5 potential uses for GPS Tracking Systems

GPS Tracking systems are now a regular feature in today’s day-to-day lives. Common devices such as Mobile Phones are now coming with GPS Technology built in – something we would never have considered just 5 years ago! Naturally this means that the advances in technology now means that GPS tracking solutions can be built into tiny devices, making it easier to conceal them when used by people and on vehicles.

Thanks to these wonderful advances in technology GPS tracking can now be used in many environments and applications. Below are 5 of these:

1. Military Tracking Systems. One of the strongest cases for using GPS tracking systems is in the military. As we deploy troops on the ground it is vitally important that we are able to offer them reliable advice on the terrain they are in. Very often these troops are in unfamiliar foreign lands with potential crisis just around the corner. GPS Tracking and Communication systems help keep them in touch with a command base at all times and can quite literally save lives.


2. Maritime Tracking. Consider ships way out at sea, no land in sight. By using GPS tracking solutions port authorities are able to monitor the location of the ship and advise on weather conditions. In the event of piracy the exact location of the ship can be monitored and backup sent (usually via air) within a small matter of time.


3. Aid Workers. We often take aid work for granted, but what we need to remember is that people are offering themselves to go and work in areas of conflict and high risk. It is important that the aid workers feel a degree of safety and GPS tracking systems can offer that by monitoring the locations of the remote workers and enabling a reliable communications link back to a central base and support team.


4. Convoy Tracking. Convoys can often be transporting valuable goods, or even people and in the event of a hi-jack situation it’s important that the convoy can be traced to its exact location. Very often GPS tracking systems come with a panic alert device, which can be triggered when the Convoy comes into difficulty. Again, it’s all about communication and the location of the convoy in times of need.


5. Remote workers. Whilst maybe similar to aid workers, employee location management is an important demonstration that the employer is taking responsibility towards their workers. Even an office worker who has to travel the globe can utilise a GPS tracking device knowing that there whereabouts is being monitored and that with the quick push of a button an alert can be send back to their office base.

So these are just 5 examples of how GPS Tracking devices can be deployed in the field, but it certainly isn’t limited to this list. GPS Tracking can be used in any situation where there is the potential of risk or crisis in a remote environment, on land, in the air or at sea.

5 Risk Management tips for Aid Workers

Often based in 3rd world countries aid workers and volunteers often have to work in a high risk, often volatile environment. This is due to general conditions, extreme weather and people who try to obstruct aid getting to their community in what usually is seen as a struggle for power.

Working in a remote place, in a foreign country can be a frightening experience and aid workers have to quickly adapt to their new environment in order to get on with the tasks in hand.

There are many ways in which their organizations can help them feel more at ease when it comes to working in remote locations.

The list below details 5 simple ways in which you could help remote aid workers:

1. Education
Where possible educate your workers on the surroundings and environment. What are the possible pitfalls and where might risk be an issue. The education process should include the provision of navigation materials and technology, communication processes and how to react in the event of a crisis breakout.

2. GPS Tracking Technology
To help your remote workers feel at ease you should supply them with tracking technology and communication devices. This not only helps the remote workers but gives constant communication between a central command post and the workers on the ground. It can also be used to help direct the remote workers to a ‘safe-house’ in the event of a situation breaking out.

3. Basic Provisions
Where possible the remote workers should be provided with enough food and water to last their assignment.

4. Basic First Aid
First aid training is of paramount importance. Should the worst happen it is essential that each aid worker should be able to administer basic first aid to help their co-workers.

5. Clothing and Materials
Remote locations, especially in the 3rd world are often hit by extreme weather conditions. It can be very hot in the day and very cold at night. It is important that the remote workers are kitted out with the correct clothing to help them through these conditions.

These are just 5 simple points which could make a big difference to your remote workers and teams on the ground. Just making these changes a huge difference can me and lives can be saved.

Track 24 provide Risk Management technology and crisis management solutions. The Pocket Buddy Personal Tracking Device is specifically designed to help remote teams, such as aid workers or military personnel

Risk Management Technology – Preventative action to save lives

It doesn’t really matter how you dress it up, Risk Management is a process of assessment and procedures that help to stop potential crisis situations occurring. In the common work place this is usually done by carrying out regular checks to ensure that certain criteria is being met, ensuring that the health and safety of the employees is not at risk.

However, outside of the normal 9-5 working day, people across the world are facing many different situations in places where crisis is only a matter of minutes away.

For example, take your aid workers or military troops, performing their day to day tasks in a foreign land, extreme weather conditions and the risk of ambush or hijacking. Risk Management plays an extremely important part of not only helping these people go about their day to day jobs but also keeping them alive! By utilizing technology it is possible for the location of remote workers to be monitored at all times, and for constant communication to be in place. This is made possible by GPS satellite technology.

GPS Technology sits on a framework of satellite communications which means it can be used anywhere in the world, irrespective of the local communications infrastructure. This makes the technology perfect for remote workers who can often be many, many miles away from the nearest sign of civilization or working in a deprived 3rd world country where there is no communications infrastructure.

