Need advice from someone really smart about GPS

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » July 1, 2004, 2:26 pm

Here is the scenario

I have a need for up to 100 people to be able to have 100 tags worn in clothing, or on a wrist, etc. and a tracking unit that reports their GPS position to you up to 100 feet away in a manner you could find them if needed.

Anyone have a clue?

Sabek · Post by **Sabek** » July 1, 2004, 2:37 pm

Might look into some of the new RF id stuff coming out.

Post by **Xouqoa** » July 1, 2004, 2:40 pm

anal implants paired with full body cavity searches!

/beavis and butthead do america FBI agent off

Aevian Dreaklear · Post by **Aevian Dreaklear** » July 1, 2004, 2:40 pm

I'm curious...what's this for?

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » July 1, 2004, 2:46 pm

Aevian Dreaklear wrote:I'm curious...what's this for?

His kids

XunilTlatoani · Post by **XunilTlatoani** » July 1, 2004, 2:54 pm

I don't know any products off the top of my head that will give you that functionality out of the box, but the first thing that came to my mind is a cell phone. My new phone (Motorola i730) has GPS receiver built-in, and you can run J2ME java apps on it too. So, it may be possible to have an app developed that communicates everyone's GPS location back to a central server through the cell network, and therefore you wouldn't be restricted by the 100 foot limit (although you would be subject to usage fees).

I don't know of any applications out there right now that do it, but if I were trying to solve that problem, that would probably be the first place I would look. Either that or see if any GPS receivers on the market have 802.11 capabilities to integrate with a hotspot. I dunno, sorry I don't have any concrete examples for you.

Tinkalot · Post by **Tinkalot** » July 1, 2004, 2:55 pm

What you are looking for is not GPS how people traditionally thing of it, you will need to give a transmiter to each person that is also a GPS reciever. When most people thing of GPS they tend to think of the reciever unit only, which collects signals from satelites orbiting the earth to give them the location they are currently at +\- ~3 meters. You then will need that reciever to transmit those coordinates to a base station or hand held reciever to be able to track the people. Technology like this is in use for major trucking companies like Fedex. A similar technology that does not use GPS but directional location is used by many ski resorts in avalance country or those that allow "out of bounds" skiing. This technology allows the skier that is in trouble to turn on a tracking beacon so they can be found if they are caught in an avalance or get injured and need assistance off the hill. You are looking at a significant investment in hardware regardless of which technology you chose.

If you can give me more detail on what you are trying to do, what your budget looks like, I can probably head you in the right direction.

Edited becuase i found this, as mentioned in the post above me about GPS phone tracking

http://www.aligo.com/products/workTrack/

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » July 1, 2004, 3:11 pm

I am looking to make an accountability system for Fire Fighters that would also realistically function for Police officers later if it was decided to do so.

I am wondering if there is something off the shelf available, I am arguing against a 30k system that has no tracking functions, merely a Dog tag style of check in and check out of a fire scene that logs to an excel spreadsheet

Tinkalot · Post by **Tinkalot** » July 1, 2004, 3:24 pm

does the system need to be water proof, have an extreme temperature rating, shock proof, specific weight allowances? When I think of the conditions that a firefighter would be in during a fire, I can see most electronic devices failing in those conditions.

Ransure · Post by **Ransure** » July 1, 2004, 4:16 pm

In that Denzel Washington movie they used PDA's for tracking all of the police officers... cant remember the name of the flick... but it came out on DVD this year...

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » July 1, 2004, 5:01 pm

Actually as long as the individual units are under a pound in weight ( approx half a kilogram) and not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes they would be placed inside the "turnout" gear that the FF's use.

I have googled this and found some sites, but none for a large scale implementation, usually they limit to tracking 2-5 things or are cell phones using iDEN circuits. Or I could get the child safe backpacks heh.

AlanhaStarbreeze · Post by **AlanhaStarbreeze** » July 1, 2004, 7:26 pm

http://www.commlinx.com.au/GPRS_GPS_tracking.htm

im not quite sure if this falls into something viable for you. but, take a look.

The GPRS Cube is a real-time GPS tracking system measuring only 100 x 50 x 55mm with the Lithium Ion battery pack attached. By using careful power management combined with a movement detection system it gives up to one week of typical tracking using the Li-Ion battery and features an internal charger system allowing the system to be recharged in four hours.

VariaVespasa · Post by **VariaVespasa** » July 2, 2004, 1:43 am

100 feet isnt far enough for firefighters or police is it? Dont you need more like 200 yards to cover all situations?

*hugs*
Varia

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » July 2, 2004, 8:51 am

VariaVespasa wrote:100 feet isnt far enough for firefighters or police is it? Dont you need more like 200 yards to cover all situations?

*hugs*
Varia

Well obviously more is always better, but the concept is that no FF should ever be more than 25 meters from another in any situation ( but considering the board is primarily American and meter disabled, I did the cheat to feet and added some buffer)

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » July 2, 2004, 8:55 am

AlanhaStarbreeze wrote:http://www.commlinx.com.au/GPRS_GPS_tracking.htm

im not quite sure if this falls into something viable for you. but, take a look.

The GPRS Cube is a real-time GPS tracking system measuring only 100 x 50 x 55mm with the Lithium Ion battery pack attached. By using careful power management combined with a movement detection system it gives up to one week of typical tracking using the Li-Ion battery and features an internal charger system allowing the system to be recharged in four hours.

Actually this is almost exactly it, a little thinner would be nice as would cheaper, their volume discount means 10% off when you order 50 to 150.

Adex_Xeda · Post by **Adex_Xeda** » July 2, 2004, 11:36 am

Will these guys be inside buildings?

If so you'll have trouble getting clean GPS data from the receivers.

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » July 2, 2004, 2:02 pm

Adex_Xeda wrote:Will these guys be inside buildings?

If so you'll have trouble getting clean GPS data from the receivers.

Really Adex, what kind of punch through can most GPS stuff handle? Most of their work (90%) will be exterior or single/double story residences, after all the factories here all closed down heh.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » July 2, 2004, 2:57 pm

additional problem is the equipment will have to be able to perform at high temperatures? knowing nothing about firemen gear other than going to the fire station as a kid, they had some kind of thermal insulation body stocking thing, so the outer equipment (jacket, hat, boots, may get much hotter than the guy on the inside? is that correct?

moisture shouldnt be a problem cause you can encase in plastic bag or similar.

Fyndina · Post by **Fyndina** » July 5, 2004, 10:29 pm

Also prolly need Differential GPS to be able to be accurate enough. Depending on how accurate you need of course. Unfortunatly last I knew the government decided on a very limited DGPS implementation.

DGPS is accurate enough to land an aircraft with, regular GPS is only accurate enough (guaranteed accuracy, it's more accurate in reality most of the time) to get an aircraft to a non-precision approach.

VeeshanVault

Need advice from someone really smart about GPS

Need advice from someone really smart about GPS

hmm

Re: hmm