit).

Traffic data is drawn from a number of sources and uses both historical, predictive and real-time to calculate the given traffic congestion at any given time. It means route planning systems can determine the best path to take based on the time of day and navigate the driver accordingly. It could also be used to compare the pros and cons of changing the time of day, or day of the week, a journey is taken. Applications like Telogis Route take it a step further, providing detailed cost comparisons to help fleet managers improve their profit margins.

Build your own application today

One reason GeoBase has become so popular is that it is focused on developers and helping them build their own, branded applications, without advertisements. It allows them to create highly customized tools that integrate closely with other business tools, like SuperShuttle have done with their advanced airport transfer system.

Get started today with a free download of the GeoBase SDK that includes a whole lot of helpful sample data, examples, easy-to-follow documentation and a helpful support forum.

But how exactly does he get round the whole world in just one evening?

It seems a physical impossibility to cover that many miles in a matter of hours with nothing but a sled and some reindeer but for most they put it down to the magic of Christmas and leave it at that.

However some are not content with closing the case on this enigma by labeling it a Christmas mystery. They have resorted to technology to spy on Santa Claus and follow his every move on Christmas Eve.

NORAD has a long history of tracking Santa, starting back in 1955, apparently following a misprinted phone number in a Sears newspaper ad, which sent callers to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations “hotline.” Not wanting to disappoint the many eager children ringing through, the Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.

Ever since that time NORAD have used whatever technology they’ve had available to them to follow the red suit on his annual travels. It seems they are so advanced now that they can tell how many cookies Santa eats on his travels. Poor Santa probably feels a bit harassed now with radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets all tracing every wrong turn he makes, every time he breaks the speed limit or every time he crashes on someone’s couch after having one too many egg nogs.

Tracking not enough – Santa needs to be optimized

While NORAD and, more recently Google Maps, have been diligently tracking Santa for the last 50 years, one thing they haven’t been doing is thinking about smarter ways he can get his deliveries done and keep the kids of the world happy.

It’s about time Santa started thinking about ways he could maximize asset utilization and optimize his route. It might even be good for his health as he backs off the stress-induced eating that is putting pressure on that well-worn red suit.

So what are some ways that Santa could improve his scheduling and routing?

• Workload balancing – Could Santa rearrange his deliveries so he doesn’t have to back track at all? Could he combine deliveries in Madagascar with his Mozambique work orders?
• Planned vs. Actual – Does he review his routing after each Christmas, comparing the planned, optimized route with the actual journey he took? This is one Mrs. Claus might be interested in checking out herself, just to check the jolly man was staying on task. The elves could use this tool to notify children if there are expected delays and let them sleep in a bit later.
• API Integration – Santa could be running a very slick operation if he combined the CRM and WOM systems used by the elves into his own GPS navigation and route optimization software. All it takes is a little API magic!
• Integrated Geocoding – It can’t be easy for Santa to always know the best way to get into all those millions of different houses, particularly when things keep changing. Chimneys get removed and entrance ways get shifted meaning he needs on-the-spot help to pinpoint the exact latitude and longitude of a delivery, not just an address.
• Delivery Parameters – Some kids can be pretty fussy about when and where their presents get delivered and certain parents get grumpy if you use the chimney and track sooty footprints through the house. With delivery parameters (or even a relief Santa) can keep them happy by knowing any specific requests made.
• Paperless Route Assignment – It’s high time Santa went green and while we know his reindeers run on an eco-friendly blend of solar power and fairy dust, his screeds of paper-based delivery notes and turn-by-turn directions are using up precious resources. After Mrs. Claus has optimized those routes, she can send them directly to his electronic navigation device. Now there’s no excuse for missing a delivery!

Whether Santa reads this in time to make some adjustments to his operations remains to be seen but if you’re delivery business is dealing with Santa-like challenges then maybe it’s time you switched over to a comprehensive fleet management and route optimization platform.

For the Baja 1000 this year NASCAR champion Robby Gordon is being followed closely, very closely, by hundreds of fans. No they’re not running hard to keep up with him on the track; they’re doing it from the comfort of their own home.

Thanks to the live GPS fleet tracking software, Telogis Fleet, fans can monitor his every twist and turn through the torturous Baja 100, starting in Ensenada on November 18, 2010.

