We’ve all used GPS programs and devices in our vehicles for maps and directions while on the road, but you may not have ever used or even heard of GPS trackers. Just like mapping GPSs designed for travel, though, GPS (or Global Positioning System) trackers use a network of satellites orbiting Earth to pinpoint the location of the GPS device sending out its signal. The use of multiple satellites, often shared by millions of Earth users, makes it possible for a GPS tracker user to receive information on the exact spot where his/her tracker is placed because these satellites provide 3-dimensional information that is interpreted in precise map format.
GPS trackers have multiple different uses, but they all go back to the principle purpose of locating the tracking device after it has been placed. However, GPS tracking is becoming more and more popular as these devices become more and more accurate, able to pinpoint an exact location within just 3 meters, and tons of people are coming up with creative ways to implement these trackers.
Pet Tracking
Dog owners can take special interest in GPS trackers for their furry friends, and the trend of “chipping” pets has become a safe and reliable way to keep track of them at all times. Some pet trackers can be used by having a microchip placed just under a dog or cat’s skin, while others just use a special tracking collar that is worn on the pet’s neck – visit The Pampered Pup for a high-level review on the advanced features of the leading GPS tracker collars available today. Both types, though, allow an owner to locate the exact location of his/her pet if that pet ever wanders from home. These trackers usually come with a handheld locator device, too, so that owners can see a full map of the area their pet is wandering in, making it easy to find and recover their beloved pup.
Law Enforcement Tracking
Police forces have been using GPS tracking devices for many years, as they give law enforcement departments a way to track stolen vehicles and persons of interest. This allows police officers to track down clues for evidence in open cases in a way that was not available before the invention of such trackers.
Some individuals in protective programs, such as witness protection programs, may also be given GPS trackers to attach to their person so that officers can keep track of their whereabouts at all times. This is done for safety reasons, of course, since officers can immediately locate an individual if they believe that person may be at risk of danger.
Emergency Vehicle Assistance Tracking
Many cars today are automatically designed with GPS trackers built-in, such as with General Motors’s OnStar corporation. When any vehicle with a built-in tracker encounters a major crash, the system will send information about the crash and location to the tracker manufacturer. This allows for emergency services and other roadside services, like towing services, to be sent directly to the crash location, often saving the lives of those involved in catastrophic crashes.
Recreational Tracking
For those who enjoy hiking, fishing, and exploring in large forest areas, a GPS tracking device can be used to both map out unknown areas as well as place virtual tracking points on specific map points. For example, a hiker could use a tracking device to place a pin on an area where a beautiful hidden waterfall, or other gorgeous views, is inside of a wooded area so that the hiker can come back to that location again and again.
GPS devices designed for recreational use also usually come with a handheld mapping screen so that users can see a map of the terrain and a mapped path of where they have come from, letting them always have a way of figuring out a way to get back to their starting point.
Elderly Assistance and Tracking
For those that have elderly family members that may suffer from forms of Dementia, a tracking device can be provided to that family member with a necklace or bracelet. These devices allow for another user to see the tracking device on a mapped area, in case the family member ever wanders or becomes lost. These devices can also come with emergency assistance options added in, so the person wearing the device can push an emergency button for immediate help. This is extremely helpful in preventing major injuries from falls, and it allows family members to always keep an eye on anyone with Dementia, or perhaps another disability, when that person has to be left alone.
Valuables Tracking
Along with GPS trackers used in vehicles for emergency roadside services, tracking devices can be placed on vehicles also for the purpose of theft security. These types of trackers are usually placed somewhere on the vehicle that isn’t directly visible, and the tracker can be activated anytime, just in case the vehicle is ever stolen.
These trackers can also be used on any form of valuable in a person’s home or storage unit; for example, on safes or high-priced artwork. Since these trackers come with a tiny chip that can be attached inconspicuously, they can be placed on any valuable in a way that thefts will not likely notice.
Route Tracking
Some companies will choose to place GPS trackers on their transport vehicles so that they can track the routes drivers take. This can be done for security, making sure drivers do not drive off-course with company vehicles, but it can also be done to follow routes and find ways that routes can be shortened or otherwise optimized.
Some taxi companies may track their vehicles, too, both for the safety of passengers and the same optimization of routes.
Trackers can be used in nearly endless ways, but at the heart of any use, GPS trackers are a means to track a person, place, or thing with ease.
