Transportation is more important than ever before; in 2019, the United States recorded nearly 40 million registered fleet vehicles. With that much competition, you’ll want to optimize your business practices. The best way to do that is with GPS tracking.
Great, but how does GPS tracking work? It’s an important question to ask, as you’ll need to know in order to choose the right system for your company. Read on to learn more about how GPS works and how it can benefit you.
What Is GPS Tracking?
The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses radio waves that bounce from your device to a set of satellites that orbit the earth. These radio waves help determine the exact location of something. The system is global, so regardless of your tracker’s location, GPS can find its position.
Originally developed in the 1960s as military tech, the GPS is mainly controlled by the US Department of Defense. While it was exclusive to the military upon its development, the system now offers practical applications across many industries. This offers astronomical advantages to companies, and it’s free of charge.
What Is the GNSS?
The GPS is comprised of 27 satellites that make up the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) network. 24 of them work in association with each other to determine location, among other factors. The system has 3 extra satellites on standby in case any of the main ones fail.
How Does GPS Tracking Work?
The system uses a principle called trilateration. This principle takes the distance of the object from three satellites and uses their relationship to determine the exact location.
The satellites of the GNSS transmit their data to one of many tracking stations that are positioned around the world. From the station, the collected data is analyzed and sent to the user. This data can be analyzed passively or actively
Passive vs. Active GPS
When wondering ‘how does GPS tracking work?’, you’ll often hear of two types of systems. Know the difference before looking at tracking services to choose the system that’s right for you.
Passive GPS tracking is often used for those monitoring specific events. For instance, this type of tracking would provide information on a device’s starting and ending location. This is helpful for those that don’t need any extra information or constant updates.
Active GPS, or real-time GPS, constantly sends information about the location of an object. This allows for the active monitoring of situations and behaviors. Those that find it necessary to track speeds or locations in transit will find benefits in real-time GPS.
How GPS Tracking Can Benefit Your Company
Businesses using a quality GPS tracking system, like the one found at linxup.com, will find several advantages. Among the benefits you can expect include:
- Easy tracking device installation
- Accurate and customized data analysis
- Monitored employee habits
- Optimized business solutions
- 24/7 customer support
More GPS Tracking Tips
The above information should provide insight into the question “how does GPS tracking work?” Knowing how the system operates helps you explain its benefits to your employees.
If you enjoyed this article and are looking for more GPS advice, check out our Technology section.