Live GPS tracking heralds new era for motorsport

While GPS is commonly used by race organizers to track drivers, the live tracking featured on the Telogis website is different and opens up big opportunities for motorsport fans in the future.

Satellite reporting goes where cell phones don’t – Cell phone coverage in some parts of the world is weak or non-existent. This is a problem for traditional GPS fleet tracking systems that rely on GPRS to report back a vehicle’s position.

“The radios don’t often work in the mountains,” says Kevin Wilson, marketing manager, SPEED Energy Drinks & Robby Gordon Motorsports. “Communication gets blocked out, so we use this technology [Telogis GPS fleet tracking] to see where he’s headed. It allows us to set up our pit in the next area and meet him before he gets there, in case he has a flat tire or needs to fuel up. It also provides a huge benefit for fans who will now have an accurate, real-time way of tracking Robby’s progress throughout the race.”

Real-time web interface – When motorsport first introduced in-car cameras it heralded a new era for fans. No longer were race watchers passive armchair critics, now they were right there with the driver, experiencing every dip, swerve and hair-raising moment throughout the race. The new perspective added another dimension to the sport and no doubt kept existing fans interested and gathered new ones at the same time.

Now live GPS tracking adds another perspective for fans keen to get amongst the action. The Telogis GPS unit reports to the nearest satellite every minute, with this global positioning relayed to a public website. This works in a similar way to the commercial Telogis Fleet dashboard, except most businesses find GPRS reporting is sufficient, rather than reporting to a satellite.

New possibilities for race fans – While this type of innovation is still relatively new to motorsport, it does start to open exciting new possibilities for race fans. Imagine TV coverage that was set to track your favorite driver and triggered cameras based on their current position? Or for fans waiting trackside, getting alerts to their phone when a driver is approaching? And it’s not just current position that GPS can be used to report – current speed, estimated arrival times or percentage of race completed could add a lot of interesting race trivia.

Real-world applications for live tracking

The GPS tracking technology being used to track Robby Gordon has a long and proven history in real-world commercial applications. A diverse number of industries from utility companies to local pest control businesses use Telogis Fleet to manage their day-to-day fleet operations.

“This technology is used in the real world every day to track and manage fleets much larger than ours,” says Gordon, “but the core principles are the same: where is the truck, how is it performing and what can we do with our other assets in the field to improve overall performance. This gives our race team a reliable method to track progress and allows us to work together regardless of where we’re at on the peninsula to make sure we finish the race in the best position.”

Follow Robby Gordon live with real-time GPS tracking starting from Thursday, November 18, 2010 in the legendary Baja 1000.

To know its position, a GPS device relies on being able to receive signals from at least three satellites. Without going into too much detail, a GPS unit uses the three satellites to triangulate its location* on earth (learn more about how GPS systems work).

GPS satellites transmit a low-powered radio signal that travels by line-of-sight (LOS). This means it will pass through clouds, glass or plastic but will not go through most solid objects such as buildings or dense foliage. Electric interference can also affect the quality of the GPS signal, thus increasing the chance of the GPS unit not being able to receive the satellite’s signal correctly.

A GPS device’s ability to pick up a clear and accurate signal from a satellite can also be negatively affected by something known as satellite geometry or shading. This is when a number of satellites are ‘bunched’ together in relation to the device, such as all lined up in a row. GPS satellites work best when positioned at wide angles from each other, from the receiver’s point of view.

It’s probably fair to say that most users of GPS devices have at one time or another lost sufficient signal strength so that they can no longer determine their current location with any certainty. Or they have powered up a GPS device (normally inside a building) and wondered why the unit is unable to get a lock on its current location.

Of course sometimes a GPS unit may not be receiving a satellite signal because it’s faulty, in which case it needs to be returned for servicing.

No GPS signal, now what?

So what if a GPS unit doesn’t have a clear LOS to at least three satellites? Does it just stop working?

Basically, yes. It will no longer be able to provide the user with a current location, until it can resume a link to at least three satellites and then update its position. So what does this mean for navigation systems that are guiding someone to a destination? For example, a driver may be driving through a tunnel and no longer have LOS to any GPS satellites. How does the driver continue to receive directions?

Some GPS systems such as Garmin® use a process known as dead reckoning.

