Keeping track of things is one quite an important matter in today’s world, 
especially when lot of things seems to go haywire. Evidently this phenomenon applies to valuable possessions, or things that are responsible for critical tasks.
Vehicles are such assets, subjected to be tracked when time requires, and ‘Vehicle Tracking System’ is a solution that lets us pull off this task. This system is in fact an amalgamation of two different mechanisms. It requires the installation of an electronic ‘traceable’ device in the vehicle, and computer software which is capable of ‘tracing’ that device.
Now days, the principal technologies that are in use are ‘Global Positioning System’ (GPS) and ‘Automatic Vehicle Location’ (AVL), with GPS being the more commonly used system.
Vehicle tracking devices are cataloged into two kinds, Active and Passive. Both the devices are capable of collecting information such as GPS location and speed of the car, also on occasions, occurrences like opening and closing of the door, key on/off, etc. The distinction among these two lays in the way of delivering the data. Whereas Active devices transmit this data instantaneously by means of cellular or satellite network, passive devices collect and store this data throughout the tracking phase and after the vehicle reaches its predestined location, the data is downloaded from the device into the computer for further assessment. Many times, both these devices are used on the vehicles. Active device is used when the network is available, and passive device comes into action when the network seems to be deteriorated.
Common uses
- Fleet management functions, such as dispatch, routing, on-board information, security, etc.
- Transportation entities use these systems to administer schedule adherence, prompting changes on ‘destination sign’ displays, making announcements for passengers, etc.
- Updating the driver about how early/late he is, making him able to hold on to the schedule.
- Theft prevention and vehicle retrieval.
- Surveillance.