GPS Technology allows for central teams to monitor the whereabouts of remote workers and check their location in terms of the distance away from potential crisis. It also allows them to stay in touch with a central team and should an unfortunate event occur a backup or medical team can be quickly dispatched to the exact location reported by the technology. The ability to react so quickly and precisely is sure to save lives and reduce the risk of injury.

As well as aiding people, GPS Technology is also useful for monitoring and managing assets (such as vehicles and artillery), buildings and goods. As it is now common place in the world of technology the cost to introduce technology into Risk Management plans is no longer prohibitive and through a relatively small cost it’s easy to see how it can quickly repay the investment.

Track24 PackMaster Lo-Pro Launch

PackMaster Lo-Pro is a personal tracking device that operates on the Iridium satellite network, which offers complete global coverage.

PackMaster Lo-Pro provides an emergency alert and text messaging capability anywhere in the world. Combined with the Track24 C4i web platform, it affords visibility over deployed personnel and becomes a vital system in your organisation's management of risk.

The integral panic alarm triggers visual and audible alerts on the C4i Platform, precisely locating the individual on digital mapping, and automatically generating SMS and e-mail alerts to notify key personnel in your organisation.

The text messaging capability allows you to send canned or free-text messages to the C4i Platform. In the event of an incident or crisis situation, PackMaster Lo-Pro may well represent your only reliable means of locating your personnel and communicating with them.

The Packmaster Lo-Pro is an ideal device to assist with risk management in your organisation.

Crisis Management Technology – Big Brother saving lives

We all like to think that we are never going to be involved in a crisis or any scenario where risk is running high. Unfortunately for some, their day-to-day jobs involve encountering risk and putting their lives at risk for the good of others.

Very often, working in high risk environments can be difficult, especially if it’s on foreign soil. Not knowing your surroundings and working with people from different cultures can often be very stressful work. This is where GPS technology can help.

GPS Technology utilises a network of satellites orbiting earth to send and transmit signals back to devices on the ground, at sea and in the air. Satellite technology is ideal for people working in remote locations as it doesn’t rely on cell towers and the signal is transmitted directly to the satellite from the device. In certain circumstances, i.e. in a dense forest or built up city area the signal may falter a little but at sea, in the air or on the ground it is usually a very reliable technology and helps teams in situations liaise with central management teams regarding locations, risk and general communication.

The areas of high impact when it comes to Crisis Management technology are places like the 3^rd world countries. These countries often span a vast area of expansive land and aid workers travel from village to village trying make sure inhabitants get what they need to survive. Naturally, as people try to do good others will try to hijack this work for their own needs. This is a perfect example of where Crisis Management technology can help. Not only do the central teams know the exact location of the convoys but they can also advise of, and how to avoid, potential risk situations by using the GPS technology at hand, both by tracking and communicating those on the ground.

With GPS Technology is easy for central teams to deploy backup to the exact location of a situation. It enables teams to be responsive with accurate information, which ultimately saves lives and allows for critical missions to succeed.

Security Tracking Solutions vital to operations

Security Companies are in the business of providing protection for people and assets and it’s highly important that they have a strategy in place to be able to prevent potential crisis or be able to react quickly in the event of hostility breaking out.

Much of the time the security teams are on the ground, either at an event or a venue, but in certain situations a small team may be working remotely as part as a convoy or close protection team. This is where GPS technology can come into it’s own.

By utilising GPS technology security teams can stay in constant contact with their managers no matter where they are in the world. This can be done via Satellite Phone (voice communication) and / or personal GPS Tracking devices that allow the security company to monitor the exact - yes exact - location of the team working remotely.

Security teams are up against different challenges depending on what type of job they are working on. They might be working on a close protection gig for someone famous or powerful, and it’s important that a third eye can monitor the local area for any signs of suspicious activity. The security team might be looking after assets in a convoy that might be valuable to a third party so it’s important that the pathway is clear of conflict and hostility so the convoy and security team can pass without issues.

Security Tracking solutions can help to save lives as part of any crisis management plan. It is possible that hostile situations can arise at any time, especially where there is a person in power (or someone famous). Security Teams are an important part of many operations but without the use of GPS Technology these teams are effectively blind in their work. The GPS Technology provides a lookout for them, a third eye – a safety net in giving them the opportunity to know what potential conflict is around them, giving them time to prepare for the worst case scenario in an attempt to protect and save lives and assets.

GPS Solutions are now a part of everyday life in our cars and even mobile phones. The technology is becoming more and more affordable. But then what price can you put on life?

Personnel Tracking aiding Remote Workers and Saving Lives

Many people live in a world without conflict, where they can go about their day to day lives without consequence. What they don’t always realise is that there are people who go to work every single day around the world that constantly put themselves in high risk situations in order to help or save others.

For remote workers, for example aid workers; it can be very difficult to perform your daily tasks knowing that you have to constantly look over your shoulder every 5 minutes in case a situation evolves. This is where Personnel Tracking devices can help.

Personnel tracking devices are small personal devices that can be carried around on the person (consider a pager for a guide on the size) and they can help central management teams monitor the locations of teams on the ground. Many personnel tracking devices on the market also act as panic alarms, so in the event of a crisis one quick engagement of the panic button and the central team is alerted of the situation.

