4 GPS Tracking Uses for the Olympics
11 Jul 2012
The 2012 Summer Olympics will be held from July 27, 2012 to August 12, 2012. While officially called the Games of the XXX Olympiad, this year’s Olympics will also be referred to as London 2012, after its host city in the United Kingdom. This year — perhaps more so than any other year — technology will play a larger role in the running of the Olympics, with GPS tracking technology at the forefront. From maintaining a smooth traffic flow across the pond to keeping over 10,000 athletes safe, GPS tracker devices and technology are being used in the hopes that the 302 events are pulled off without a hitch.
1) To Keep Traffic Moving
When dignitaries and members of the International Olympic Committee visited London in 2005 in review of the city’s bid to host the Olympics, the members found that their motorcade never hit any sort of gridlock or stalled traffic. That’s because the city used closed-circuit television (CCTV) and GPS tracking technology to keep the fleet of delegates moving swiftly throughout the city. To avoid blockades — and change traffic signals to green — city officials used GPS tracking and high-tech sensors installed under the payment to ensure a pleasant journey.
2) To Protect Athletes
Not only will GPS tracking technology be used to avoid gridlock in the streets of London as the number of tourists, media personnel and Olympics-associated individuals increases dramatically, but it will also be used to keep the 10,500 athletes across nearly 200 nations safe from among other things, potential terrorist acts. As shuttles and limousines move the Olympic athletes from their living quarters to events, law enforcement will be tracking their movement using real-time GPS tracking data to ensure their safe transit.
3) To Train Athletes
During training, some athletes use Global Positioning Technology as a tool to help better prepare themselves for the ultimate competition. It helps them track progress improvement in speed and distances, both of which are key in many events like running, swimming, and cycling.
4) To Track Events
In preparation for the regatta sailing event, the Olympic committee has been testing out GPS tracking and surveying equipment designed to measure winners of the London 2012 Olympic sailing events. In addition, fans around the world can track their favorite Olympic events — particularly ones that cover large distances — using GPS tools on their smart phones and computers. One social fitness app, Map My Tracks, plans to showcase the tracking of the 2012 men’s marathon and women’s road race.
In terms of diversity, practicality, and usefulness, GPS tracking technology wins the gold.
Comments are closed.