Dead reckoning has a long history, particularly with seafarers who would calculate their estimated position by using their current speed and direction. It is thought the word comes from ‘deduced reckoning’. It works in a similar way to how some utility companies will estimate a consumer’s power usage based on historical usage, when an accurate reading is not available.

Using a combination of the driver’s destination, the vehicle’s last known position as well as its current speed and direction and maps loaded into the GPS unit, relatively accurate routing can be maintained even where there is GPS satellite signal.

The numbers comes from an analysis at the University of North Texas school of public health, published in the American Journal of Public Health.

The study showed that 16,000 drivers were killed by handset use between 2001 and 2007. That’s over six people dying every day from cell phone related accidents.

Why is texting, or talking, while driving so dangerous and what are we doing to save those six lives needlessly lost every day?

Driver distractions – A recipe for disaster

Firstly why is cell phone handset use so dangerous, even fatal, for drivers? Probably the main reasohttp://gpssystems.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=641&action=edit&message=1n is because driving is a full-time job. And while the brain is an amazing thing it has its limits. There is only so much information it can cope with at any given moment (hence why no one can truly multi-task properly!) and it will deal with tasks in a more linear fashion than in parallel.

This means while you’re reading that text that’s just come flashed through on your phone and trying to understand the joke, your brain isn’t overly conscious of the fact that the car in front of you has had to come to a complete stop. We all know what happens next.

You might think you can handle reading a harmless text while driving but tests have shown otherwise. A study performed by Car and Driver magazine (unscientific by their own admission) compared braking results between normal driving, driving while reading a text, while writing a text and under the influence of several alcoholic drinks. The results threw up some surprises with texting worsening reaction times by 600% compared to someone impaired by alcohol. Reading texts was actually more dangerous than writing them. Even the “best” results for texting while driving still resulted in traveling an extra four feet than normal, which can be the difference between a near miss and a solid hit resulting in possibly injury or at least an expensive trip to the shop for your car.

Results courtesy of Car and Driver magazine

Of course, there’s every chance you might have texted or talked on the phone while driving many times before and nothing happened. Count yourself lucky. By continuing this practice you’re increasing the chances of being in an accident several hundred percent – those aren’t good odds.

Distracted drivers – what’s the solution?

Law makers are being persuaded to legislate against this dangerous practice, particularly in light of the growing evidence that talking or texting while using a mobile phone lead to an increase in accidents or accident-related deaths.

Unfortunately it’s difficult to police and the urge for drivers to ‘multi-task’ because of work pressures or running late override concern for their own safety or that it’s breaking the law.

Some other solutions put forward have included:

• Block the signal – Blocking cellphone signals inside the car
• Harsher punishments – Increasing the penalties if caught
• Hands-free – Forcing the use of hands-free car kits (or forcing cellphone makers to include them as standard equipment)
• Awareness – Increasing awareness of the dangers through advertising campaigns
• Technology such as HUD displays – Making the technology easier to use (phones that display messages on the windscreen using heads-up display technology – potentially embarrassing if it’s a message from your MD with the results from ‘those’ tests)
• Self-driving vehicles – Self-driving cars that use GPS to take over the role of responsible driver when the current one is distracted (some car makers have already introduced self-braking technology that automatically applies the brakes if the car is deemed to be approaching a solid object too quickly)

While there is no simple solution, the answer clearly lies in developing better technology to combat the problem for two important reasons. Firstly, it could be argued that technology created the problem in the first place so thus should be responsible for fixing it, and secondly, human behavior is a thousand times harder to change than technology.

Fleet managers – The answer is easy

For commercial drivers who use a fleet management system, the solution is simple. Rather than communicating with your drivers via a mobile phone handset, why not switch to 2-way messaging? Since it’s integrated with their GPS device, it’s less distracting, its interface is more driver-friendly (let’s face it; cellphones were not designed with drivers in mind) and can be setup with customized forms.

For example, Telogis Mobile™ allows head office to send through a standard yes/no form to all drivers. Rather than having to write a text to reply, the driver simply presses yes or no in response to the message. A lot quicker and a lot less distracting, and that’s safer for everyone.

What’s your opinion – is texting while driving dangerous?

An artist's interpretation of Japan's new Quasi-Zenith Satellite, a GPS satellite called Michibiki, in orbit. Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

It almost seems unthinkable. The acronym GPS is so commonly used today that you would think it describes the entire global navigation system used by everyone around the world. But GPS is actually under threat from competitors. How can this be?