Personnel tracking devices aren’t just for workers in the third world. Business travelers can also benefit from being monitored and security guards and government workers can also utilize the devices for their own safety.

Personnel tracking devices are often discrete in their appearance. It would normally be difficult to know if someone is carrying one or not.

Personnel Tracking devices that utilize GPS Satellite technology can be used anywhere in the world. This is because they use a network of satellites that orbit the earth, rather than local cell towers like traditional mobile phones.

Personnel Tracking devices put the employees mind at rest when working in high risk situations and they also let central management teams know the whereabouts of their employees. Personnel Tracking devices play a huge part in crisis management and can help save lives.

Crisis Management Technology saves the day!

At times the world can be a tense place, where conflict occurs and the potential for loss of life becomes real. At times like this risk management and crisis management plans need to be put into place to ensure that the lid is kept on potential issues to ensure that crisis plans remain dormant.

Taking safety for granted is a non-starter. Consider aid workings, on duty in a 3^rd world country. There may be reasons for certain groups of people to set on these people, who are simply doing their jobs, and with the use of GPS technology and communications their jobs can become less of a risk to their own lives and they can continue to help others.

GPS Technology allows for centralized teams to monitor the location of remote workers, whilst being able to keep in uninterrupted contact with people on the ground, in the air and at sea.

The Crisis Management technology is designed to fit a purpose. This means that a device that is used for personnel tracking is a different device that is used to track aircraft. For example, a personnel tracking device could be a small portable device, where as a tracking device used for aircraft would perhaps be fitted to the plane itself. In most cases, the devices are discrete and where required small enough to be portable.

Crisis Management plans are important, because the team responsible for management of the situation must be able to react instantly and make quick fire decisions on the spot. If they don’t then lives could be lost. The GPS technology that they use aids them with the tactical approach to making the right decisions.

GPS Technology is ideal in remote locations as the equipment uses the network of satellites orbiting the earth to pass communication from one device to another. This means that there is no need for localized cell towers, as is needed with mobile phone technology.

Now that GPS technology is affordable, where lives are concerned the question isn’t if to use it, it’s where to use it.

Crisis Management Technology that can be applied in different applications

The term crisis management tends to scare some people a bit, and so it should. Crisis management is essentially a plan of action that is called upon when risk has been exploited. A crisis situation may or not involve a human life (or more than one human life) or it may involve hardware and assets that are extremely valuable to a company or mission.

As it has evolved over the last few years, GPS Technology has provided companies and nations with the facility to be able to not only trace their assets but also monitor potential situations that may lead into a crisis.

By using small tracking and communication devices central teams can monitor and advise troops on the ground, aid workers, boats and ships out at sea or planes in the air on what action needs to be taken to avoid a potential crisis.

In the event that crisis cannot be avoided it is down to the central team to act swiftly ensuring that the situation can be monitored using GPS tracking and communication remains in place through satellite phones.

GPS Technology can be applied throughout different applications. Examples of which can be found below:

Personnel Tracking – By asking personnel to carry around a small tracking device it is possible for the central team to know the exact location of the individual and where they might be in association with potential risk or hostility.

Vehicle Tracking – Ideal for convoys, these tracking devices can help convoys avoid potential hijacking and loss of life or consignments.

Maritime Tracking – For boats and ships that set sail GPS technology and communication is paramount to a safe passage. As weather systems are monitored it is possible for a central management team to relay this information to the ships captain and arrange a new course.

These are just three simple applications of GPS technology and where it can help avoid a crisis, however it is not limited in its use. For example you could also use it during an expedition through a mountain range, or a business trip to the far east.

GPS Technology - A third eye in Crisis Management

There are many people who work in order to help save the lives of others who are less fortunate than themselves, especially in the 3^rd world. However, working remotely can be a dangerous proposition. Being away from normal life, and being put into a situation with different cultures and unknown dangers can be difficult without aid and backup from a central communications team.

From working with people in a small remote village, to taking part in a convoy from one destination to another, there is always an element of risk that needs to be managed in order to prevent a potential crisis.

GPS Technology is very often put in place to act as a third eye for the teams on the ground. By being able to monitor the surrounding areas, the exact locations of the teams and keep in constant communication it helps the team carry out their duties whilst they know their backs are being watched from above.

It would only take minutes for a potential crisis to break out and lives to be lost.

GPS Technology utilise satellites in the sky to pass communication to people on the ground. In remote locations this is ideal for crisis management solutions as there are often no cell towers so mobile phones are not an option. Not only can GPS Technology be used to communicate but it can also help to pin-point the exact location of the teams on the ground, so in the event that backup teams needed to be sent in they can arrive quickly and efficiently.

GPS Technology has been designed to fit to a number of different applications. Personnel tracking devices are designed to be small and discrete so that people can carry them around, where as other devices are specifically designed for vehicles, boats and aircraft. Even buildings can be tagged to ensure round the clock monitoring if required.

At the end of the day, the assistance that the GPS Technology provides saves lives. It’s hard to think how teams on the ground would have survived without it in the past, but it’s important that we now look forward and continue to use GPS Tracking applications wherever their may be an element of risk or the potential of loss of life.

