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.

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.

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.

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.