Hi tech to monitor vehicles from one location

by Gamini Warushamana

Geoinformatics International (GI) will introduce a high tech vehicle tracking and fleet management system for the first time in Sri Lanka from March 1. The technology can track the movement of any vehicle and enable vehicle owners to control their vehicles from one location.

The technology will help commercial transportation organisations to manage their fleet of vehicles and individuals to protect their vehicles from theft.

The system uses modern communication and satellite technology for the purpose. The Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are used to identify the accurate location and movement of the vehicle in a satellite image (electronic map) by using satellite transmitters.

Cameras and other electronic devices installed in the vehicle are used to get more information of the vehicle such as fuel caps, doors opening, accidents, inside temperature, battery removal and unauthorised driving. All this information is recorded in the control room and the vehicle owners can get reports.

This vehicle tracking technology can be used as a fleet management system for commercial organisations engaged in the transportation business. If the owner predetermines the geo-fence or the limits that the vehicle should travel, the system alarms come on when it passes the fencing boundary.

When the panic button is pressed the operation centre can monitor the vehicle's movement every four seconds and in the event of theft the police and rescue teams can be alerted. In such an event the operation centre will give accurate instructions to the police to follow the vehicle and the control room can immobilise the engine at a certain location.

Managing Director, Geoinformatics International, Sudarman Siripala said that the system uses the highest resolution satellite images available for civilian use such as the electronic map. The images are clear enough to recognise even yellow lines on the road.

The movement of the vehicle is plotted on this satellite image. The system software can calculate the speed of the vehicle driven at any given time and give details such as where it was parked and how long, which gasoline station it pumps fuel from, how long it had taken to travel to its destination, whether the driver took a different route, other than the normal route and whether the fuel cap is open.

Siripala said that the system is a very reliable and professional service which involves several disciplines. Our internal protocol is a private virtual network from Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT). The satellite images are provided by Digital Globe Inc of USA.

The image web server is provided by the ER Mapper Ltd of Australia. The tracking devices have Australian standards AS2201.2-2004 and are provided by Abridge Solutions Ltd of Australia.

GI has signed an agreement with the Space and Upper Atmospheric Research Centre (SUPARCO) of the government of Pakistan for technical collaboration.

Siripala said that GI is bound to provide an ethical professional service and no vehicle will be tracked without its owner's knowledge. Similarly employers can't track their employees private life and children cannot be tracked without their parents' knowledge.

There are defence guidelines and GI has to follow them. The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has promoted GI to import GPS/GSM devices under certain specifications.

Siripala ruled out any possible cooperation with defence establishments to track persons on behalf of intelligence services. This is a professional commercial service, he said.

The system can be used for security purposes. It is a good system for security as the operation centre is alert 24 hours and vigilant to take action immediately. The system also records all movements along the route taken and it is first hand evidence recorded in a map.

The electronic devices are installed in a hidden place, known only to the electronic engineers and the GI installation division and hence it cannot be removed. It will take over three hours to remove the devices.

No sooner it is tampered with the control centre gets signals and the control room will be alerted. When the devices are removed the installation configuration go out and it can't function until the device is re-configured.

Fleet management systems have many advantages and there is evidence from all over the world, Siripala said. The Fleet Management Systems will reduce fuel cost, enhance productivity, reduce accidents and avoid vehicle thefts. If the system is introduced to the public transport systems commuters can know exactly the arrival time of a bus or a train online and reduce the time wasted on the road.

Though the technology is new to Sri Lanka it is used in many countries. All countries in Asia except Sri Lanka and Bangladesh use this technology. The Maldives uses the technology to track boats.

Pakistan uses the technology heavily to track vehicle thefts. Siripala said that there will be a big demand for the vehicle tracking service and targets over 3,000 customers within the first year. The cost of the services depends on the customer's requirements.

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