Crisis Situations require careful Risk Management planning

In the event of any crisis, no matter how large or small, there is always a very good chance that it will generate some interest from the local, national or even international media. This can lead to some very serious negative impacts on the organisation facing the crisis as they focus their efforts on trying to resolve the situation.

Crisis can strike at any time, which is why it is important for organisations to have risk management plans in place. A risk assessment can help to identify situations within the organisation that might be exploited and create crisis situations. Risk management is a process that can help deter crisis, although in reality it can be very difficult to control events that lead up to a crisis as they are often influenced by external factors.

Once risk management has been exploited, Crisis Management plans kick into action.

Crisis Management plans are reactive, as opposed to risk management plans with a proactive. Crisis Management plans react to the situation in front of those managing the situation and its important that these people are able to make split second calculated decisions in an attempt to resolve the situation and often to help save lives.

In a remote location Crisis Management has added pressures. For example, an aid worker or military dispatch might be caught in a hostile situation that requires careful planning and intelligence to resolve. This is where the use of GPS technology can come into play, becoming a third eye for the crisis management team.

Below are some hints of Crisis Management.

1. Always prepare a contingency plan. Crisis often happens at short notice and where possible crisis management teams should be able to rehearse a crisis situation as if it were real. Although a real crisis is very different to a staged situation a rehearsal can help members to know what their role is within the team.


2. Organise a clear P.R. plan. Only the designated people should communicate with the outside world to avoid mixed stories.


3. If in doubt consider hiring external crisis management consultants.


4. Evaluate your decision making - but do it quickly. Consider the long term effects of a short term decision.


5. Work as a team. Everyone needs to be pulling the same way in order to be able to resolve the situation and save lives.

Crisis Situations can be scary. They don't have to be in the middle of a desert or in a foreign land. A crisis could occur by somebody falling down a set of stairs, or suffering a potentially fatal medical condition.

Consider your Risk Management strategy now, and you might just prevent the next crisis from actually happening...

Risk Assessments help to keep your assets protected

From time to time, every company or organization should carry out what is commonly known as a risk assessment. A risk assessment is an exercise carried out at regular intervals that identifies areas that could put assets (people or otherwise) into danger. Once that danger occurs the risk potentially turns into a crisis.

A risk assessment should be carried out on all your assets. An assest can be anything from an aircraft to a person. It is literally anything that you might have within your organization.

What is risk?

Risk is the chance of exposing a potential vulnerability that might have an impact on the company or the individual assets in a certain situation. Each risk should have a level of impact, usually Fair, Medium or High. A high-risk situation would be one that puts the assets in serious danger, such as potential loss of life or destruction of an asset.

In remote areas of areas of conflict Risk Management plays an extremely important role in keeping crisis at bay. Risk management is a preventative measure that is designed to prevent Crisis from happening. Although Risk assessments are carried out it is also highly important to ensure that Crisis Management plans are put in place. Crisis Management plans are executed in the event of a risk being breached.

As you can probably image Technology plays a role in Risk Assessment. For example, in Maritime, just by monitoring weather conditions risk can be measured and assessed on a regular basis to avoid potential crisis should a boat run into a storm. On the ground, the location of a military convoy can be monitored using GPS technology to effectively assess risk levels in terms of potential hijacking or breakdown. In remote locations even a simple breakdown could quickly turn into a crisis situation if the risk is not monitored and managed efficiently.

Risk management assessments can often pave the way for the introduction of GPS technology for people working in remote locations.

In extreme situations Risk Management procedures and technology can save lives. It’s not just about looking for potential threats, it’s ultimately about reducing the chances of something going wrong and preventing a crisis.

Personnel Tracking devices to the rescue

Although the world has become a much smaller place in terms of being able to get around it has also become the unknown to many who have to travel to remote places with their work.

Remote workers travel to places that they are often unfamiliar with. This can either be in his or her own country or the other side of the world.

Many responsible companies now provide their remote workers with personnel tracking devices. These are small units built on GPS technology that allow the company to be able to monitor the whereabouts of their employees and they give the employee the facility to raise a alarm at the touch of a button should they run into trouble.

The devices are small and therefore very discrete. Because they rely on satellite technology there are no problems with cell coverage like you would have with a mobile phone, and they can literally be used anywhere in the world.

Personnel tracking devices are ideal for remote workers in the aid sector who are often based in a foreign country, in what can be very hostile conditions. The aid workers put their own lives on the line to go and help others who need food, education or just help rebuilding a community. In some cases small villages, where remote workers have been based have been set upon by hostiles and lives have been taken. With Personnel Tracking devices and crisis management solutions this can be avoided. Personnel Tracking devices are like having a third eye overlooking the surrounding area, giving your employees a much better chance of survival in these remote, potentially hostile situations.

Employees who travel a lot can also benefit from tracking devices. This will help the employers realise if there is a problem getting to the employees destination, such as a breakdown or a hijack. Very often the vehicle used to travel will also be fitted with a GPS tracking device to help monitor the asset.

Should an employee be kidnapped the tracking devices are very often small enough to remain undetected and they give the employers a very good chance of finding and aiding the employee before it is potentially too late.

5 applications of GPS Technology to assist with Crisis Management

Crisis Management is an important process for any business to go through. It’s of even more importance for those working in remote locations such as aid workers, personnel on business trips of troops at war.

