Automatic Vehicle Location

Introduction
• Automatic vehicle location (AVL) is a means for determining the
geographic location of a vehicle and transmitting this information to a
point where it can be stored and used with certain software and
database applications.

• Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) Systems provide real-time vehicle

tracking by integrating GPS, wireless communications, and GIS
mapping software.

• AVL systems utilize wireless communications technologies to send

GPS, mobile data and other vehicle status information to your
dispatch where you can view your fleet’s location on GIS-based AVL
software.
 GPS and GIS
• The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based satellite
navigation system that provides location and time information in all
weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an
unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.

• A geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to

capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types
of geographical data
 Vehicle Tracking & Mobile Data Systems
• Most commonly, the location is determined using GPS, and the
transmission mechanism is SMS, GPRS, a satellite or terrestrial radio
from the vehicle to a radio receiver.

• GSM and EVDO are the most common services applied, because of
the low data rate needed for AVL, and the low cost and omnipresent
nature of these public networks.
 How AVL Works
• The vehicle tracking device fitted in the vehicle receives the
information from a minimum of 3 GPS satellites and uses
triangulation to calculate it's exact location - latitude, longitude and
movement.

• It also fetches vehicle information such as ignition status, vehicle

moving or parked among other information and prepares all these
into a data packet to be sent.
• The Tracking device then sends this data over the GPRS network of
the GSM service provider to their Internet gateway and further over
the Internet to the Application Server.

• The Application Server monitors the vehicles with tracking system

communicating constantly with each device independently, sending
commands, receiving regular data and alerts, and storing all of this on
the server.
• The Web Application is user-friendly interface that can be accessed
on any PC using an Internet browser.

• The web application shows you real-time vehicle tracking, re-plays of

past vehicle movements, the account and the vehicle information,
and a score of reports and alert systems.

• When a PC or the Internet is not close by, one can use the Mobile
Application to get all of this information on their mobile phones.
GIS Map
 Sensor-augmented AVL
• The main purpose of using AVL is not only to locate the vehicles, but
also to obtain information about engine data, fuel consumption,
driver data and sensor data from i.e. doors, freezer room on trucks or
air pressure.

• Such data can be obtained via the CAN-bus and via direct connections
to AVL systems that both sends and receives data via SMS or GPRS in
pure ASCII text format.

• CAN bus (for controller area network) is a vehicle bus standard

designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with
each other within a vehicle without a host computer.
 Active & Passive Tracking
• Several types of vehicle tracking devices exist. Typically they are
classified as "passive" and "active“.

• "Passive" devices store GPS location, speed, heading and sometimes

a trigger event such as key on/off, door open/closed.

• Once the vehicle returns to a predetermined point, the device is

removed and the data downloaded to a computer for evaluation.
• "Active" devices also collect the same information but usually
transmit the data in near-real-time via cellular or satellite networks to
a computer or data center for evaluation.

• Many modern vehicle tracking devices combine both active and

passive tracking abilities.

• When a cellular network is available and a tracking device is

connected it transmits data to a server; when a network is not
available the device stores data in internal memory and will transmit
stored data to the server later when the network becomes available
again.
 Other options
For determining actual location in environments where GPS
illumination is poor, the alternate options are

• Dead reckoning

• Active RFID systems

 Dead reckoning
It is the process of calculating one's current position by using a
previously determined position, or fix, and advancing that position
based upon known or estimated speeds over elapsed time and course.

The navigator plots his 9am position,

indicated by the triangle, and,
using his course and speed,
estimates his position at 9:30am and 10am
 Active RFID systems
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless non-contact use of
radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the
purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to
objects.
 Common uses
• In Urban Transit for-
Monitoring schedule adherence of buses in service
Triggering changes of buses destination sign displays at the end of the line (or other
set location along a bus route).
Triggering pre-recorded announcements for passengers.

• Vehicle Tracking — Designed for customers requiring vehicle movement and usage in
their control.
• Asset Tracking — Track and monitor mobile assets such as cargo containers, trailers,
earth moving equipment, construction equipment, etc.
• Personal Tracking — Real-time tracking and protection for children, the elderly or
even your pets!
• Workforce Tracking — Improve staff productivity and customer service through real-
time tracking of your sales-force, field workers, delivery workers, etc.
• Stolen vehicle recovery
• Distance Calculation
 Benefits of this System
• Improve utilization of the fleet
• Increase employee productivity
• Enhance customer service
• Capitalize on accurate fleet data
• Increase safety & driver responsibility
• Detect side jobs
• Stop unauthorized vehicle use
• Prevent fraudulent claims
• Eliminate paper logs
• Reduce risk of asset theft / abandonment
 Devices

GPS Trackers RFID Tag

 Conclusion

• The AVL system combines a positioning hardware, a communication

platform that can be used to monitor and track a commuter transport
in real time.
• This enables the transport management centers to observe, collect,
and analyze location information about a commuter vehicle in real
time.
• This data will give an agency the ability to make better and more
informed decisions while also providing quicker response to
emergencies.
• The benefits to the passengers mean better on time performance and
less waiting time at bus stops.
Thank You