Firstly, it’s important to know exactly what GPS is and how it works.

GPS is actually only one part of the Global Navigation Satellite System, or GNSS. Over the years competing satellite constellations have been setup by other nations such as Russia, China and Europe. This has created some issues as different groups vie for supremacy.

But GNSS are not the only in the navigation game. There are a growing number of regional systems as well, setup by France, India and now Japan.

Japan has recently launched the first of 3 satellites, which will make up the new Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). The satellite was launched at 8:17 a.m. (JST) on Saturday, September 11, 2010.

The new satellite is affectionately referred to as Michibiki, a name that means ‘to guide or show the way’ and was chosen during a nationwide competition in which 11,000 submissions were received.

Cute names aside, it raises questions about the future of GNSS and whether the proliferation of satellite systems will signal a decline in use of NAVSTARs GPS constellation.

Reasons for setting up their own ‘GPS’

Like any breakup, the leaving party try to explain their reasons with well-worn euphemisms. “It’s not you, it’s me”. In this case, maybe it’s a bit of both.

Japan are saying the new regional system will give them at least a 10% improvement in satellite coverage. Japan has long struggled with issues due to tall buildings and mountainous countryside, which has meant that at times they can lose accurate positioning for several hours in the day, particularly when the GPS satellites they previously relied on were at low points in the sky. Accurate location data requires a minimum of three satellites to be in direct line of sight

The satellites orbit will focus on the islands of Japan in a figure-eight pattern, a flight plan that will mean that at least one of the 3 satellites will be directly above the country, improving coverage and making sure that Japanese users are never left in the dark over their position or elevation.

QZSS will be compatible with existing navigation equipment so no upgrades are required to use the new satellite coverage.

Is there another reason why Japan are building their own navigation satellites?

As with any polite breakup there are those things left unsaid; the real reasons for a breakup. In this case, there may be more to it than just achieving better coverage.

These reasons may be at more of a national security level than just helping Joe Public, or Joe Suzuki, find his way home after a hard day at the Kawasaki factory.

Countries like Japan are wanting to reduce their dependence on the American-owned (and controlled) NAVSTAR GNSS. They know, like other countries, that the U.S. can easily (and most likely will during any military confrontations) switch off the GPS constellation. This was in fact one of the reasons behind pouring millions of Euros into the Galileo project.

So will the world wean itself off GPS, favoring instead to use their own self-managed GNSS systems? With the action taken so far by countries such as China, Russia, India and now Japan, many are thinking that it is only a matter of time before GPS is no longer king of the global navigation world.

When it came right down to it, finding something in the days before GPS could be terribly inconvenient. Fortunately, those days are over.

Today, both in-car and portable GPS navigation systems save time and trouble. Portable units are especially popular in vehicles due to their relatively low cost (ranging from $100 to $400) and ever-increasing gaggle of features. If you’re thinking about buying one of these units, there are ten things to consider:

1 – The Screen. If you need a portable GPS unit that doubles as a personal unit you might use out on the trail, then you don’t want to go too big. While portable GPS unit screens keep getting bigger and bigger, most people can’t comfortably hold a GPS unit if the screen is much bigger than 4″. On the other hand, if you plan on keeping the GPS unit exclusively in your vehicle, go with whatever screen size you like.

Also, there’s a difference between screen size and screen resolution. Basically, screens with good resolution are easy to read. Screens with poor resolution? Not so much. Some low-end manufacturers offer really big screens, but the resolution on these screens is poor. Not all screens are the same, so ask to see a demo model or pay special attention to the screen specs before you buy online.

2 – The Mounting System. Second only to the size of the unit, mounting options and “where the power comes from” are the most important aspects of any portable GPS unit. For most portable GPS devices, the standard mounting option is a low-tech suction cup windshield mount. Most of the time, this will work well enough. However, if your vehicle’s windshield has a very steep rake (a high angle windshield typically found on sports cars), a suction cup might not be a good fit. If the suction cup doesn’t work, check out a bean bag or friction mounts.