GPS Technology has been able to provide us with hugely improved intelligence with regards to the whereabouts of not only your personnel but also the location of potential conflict that could create a crisis situation.

GPS Technology isn’t limited to people. It can also be used on vehicles and also on buildings.

Here are 5 possible applications of GPS Technology in scenarios where it can assist with Crisis Management.

1) Remote Aid Workers. Tracking Personnel working in remote locations is essential to any operation. Working overseas in hostile countries brings high risks that need to be managed to avoid them turning into a crisis. GPS Technology can help keep the remote personnel in touch with a central base through location management and communication devices.

2) Convoy Tracking. Convoys transporting goods, either food or technology (or even people) can be tracked using GPS technology. This is ideal to prevent ambush or hijacking of the convoy.

3) Maritime Tracking. Boats or ships out at sea can easily become ‘lost’ in terms of knowing where they are. This is where GPS tracking can help. Because there are no obstructions out at sea there is always a clear line of communication to the satellites so it’s a reliable technology to use.

4) Military Tracking. Similar to the remote aid workers, GPS Technology can greatly assist the Army by becoming a third eye. It can help a central communications base keep in touch with those on the ground and advise of locations of potential conflict.

5) Aircraft Tracking. Because GPS technology uses Satellites to communicate with devices it is ideal for Aircraft tracking. Before GPS aircraft would have to rely on radar, which had limited coverage, where as now the locations of aircraft can be managed all over the world. Should a plane go down it is also possible to pinpoint the exact location of the aircraft if the GPS device was still intact.

It’s very possible for multiple tracking devices to be used in one scenario. For example where a vehicle may be fitted with a GPS device the personnel on board could also have their own individual tracking devices.

How GPS Technology in Convoys helps to avoid potential Crisis

Convoys that operate in remote locations are often up against the risk of potential crisis. Crisis in this situation could be simply breaking down in the middle of nowhere with trucks full of food, or even worse, it could be in the form of a hijack putting both the goods and personnel at risk.

Although its very difficult to put measures in place to prevent these types of things happening a risk assessment will be carried out prior to any potential journey. In the event that a risk is breached the situation turns into a crisis, and it’s down to a crisis management team to act quickly to avert danger and keep the convoy moving in one piece.

GPS Technology has been a huge plus in convoy and transportation, especially in high-risk situations such as war and remote aid work.

By simply fitting a small device to a lorry, van or truck, a central location can manage and monitor the position of the convoy throughout its journey. Satellite technology is of huge importance in remote locations, where there are no cell towers, and the line of sight to the Satellites is largely uninterrupted making it a very reliable and powerful tool.

A GPS Crisis Management solution can also be used as a risk management tool. For example, it should be fairly easy to locate the position of an enemy approaching the convoy and advise the drivers via a satellite communications device, usually known as a satellite phone.

Essentially Crisis Management is all about reacting to a hostile situation once it has occurred. The Risk Management element is how the potential crisis is avoided. Naturally if everything goes to plan with the risk management then a crisis may never occur, but a crisis management plan should always be put in place just in case.

Convoy Tracking is just one of many applications of GPS tracking and Crisis Management technology in remote locations. The use of this technology is limitless and can usually be adapted to any situation where there is a risk of hostility towards people or assets.

Crisis Management in war. Technology on your side

No matter what line of work you are in, you never quite know when Crisis might strike, and when that Crisis Management Plan that you have been putting together and tweaking for the last 5 years might need to be called upon.

You never really know what to expect with a crisis, and each crisis brings about its own set of challenges. It’s important that any Crisis Management plan can adapt to these situations.

One of the static variables in Crisis Management is the use of GPS technology.
It may sound like simple common sense, but management of Crisis in hostile situations in remote locations is massively aided by the use of Global Positioning Satellite technology.

Through the use of handheld tracking and communication devices, vehicle tracking devices , aircraft tracking devices and maritime tracking devices your central command post can monitor and advise from a safe distance with reliable intelligence to relay to troops on the ground.
For example, a group of soldiers on the ground might be trapped in a compound. Without GPS tracking they are totally blind and unaware of what is going on around them. With a GPS Crisis Management solution in place they can have eyes looking over them from afar, advising them of advancing enemy troops and hopefully finding them a passage to safety.

Another example of GPS tracking within a war zone is on a convoy. Convoys could be transporting anything from troops to food, and the enemy soldiers will do everything in their power to disrupt this. With a convoy-tracking device in place the central command post can ensure that the convoy keeps moving through a safe passage to its destination.

We tend to take GPS devices for granted these days, having satellite navigation technology in our phones and cars, but there is real, life saving value in these devices when it comes to hostile situations and managing crisis. It makes you wonder how wars were fought without it because it seems incomprehensible that troops on the ground would be out there operating, effectively blind to what is going on around them and where the enemy are positioned.

Crisis Management Tools for Remote Workers

Remote workers, such as military personnel or aid workers, are constantly putting their own lives in danger. Often working in a foreign environment it is imperative thaeepi these workers have the tools they need to manage high risk and crisis situations at all times.

