Category: GPS Tracking Benefits

Anklet With GPS Capabilities Helps Juvenile Courts

As many people stop using landlines in their home, they are still a must-have for most people on house arrest. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the juvenile system uses ankle bracelets that are really cell phones with GPS capabilities. Landlines are no longer necessary. It is a different story for non-violent offenders in the adult system, they still need this old telephone technology to serve house arrest. If the adults do not have a working landline at their home with no features including call waiting or DSL the do not qualify for house arrest.

These new house arrest devices with cell phone and GPS capabilities have other advantages also. For example, the young offenders can be monitored when they are approved to leave their house. The juvenile probation officers know where the juveniles are 24 hours a day – 7 days a week using the GPS capabilities of the ankle bracket. In addition, the juvenile probation officers can speak to the juvenile offenders via the GPS device with voice capabilities.

The ankle bracelet with GPS capabilities also has a software installed that can help solve crimes. If there is a high profile crime, shooting or any other crime in the area, the ankle bracelet with GPS capabilities can be used to put in a time and address from the crime to see if there were any youth that were in the area at the time of the crime.

In addition, the ankle bracelet with GPS capabilities has a locator that is an alarm that sounds like a police siren. If a juvenile offender violates the terms of his or her release, the siren will help authorities locate the offender if they are trying to hide. This is helpful if the offender is hiding in a large crowd or even in a home. The siren is so loud, the probation officers will have a much easier time locating a house-arrest violator.

Domestic Violence Victims Have GPS Monitoring Device Option

In Memphis, Tennessee, a GPS monitoring device can be used to notify a domestic violence victim that they might be in harm’s way. Many believe that if more domestic violence victims knew about this option, many tragic cases might not have ended as badly.

All domestic violence victims have to do is petition the court to use the GPS monitoring device on the perpetrator. The problem: many victims to not know GPS monitoring is an option. The court system and law enforcement agencies need to do a better job at educating domestic violence victims about what their options are to keep them safe.

Lawmakers are saying that if Charles Thomas was required to wear a GPS monitoring device, Tasha Thomas might still be alive today. On Tuesday, day care worker Tasha Thomas was outside of work when Charles Thomas, her husband, approached. All she had was a restraining order against her husband. The day ended in tragedy when murder-suicide left both Tasha and Charles dead.

According to Tennessee state law, Charles Thomas could have been forced to wear the GPS monitoring device. This device would have alerted Tasha Thomas by SMS text message when her husband was approaching and danger was near. The device would have also alerted the local police. The police would have been sent to the scene as soon as her husband was close by Tasha’s job. The entire tragedy could have been prevented.

Because many domestic violence victims are unaware of this option, a domestic violence victim lost her life and her children lost both of their parents.

Domestic violence victims need to seek help from local agencies to find out what other options are available to them in addition to just filing a restraining order. A restraining order is just a piece of paper and does not guarantee anyone’s safety. Victims need to devise a safety plan and know what their rights are. For more information about domestic violence visit the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Police Find Stolen Electronics Using GPS Tracking Technology

Officials in Palm Beach, Florida are using GPS tracking technology to catch thieves. As an increasing number of people are buying personal electronics that automatically include GPS tracking technology, such as iPhones, smartphones and iPads, law enforcement has seen a jump in solved crimes. As long as the owners have activated their GPS software with device tracking, when the device gets stolen they can call the police to help them get their electronics back.

This GPS tracking technology is built into the devices. All the owners have to do is make sure the tracking services are turned on. Phones and other personal electronics can cost as much as $500+. The fact that this small valuable device is being carried around by the victims is enticing to thieves. That is a major reason that there has been a rise in tablet and smartphone thefts.

One of the problems law enforcement has is getting people to turn on the tracking services prior to the device being stolen. There is not much that can be done if the owner never turned the tracking services on. Officers have been working to educate people about these valuable free services that can be used to find your things after it was stolen. There are device applications, such as “Find My iPhone” and other free tracking applications that can be downloaded on practically all tablets and smartphones.

The other problem the Palm Beach police face is staying one-step ahead of the thieves. Thieves know that more consumers are turning the tracking services on when they purchase the electronic device. That is why they are taking steps to make sure the GPS tracking cannot be enabled by taking out the battery as soon as they steal the device.

While the department still faces obstacles when trying to find stolen personal electronic devices, they are still locating more electronics than ever before. According to the Sun Sentinel, enabling GPS tracking is the simplest solution for people whose phones and tablets get stolen.

Scientists Use GPS Tracking Devices To Study Sheepdog Behavior

A team of researchers in the United Kingdom used GPS tracking devices to study the movements and behaviors of working sheepdogs and their flock of sheep. The BBC reports that the sheepdogs do not just chase after the flock.