As for power, almost all portable GPS units use some sort of cigarette lighter adapter. Look for one that uses a low-profile plug (bigger plugs only get in your way), and consider a rechargeable unit that doesn’t always have to be plugged in. If you don’t have to constantly plug-in your GPS unit, it’s going to be much easier for you to stow it away when your vehicle is parked.

Sometimes, specialty make and model websites, such as this one for Toyota Tundra owners, allows you to find specific mounts for your GPS device.

3 – Automated Traffic Updates. This is the most compelling featured of many portable GPS devices. This feature promises to steer you clear of traffic jams and, when it works, it’s great to have. However, the emphasis here is on “when.” These systems tend to work best in large cities (e.g. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, New York, etc.), so if you don’t live in a major metro area you may find that this feature does you little good. Considering that some of these systems require you to pay a monthly fee, don’t look at this as a major benefit if you live in a smaller city.

4 – Text To Speech. This is a safety feature that will likely become mandatory in the very near future. Distracted driving has proven to be very dangerous, and portable GPS manufacturers are beginning to offer “talking” GPS systems as a result. Some of the more expensive portable GPS units have a “voice pack” feature that allows you to download a unique accent or tone for your GPS.

For example, your GPS will give you directions using a voice similar to Darth Vader, Christopher Walken, Homer Simpson or Barbara Walters. While it might not be able to improve the sound of your car’s exhaust (maybe look at using some noises from this exhaust sound clips website!), it’s definitely helpful when you’ve got your eyes glued to the road.

Funny voices or not, this is a great feature to have. Don’t buy a portable GPS without it.

5 – Lane Guidance. It’s just like it sounds. When you get on the freeway, the GPS not only tells you what exit to take, but it helps you prepare for that exit by telling you which lane to be in. This is a HUGE benefit, but it’s not available on a lot of low-end models. If you can afford it, it’s great to have.

6 – Maps. A portable GPS unit is only as good as the included map data. Most people will be satisfied with the “standard” data in these GPS units, but if you live anywhere outside the continental U.S., you may have to buy some additional map data. Also, remember that map data needs to be updated regularly. While some GPS units come with automated updates, the standard practice is to charge consumers for new data every year or two. Make sure you know what this charge is going to be before you buy.

7 – Reality View. Instead of seeing a very geometric map schematic, units with “reality view” try to show you a cartoon-like depiction of the road. If you find the standard map view confusing, this may be a helpful feature.

8 – Bluetooth and Hands-Free Phone Features. Some portable GPS units have the ability to be connect to your cell phone, the benefit being that you can look-up addresses on your phone to “send” to your GPS unit, initiate or answer calls via your GPS voice activation system, etc. This could be a nice add-on, but keep in mind that using Bluetooth reduces the battery life of both your phone and your GPS.

9 – Voice Recognition. If you have this feature, when you talk to your GPS it will listen. While not completely foolproof, voice recognition technology is as good as it’s ever been. It’s not a required feature, but it might save you a lot of time keying in addresses.

10 – Theft. There are two kinds of theft to be concerned about.

1. People have been known to break into cars to steal GPS units. Obviously, you’ll want to make it as easy as possible to stow your GPS away when it’s not in use. This is why mounting and power are important considerations – if your GPS unit is hard to unplug and dismount to put away, it’s more likely to be stolen.
2. While this situation is very rare, it’s worth mentioning: because most portable GPS units have the ability to remember your home address, thieves have broken into a car with a GPS system and then asked the unit to guide the “home.” These thieves will then rob your car AND your home. Obviously, this is bad news. Learn more about preventing car burglary.

Finally, keep in mind that many smart phones offer a lot of the same features that are found in a portable GPS. You may very well have a perfectly acceptable GPS sitting in your purse or pocket right now.

You might not think that’s anything startling, you could get that using Google Maps but this is where the Telogis® GeoBase™ mapping API starts to really stand out, and why DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluids) chose to use the Telogis GeoBase business mapping program to power their website’s powerful search feature.

Using the GeoBase API (download a free trial), DEF were able to build an advanced mapping tool that takes advantage of some of the superior features offered by GeoBase, including road restrictions.

For example, when planning your journey you can specify the dimensions and weight of your truck, even the cargo you are carrying, e.g. hazardous materials, as this will affect which roads you can use.