So what is a crisis management tool? It is simply a device that allows remote workers to communicate back to a central command post. The tool may be a handheld device, or a piece of technology fitted to a vehicle (a truck, a plane or even a boat) that allows a central team to be able to monitor the location of, and communicate with personnel on the ground.

Crisis Management Systems are made up of a number of different platforms.

For example, the personnel need to have a device from which they can communicate both verbally and also in a positional sense. This information is then relayed back to the central base where it is interpreted by Crisis Management software. This software allows the central team to analyze the risk and make informed decisions to help manage the current situation.

One of the most important tools in a crisis management situation is the people. The people who use the Crisis Management tools in order to make decisions that can affect the outcome of the crisis. It is imperative that the personnel are all trained and made aware of the crisis management policies.

Investment in Crisis Management should be a number one priority, both in technology and training. Basically, to put it simply, all bases need to be covered and the personnel need to be able to adapt their training to real life situations as the crisis occurs.

A crisis is never a planned event, and so its important that training is given to help personnel adapt to any given situation. It’s all about making informed decisions that can help to save the lives of those on the ground. Through good training, reliable communication devices and a good software platform there is no reason why crisis management can not help diffuse a hostile situation and save lives.

The role of GPS Technology in war

Via a network of satellites that orbit about the Earth GPS, otherwise known as Global Positioning System, technology helps central communication bases to locate the exact positions of troops, convoys, aircrafts and maritime vessels on the ground. GPS devices that utilize the technology are the perfect companion for those working in areas of conflict, namely War zones, as a close eye can be kept on troops from a distance. GPS technology plays a major part in any crisis management situation.

GPS Technology can help to prevent crisis, and in the event of a crisis situation breaking out it helps to manage the crisis by advising the central comms base of the position of the forces on the ground and how they can quickly find their way to safety.

Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology isn’t new. In fact, it was in use back in the 1940’s during World War II. Nowadays GPS devices can be so small that they can be carried around on personnel, much like a pager or mobile phone device.

Most people commonly associate GPS technology with satellite navigation in their cars and they don’t often see past this and how the technology can be used to help save lifes in conflict situations.

Satellite technology plays a huge part in war. Not only through the tracking personnel and hardware but also through communication. A Satellite phone can help teams communicate even in the most remote of locations by using the earths orbiting satellites instead of standard cell towers. Satellite phones are ideal in war scenarios as they are often very sparse and open and there is very little to interfere with the satellite communication link (and they are very difficult to cut off as far as the enemy goes!)

In summary, GPS Technology now acts an as overseeing pair of eyes for the military. Without it the troops on the ground would essentially be blind (in modern day terms), but with the use of technology the central command point can now easily communicate with the troops whilst also monitoring their location and helping them avoid conflict and potential crisis. It has become an essential and very important tool that helps to save lives.

Managing Risk and Crisis Management

If you work in an environment that offers a high risk to personnel it’s important that you are aware of Risk Management and Crisis Management procedures within your organisation.

What is the difference between Risk management and Crisis Management?

Risk Management is the simple procedure of identifying where issues might arise and putting procedures in place to prevent them from happening. In the workplace this might be as simple as providing goggles or protective clothing to workers. In more extreme conditions, for example convoy tracking in foreign countries, it might be installing GPS tracking technology into vehicles to help avoid serious conflict situations.

Crisis Management is the plan of action that is put in place should Risk Management plans not work as effective as they should. Once a situation turns into a crisis, the Crisis Management plan kicks into place.

So what makes a good Crisis Management plan?

In any crisis communication is absolutely critical. Usually a designated team or individual will manage the crisis from a central point and its imperative that information is relayed to the crisis management team to enable them to asses the situation and quickly make decisions. The time of decision-making is paramount. A few seconds here and there could make the difference between saving or losing a human life.

Risk Management and Crisis management should never be taken lightly. Many organisations have a dedicated team that constantly look at ways to prevent crisis, or manage crisis in the unfortunate event of it happening. The use of technology (hand held Radios, GPS tracking etc) has made Crisis Management very effective over the last few years. If you work with remote workers, aid workers or have convoy travelling on foreign land you should ensure that you are using the latest technology.

Although the price of Crisis Management technology has come down significantly over the last few years it might still be considered expensive. But then what is the cost of human life? Think about it.

Track24 features in Times article

Track24 has recently featured in a Times article which explores the increasing risks facing companies that are involved in emerging global markets.

Companies are increasingly looking for sustainable methods of stand-off security (SSOS) to safeguard their personnel from the risks that are inherent from working in such markets. As a result the use of security tracking and risk management solutions has become an essential tool for companies operating in these regions.

The Times
January 6, 2010

When the job puts your life on the line
Emily Ford

…As the case of Peter Moore, the IT consultant released last week after being held hostage in Iraq for two and a half years demonstrated, it is not only high-profile political targets or VIPs worth millions who are at risk of being abducted, but ordinary executives.

Many companies eager to move into emerging markets send employees into hostile environments, from oil and gas companies exploring the Niger Delta to retail banks setting up in Kosovo. Threats can change almost daily: while the security situation in Colombia has improved dramatically, Venezuela is increasingly unstable, Mr Bullivant says. Meanwhile, the growing telecoms industry in North Africa is having to deal with heightened terrorist activity.