The relationship between a sheepdog and their flock of sheep has always seemed magical but now, thanks to GPS tracking devices, it can be explained. The GPS data revealed there are actually mathematical secrets of how one sheepdog can herd over 100 unruly sheep.

The GPS tracking devices uncovered two rules for the sheepdog and their flock of sheep. Rule one: The sheepdog first learns how to make the sheep flock together. Rule two: Once the sheep are flocked in a tight group, the dog pushes the group to where they want.

The sheepdog sees the sheep as fluffy white things. If they see gaps or notice the gaps getting bigger, the dog knows to bring them together. Dr. Andrew King, the study co-author, was shocked to discover how simple the rules are for the relationship.

Dr. King worked to design specialized backpacks with GPS tracking devices for the sheep and the sheepdog. The backpacks were then attached to the animals. The researchers had many different ideas when they first started. After looking at the relationship from a birds-eye-view, the researchers determined they needed to study it from the sheepdogs’ point-of-view.

The GPS data was used to develop computer simulations and the shepherding model. The mathematical algorithm, revealed by the GPS tracking devices, solves what is known as the “the shepherding problem”. The shepherding problem is how one agent is able to control a large amount of reluctant agents. The data could be used to develop “shepherd robots” that can be used for crowd control or oil spill clean-up.

Scientists Are Monitoring California’s Drought Using GPS Devices

A new study that was published in Science Daily suggests that that scientists are able to use GPS devices to monitor and track the drought in California. Although it is reasonably easy to measure surface water and precipitation, water sources that are underground and aquifers are hard to measure because they are difficult to get to.

Scientists are placing the GPS devices directly underneath the earth’s surface, throughout California, and measuring their movements. This allows the scientists to get an exact estimate of how much the water has depleted.

When there is a drought, the earth’s surface is “uplifted.” According to geologists, an “uplift” is when the earth’s crust slightly lifts up because there is less water weighing it down. In Coastal Range and southern Sierra Nevada, a previous study recorded uplift ranges from of 1 to 3 millimeters each year.

The current study reviewed the past 11 years of uplift data in the western United States using GPS devices. As of March 2014, there was a loss of approximately 230 gigatons of water over the past 11 years. That is equivalent to the mass loss in one year from the Greenland ice sheet. In an effort to save water, some California residents have even painted their lawns green. California’s agricultural sector has been tough on the limited water supply including thriving marijuana business. Furthermore, the citizens of California are consuming water at a rapid pace.

The new study using GPS devices provided some good news regarding the earthquake risk in California. In the past, there were some experts that expressed their concern that the drought could create additional stress on the San Andreas Fault, which runs through the state. The new study found that the additional stress will “unlikely” affect the earthquake risk.

The new approach to drought measurement and tracking using GPS devices provides a better way for scientists to monitor underground conditions. The GPS devices are placed in underground stations throughout the western United States. These stations provide a precise view of the amount of water in the soil. If the GPS method were to be widely adopted, scientists suggest that it could drastically change the range of water monitoring throughout the world, providing many economic and social benefits.

In 2019 GPS Tracking Devices Expected To Surpass $3.5 Billion

ABI Research reported that GPS tracking devices including fleet management, health, Beacons, and wearables, and are expected to generate over $3.5 billion by the year 2019. ABI Research provides quantitative forecasting and in-depth analysis in global connectivity trends and emerging technology.

In the past, the market was struggling to meet its potential because of huge barriers including the subscription requirements, the inability to track inside, high prices, and severe fragmentation and regionalization. As a result, the GPS market was not able to lower costs or create revenue to support the needed advertising/marketing campaigns.

Wearable GPS devices, which are designed for the elderly, children and pets, have boosted the market. In addition there is a growing use of GPS tracking devices among companies for fleet management and employee tracking, which has also contributed to the sales increase.

“Personal Location Device and Application Markets”, ABI Research’s latest report, considers the adoption of GPS tracking devices as well as smartphone applications across families, workers, elderly, health industry, personal assets and pets. The market potential continues to draw interest and investment. There have been a ton of new companies entering the market over the past year.

  New start-ups are entering the market, such as Mastermaut and iBeacons, and are moving into lone worker applications and workforce management areas. The home market is also evolving to a support personal protection of cars, children and pets.

As many GPS units are being offered at a lower prices, they have been adopted all over the world for many applications. There has been a significant increase in shipments of GPS units over the past 12 months. iBeacons will solve the issue of indoor location issues and create a low-cost entry point. They are expected to be a major driver in the market. This new market boom is raising both consumer awareness and acceptance.

References: ABI Research