There are a huge number of options available to drivers to customize and plan their journey including:

• Cargo type
• Fastest or shortest route preferred
• Road crossings (or left-hand turns) discouraged or forbidden
• U-turns or toll roads are permitted
• Vehicle specifications including weight, axles, height and length of the truck

DEF incorporated GeoBase’s smart routing software with its own business mapping needs, pinpointing locations of DEF suppliers along the route being taken. It took a step further by allowing drivers customize which suppliers were displayed, filtering by truck access, store type or opening hours and DEF delivery options.

DEF supplier stores are listed with full details, and are linked from both the map and their main listing, providing great flexibility for the user as well as brilliant branding opportunities for suppliers.

Telogis GeoBase mapping program – Great for drivers and developers

The DEF website is a great example of how GeoBase can be used to build useful, engaging websites, proving that it’s more than just a tool for developers of asset management programs. Website developers can use GeoBase to create routing tools, business location systems and other GIS services to visitors, customers or staff alike.

When businesses realize that to survive they need to be easily found, there will be greater demand on web developers to build applications that make it easy for users to find relevant businesses and get directions to the door. This demand will only grow stronger as more internet users access the web via mobile devices, tapping in to ‘near me’ services that can be used in real-time.

Mapping software you can trust

Telogis products are built on years of experience in GIS services and telematics, setting themselves apart as leaders in the field, providing users with a leading-edge, premium product. Telogis only partner with the best data providers including NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas. While some map providers are being targeted for problems relating to use of customer data and privacy issues, Telogis offer secure, confidential data storage options.

So, if you’re a driver wanting to find an easy way to locate products or services nearby, then hopefully you can expect to see more of these helpful websites, like DEF, becoming available.

If you’re a developer looking for a fully-customizable mapping program, API or SDK then Telogis GeoBase can offer a professional solution to solve your client’s business mapping needs.

The next generation of emergency location is DASS (Distress Alerting Satellite System) and local government agencies and NASA are working together to make it fully operational within the next couple of years. The biggest change involves switching from low-Earth orbit satellites to the medium-Earth orbit GPS satellites. With the ongoing work done by the U.S. Air Force to keep GPS constellation as the ‘gold standard’ in navigation this is a huge advantage over the current system.

Nine GPS satellites are already equipped with the new technology, with 12 more planned. Teams are in the middle of testing the new technology, as well as working with international agencies such as Galileo and GLONASS to extend the reach of DASS from North America to Europe and Russia.

Why DASS is better

• Faster response – Primarily, DASS will allow SAR to respond a lot quicker to emergencies because it uses medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites instead of the current low-Earth (LEO) orbit satellites. DASS-equipped satellites will instantly transmit location details to a ground control station, from where SAR crews can be immediately notified and respond appropriately. They will use the GPS constellation of satellites giving a much better coverage.
• Works with all beacons - Another advantage is that it works with beacons that don’t have a built-in navigation receiver. Under the current system, for beacons to work effectively they need to have a navigation receiver that can convert the latitude and longitude information received from a satellite, encode and transmit that to ground control so SAR can respond quickly and accurately. With DASS, satellites relay this information directly to ground control stations, also known as MEOLUTs.
• Saves money – Rescue operations are extremely costly and every extra hour spent searching increases the costs significantly. DASS will provide faster, more accurate locating of distressed parties, saving vital SAR funds.
• Better coverage – Since emergency beacon signals will be picked up by satellites on the GPS constellation in medium-Earth orbit instead of the current low-Earth orbit, they are less likely to be blocked by difficult terrain.
• 2-way communication - DASS also introduces the ability for 1-way or two-way (non-vocal) communication, perhaps being used to confirm a distress alert has been received and an ETA for the rescue team, or to eliminate false alerts. It hasn’t been confirmed this feature will be part of DASS or not.
• Less risk to rescuers – Because authorities can respond with more certainty and accuracy, it reduces the risk to rescuers.

Better your odds right now

Don’t panic. Emergency beacons still work and they can still find you – DASS will just speed things up.

In the meantime, do yourself a favor and register your beacon. This can be helpful if for example your beacon is mistakenly activated allowing SAR to contact you to determine if it is a false alert. It can also help them locate you faster in a real emergency.

Until DASS is operational, do what you can to take the best care of your personal safety, make sure your GPS systems are working correctly, your emergency locator beacon is registered and you have an escape plan. It all helps you to stay safe, no matter where you are!