MalaysiaGIS.com

Transportation companies and logistics providers can now improve the monitoring of their fleets and supply chain with a digital tracking system that doubles as a security feature.

DGPS Consultants Sdn Bhd, the authorised dealer for Trimble Fleet Tracking Systems, is offering the system and a peninsula-wide digital map to meet the needs of the industry.

The company has physically mapped all states, highways, police stations, toll booths, towns and petrol stations to obtain an accurate and precise background map.

Its managing consultant Don Govan said the system comprised the FleetVision base-station software and the CrossCheck AMPS mobile unit integrated with GPS (Global Positioning System) and cellular transceiver.

He said that fleet managers can keep constant tabs on their drivers and monitor cargo movement on the computer screen.

"You can ensure your drivers are not taking joyrides or siphoning cargo and prevent vehicles from becoming easy targets for hijackers.

"The system monitors vehicle location, speed, direction and has other in-vehicle sensors to ensure security of cargo in transit.

"It operates throughout Malaysia using GPS technology and cellular networks to provide a digital tracking of vehicles. In the event of a vehicle being hijacked, the user can track it and take immediate action," he said in an interview.

The system, said Govan, can be customised to meet client's specific requirements in any industry as its intelligence features were constantly improved by the manufacturer.

The system does not require users to keep a vigil at a computer as it could be programmed to trigger an alarm if someone tampered with "conditions" for a vehicle.

Citing an example, he said if a driver was assigned to take the North-South Highway to deliver cargo at KLIA at a specific time but instead made an unauthorised stop or deviated from the prescribed route, alarms would be triggered at the control centre.

These alarms could be sent to several destinations, including handphones of key company personnel.

"The centre may then pinpoint the exact location and current status of the vehicle. Other responses can be simultaneously set into motion.

For example, cargo doors can be locked automatically, in-vehicle alarms set off or the vehicle's ignition be disabled.

"Only authorised personnel can reserve the responses from the centre," he added.

Organisations can use the system to enhance fleet efficiency, customer satisfaction and returns on investment.

Govan said the removal of the selective availability of GPS signals by the United States on May 1 would be a boon to the use of GPS as a reliable location pin-pointer.

Civilian users of GPS will be able to pinpoint locations up to ten times more accurately than they do now.

It was reported that the move would benefit the US$8bil (RM30.4 bil) GPS industry which is expected to double earnings in the next three years.

Developed by the US Department of Defense as a military system, GPS is a satellite-based system used to calculate position and velocity of vehicles at any time anywhere on the globe in any kind of weather.