A burgeoning corporate security industry is springing up to meet the demand. Revenues at Track24, a company that provides high-tech panic alarms and satellite tracking devices for corporate executives, governments and NGOs working in hostile environments, have risen steadily over the past six years.

Tim Grant, chief executive of Track24, says: “Companies are globalising, looking for contracts in new places that are often either unfamiliar or there is an element of threat. As an executive, you are an obvious target.”

His clients have encountered extortion, abduction and low level criminality such as theft, a big issue in emerging economies. While companies understand the risks, they often do not know how to deal with them, Mr Grant says. “They hand out a mobile phone and say ‘call in once a day’.” This can prove problematic. Often no one realises that an employee is missing until he or she fails to turn up at the embassy the next day….

To view the complete version of this article, please click here.

Crisis Management - Are you ready to take action?

Crisis Management is something that alot of us hope we never have to do, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't take the time out to plan and train for the unfortunate eventuality that it might happen.

Crisis Management often sits along side risk management when it comes to the health and safety of our workers, troops or colleagues. Whilst risk management identifies the potential threats presented by an environment in every day life, Crisis Management is the operation in picking up the pieces should the worst happen.

A crisis management plan should be easy to execute with the right tools on hand. For example, communications infrastructures need to be in place and if required GPS tracking facilities might be needed depending on your environment.

A central base or command post should be readily available to act as a communications point where instructions are send to the teams on the ground (or in the air).

Well planned, thought out Crisis Management can make or break a hostile situation.

The difference between Crisis Management and Risk Management

Many people often ask what the difference is between crisis management and risk management.

Crisis Management is the term that describes a process, or collection of processes that are put in place to handle an unexpected event that threatens to harm an organisation, a business, an operation or an individual / group of people. A crisis normally occurs without prior warning, and therefore it is paramount that plans are put in place that can be executed swiftly to either a) put actions in place to remedy the situation or b) decrease the impact of the crisis so that normality can be restored over a short period of time.

In contrast, risk management is an ongoing process in which potential threats are highlighted and solutions are put in place to avoid these risks. Risk Management tends to be more proactive, where as Crisis Management is reactive.

Unfortunately, no matter how good your risk management procedures are, there is always a requirement for any business, military group or organisation to have a crisis management plan put in place.

What is Crisis Management and how does it affect remote workers?

By definition Crisis Management is the practice that comes into force to either react to or prevent a major event that could end with devastating effects.

There is nothing that resembles a crisis more than the potential loss of life. This is sadly something that is all too familiar when you think of scenarios such as military operations, air force incidents and remote workers who have to cope with hostile environments when working trying to help those less fortunate than themselves.

Crisis Management is all about planning. It’s about making the necessary arrangements on how to react should the worst occur. Where possible it’s about preempting situations and being one step ahead of anything that might happen. For remote workers it’s about securing the environment and allowing them to go about their job without having to think about ‘what might happen next’.

Convoys, especially those in remote locations, are totally vulnerable to attack, either through desire of theft or just pure disruption to aid or rescue efforts. This makes driving a convoy a high risk job and crisis management solutions may allow for the convoy to be tracked. This means that a central management base are aware of the location of the convoy at all times and can either react to crisis or offer proactive assistance through redirecting the convoy to avoid conflict.

Remote workers don’t just have to be working in war zones. Another example of a remote worker might be mountain rescue. In such a scenario crisis management training and planning is absolutely essential as natural disasters could happen at any time. GPS technology is of vital importance to mountain rescue teams as it allows for rescue workers or guides to be monitored at all times with minimal disruption.

GPS technology plays a huge part in Crisis management in today’s world, mainly due to its powerful communication and tracking capabilities. Through small, discrete hand held devices remote workers can stay in close communication with support teams back at base or on the ground. Crisis Management teams can become a second set of eyes that have a total overall view on what is going on.

Africa Tracking Solutions save lives

In a hostile world, crisis management and tracking solutions have become very popular in countries where remote aid workers and military personnel put their lives on the line every day.

We take our safety for granted and when on foreign land it is all too easy to let our guard slip. If you are a remote worker in Africa, perhaps on working an aid project, wouldn’t you prefer to have the peace of mind that someone was able to locate your exact position 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year? Africa Tracking offers that little bit of extra intelligence could be the fine line between losing and saving your life, should you enter an area of hostility and conflict.

GPS Tracking and Crisis Management solutions are now so discrete that you often can not tell if someone is wearing one. They now also build GPS tracking solutions into communication devices such as hand held mobile phones. Vehicle tracking solutions enable fleets (or even one off vehicles) to be fitted with tracking technology to ensure that a central command post can monitor the whereabouts of the unit at all times.

Crisis Management in Africa is all about being proactive, not reactive. It’s about avoiding life threatening situations. By monitoring locations, Central command posts are able to alert and warn personnel on the ground of potential conflict and re-route them to safety

In a remote country, like Africa, where large parts of the land are desolate, GPS tracking solutions can come to the rescue if remote workers become stranded due to vehicle breakdowns or accidents. By quickly pinpointing their location a rescue team can be quickly dispatched and the worker or team brought back to safety.

