Albany, Oregon Implementing GPS Tracker to Thwart Bike Theft

Police in Albany have come out with a new GPS-tracking system that is designed to lower the amount of bike thefts in the city.

Around 130 bikes were stolen in 2015 in Albany — and that is only the number that was reported.

This GPS-tracking system is designed with the hope to stop bike thefts and other property thefts before it happens.

Three GPS-tracking devices were launched by the Albany Police Department to attach to bikes and other small packages. The devices are attached to the bikes, the police wait for a thief to take the bike and seconds later of being stolen, the tracker sets off an alarm that signals patrol officers on their computers of the theft.

This tracking system is put in place with the intent to catch the thieves before they are able to steal real property and grab them before they actually succeed in stealing the property rather than after they have stolen it. Read the rest of this entry »

Businesses are always on the lookout for improving customer relations. Savvy business owners understand that it costs the business much less to retain a satisfied customer than it does to bring in new customers.

Did you know, though, that the key to making your customers happier than ever before may be as simple as taking advantages of these tools GPS fleet tracking offers to help you retain satisfied customers who will be all too happy to recommend you to their friends and family? These are just a few ways GPS can help.

Boost Your Green Credentials

GPS fleet tracking allows you to create more fuel efficient routes, use less paper, and generate fewer emissions than trying to go it alone when planning your routes. Simple route inefficiencies cost your business more and aren’t at all attractive to customers. Going green is gaining wide appeal among shoppers today. GPS fleet tracking allows you to make accurate claims regarding greener operations. Read the rest of this entry »

Researchers in Texas turn to GPS tracking technology when they want to understand more about why the giraffe population is declining.

The giraffe population in the world has decreased by 400,000 giraffes just in the last 40 years, while half of the remaining population of giraffes died in the last 15 years. These startling numbers have been disconcerting to researchers like Francois Deacon, who decided to pursue creating an ear tag to track the animal’s movements and try to figure out why they are dying so rapidly.

The ear tag is part of a GPS tracking study, originally created by Deacon. He received donations for developing the technology, including $1,500 from the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (NBWR) and the Giraffe Ambassador Program. Read the rest of this entry »

GPS tracking is something that can be done on land, by air, and by sea (river, lake, etc.). That’s the good news because there are many risks associated with kayaking and canoeing. Some of these risks can be reduced through the judicious use of GPS tracking.

What are the Risks of Kayaking and Canoeing?

While the fun and adventure of kayaking and canoeing make most people want to gloss over the risks, it’s important to keep them in mind and plan for your trips accordingly. These are some of the common risks you will face.

Wind

Paddling with a nice breeze at your back and can exhilarating. But, a shift in wind can be disastrous for your day on the water. It’s always important to be aware of wind and other weather conditions when kayaking or canoeing. Paddling into the wind forces you to paddle harder to make headway and can result in serious muscle strain and fatigue. It can also impact the stability of your canoe or kayak creating risky paddling conditions. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Bradford Parkinson, who is thought of as the Father of GPS, is set to win the 2016 Marconi Prize.

 Today, the global positioning system (GPS) is something nearly everyone uses on a regular basis, but it wasn’t always the case. During its original developments, the system was denied funding due to lack of probable use. Nearly 50 years later, Dr. Bradford Parkinson, who is largely responsible for its creation and success, is winning the prolific Marconi Prize for this very technology.

 Parkinson, currently a professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford, is going to receive the honor. The Marconi Prize is a prestigious award given out to the best and brightest in communication and information science. It is given annually, along with $100,000 of prize money. It is only given to those who create technology that helps humanity, which the GPS tracking and navigation system undoubtedly does.

 The development of GPS began back in 1972, when Parkinson was a colonel in the Air Force. He belonged to a USAF program called 621B, where satellites were going to be used for a new global navigation system. Parkinson has previously represented the idea to the government, but they denied funding. It wasn’t until this project for the Air Force that it became a reality. There were still budget issues, but Parkinson didn’t back down and instead proceeded with his sketches, which he still has to this day. Read the rest of this entry »