GPS Tracking and Crisis Management solutions are literally the fine line between life and death, the deciding factor between the success and failure of an operation. They give remote workers an added confidence in their environment that means they can concentrate on the task at hand rather than worrying about what might be around the corner.

GPS Tracking solutions are now more affordable than ever as satellite technology comes to the forefront of our lives. Thanks to this, Crisis Management solutions in Africa are becoming more of a reality and more lives are being saved.

GPS Tracking Solution helping unsuspecting Geologists in Australia

When teams are out in the field, either on foot or in transport the safety and monitoring of personnel is the number one priority of any organisation. By using GPS Technology, combined with radio communications infrastructure, it is possible to track radio users with integrated GPS transmitters.

The handset, a Motorola Mototrbo, along with a central integrated monitoring software solution allows you to monitor unsuspecting personnel out in the field and be on call to assist should a potential danger or crisis evolve.

These are just two examples in a world where potential crisis is only a moment away. With GPS tracking and an alert system in place you can give your team in the field the re-assurance that they are only a moment away from requesting assistance, even in the most remote of locations.

This technology came into its own when a team of Geologists, working for a mining exploration team in the deserts of South Australia bedded down for the night. They then woke the following morning to find that a flash flood has marooned them, turning the hill they are camped on into an island surrounded by a lake that extends as far as the eye can see. Thinking that the flood will recede as fast as it started, they prepare to enjoy the unexpected break.

The only means of communication they had was their Motorola Mototrbo radio, with embedded GPS transmitter and a mobile cell phone. They were able to contact their HQ by sending an SMS text and they were located by the position transmitted by their handheld radio. Once the position was determined the crisis management team immediately dispatches a helicopter, and the stranded team were successfully found and taken home.

In this scenario, the GPS tracking solution was able to assist the team that had already ran into a Crisis situation, but it can also be used to prevent crisis management situations evolving. By monitoring troops in the field a central team can quickly advise the team of the ground of any suspecting natural or unnatural disaster they are about to walk into and advise them of alternative routes.

GPS Tracking, Personnel Tracking and Crisis Management

The increase in popularity of GPS technology has meant that GPS tracking devices are now more popular and more affordable than ever before.

GPS technology now plays an important part for workers, both in the corporate world and remote workers serving the forces.

GPS can be used for many different tracking appliances, from Maritime Tracking, Military Tracking, Vehicle tracking and Personnel Tracking. Examples of where remote tracking might be useful include peace workers, aid workers, government workers in areas of conflict, military workers and maritime.

Remote workers, especially those that work in abroad, may find themselves in uncomfortable situations from time to time but by using personnel tracking devices their locations can be monitored at all times, and conflict can often be avoided by it happens. It’s all about being proactive rather than reactive. Aid workers often work in high risk environments for the benefit of others, often putting themselves in dangerous situations. Thanks to GPS tracking devices the risk can be reduced as the location of the workers can be monitored from central management bases.

Personnel Tracking devices aren’t just about tracking the location of the remote workers. They are also about being able to communicate with people in remote locations helping to aid with crisis management. This is why satellite technology is so useful, because no matter how remote the location they can still make contact through Satellite phones keeping in touch with the central base at all times.

Another example of where Personnel tracking might be used is search and rescue operations, especially in high risk areas such as mountain ranges. They might even be used for sporting events such as skiing or mountaineering. The uses of GPS tracking devices are totally flexible.

Satellites are ideal for both tracking and communication. The network of satellites that orbit the earth enable GPS devices to clearly communicate without having to rely on local cell towers (which is how mobile phones work). Occasionally, if the area is heavily built, or dense such as a rainforest then signal might be an issue. Sometimes, heavy cloud or adverse weather might also affect the GPS signal, but generally speaking GPS technology is the ideal way to implement a personnel tracking solution.

Convoy Tracking aids Crisis Management

Remote working is not only lonely, but sometimes also dangerous. From time to time convoys of commodities and people will set out from one point to another and its vital that these are tracked using GPS technology in order to avoid potential crisis.
Crisis Management is an essential part of military tactics. It is much better to prevent a crisis then react to one.

Convoy Tracking can be performed by GPS Technology, usually by installing GPS transmitters with the vehicles themselves. It is also possible for people to have personal tracking devices on them whilst they are in the vehicles. A combination of convoy tracking technology and personal tracking devices would be ideal, as in the event of a hostile situation the individuals could be tracked if they were separated from their convoys.

The GPS technology on the convoy would relay the position back to a central communications hub. This hub would have access to intelligence, potential risk and help crisis management in order to avoid conflict situations. The intelligence available at the central hub would be able to advise the convoy of directions to their destination, but also if any potential conflict was up ahead. This would enable the convoy / fleet to adjust their course and find a different route to their destination.

The potential dangers with convoys include theft of commodities, but probably more important is loss of human life. This is why convoy tracking is so important, especially in remote and hostile situations and environments.

The cost of a convoy tracking solution should be measured against the cost of what is being transported. Not only in terms of the goods involved but also the number of human lives that it could potentially save. When you look at it from this angle there is really no excuse for not putting the technology in place.
Convoy Tracking helps with Crisis Management – and it can help to save lives.