The Grand Teton National Park, partnering with the Wyoming Migration Initiative, launched a study this spring of large mule deer across the state.

National Park Service biologist, Sarah Dewey was unclear about where the deer that she collared with GPS tracking devices back in November would go.

Generally, the deer went west around the Jackson Lake at the North end and crossed the Snake river going up the Teton Range’s eastern flank. Then they would eventually cross the mountains and make it to Idaho descending down the west slope. This 45-mile trek which Dewey had not seen yet, going to winter range entailed over 2,000 feet of vertical climbing.

This new route, along with three others, has been documented recently in order to understand where the mule deer of Grand Teton are going once they leave the park.

It was in the late 1990s when animal migration started being studied by the park and included species like the osprey and red-tailed hawks. Radio collars were eventually used to track bison, moose, and bighorn. However, the long-distance migrations were hard to document.

About 15 years ago, with the help of the GPS tracking collars, for years at a time researchers were finally able to gather up the animals’ location data wherever they moved. According to Dewey, this new technology enabled researchers to conduct projects such as characterizing the renowned migration ‘path of the pronghorn’ in the 2000s. Read the rest of this entry »

In Cordova, criminal activity in vacant homes was becoming a big problem; namely, appliance theft. In order to curtail the problem, investigators made the decision to place a GPS tracking device inside a stove. As a result of this tactic, one man was charged with three separate thefts.

Detectives from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office outfitted the GPS tracking devices inside a stove that was in a home located in the 10000 block of Woodlands Hills. The department received a notification from that the stove was moved on August 30, 2015.

Thanks to the GPS tracking device, the detectives were able to determine the location of the stove, which was in the 2500 block of Overton Crossing. The stolen appliance was found in an appliance store.

The investigators working on the case contacted the owner of the appliance store, who told them that a man driving a maroon minivan had contacted him and inquired about selling two stoves for him earlier in the day. The arrest affidavit found that the suspect returned later that day, trying to sell a refrigerator. When the detectives arrived at the store, the found that all three items – the two stoves and the refrigerator – were all there, and they were all stolen from homes in Cordova. Read the rest of this entry »

When a tornado hits this severe weather season, emergency workers want to ensure they will be able to find people. To do this, storm shelters of the Tulsa city are being mapped out by the fire department.

Shelter registration services have been available for many years and you have been able to track shelters through your utility bill. However, now to better target the exact location of your shelter, a new GPS tracking system has been put into place to find you after a storm hits.

Everyone knows how much destruction a tornado can cause and thousands of people seek the protection of their storm shelters when a storm is in effect. Fortunately, storm shelters in Tulsa have grown over the past several years.

According to Tulsa Fire Department’s Stan May, they can easily get to people and get them out of harm’s way as fast as they can if they are able to find them quickly.

When it first came out, the location of your storm shelter could be easily pinned through the registration system, but it can still be hard to locate following storm damage. With GPS tracking, your shelter can now be mapped within three to six feet.

It’s really easy to find a storm shelter the minute GPS coordinates are taken and the accept button is pressed since it changes their map, May said. Read the rest of this entry »

Air pollution is a serious problem in the city of London. In fact, air pollution caused by diesel vehicles in England’s capital city is so bad that it is responsible for an estimated 9,500 premature deaths each year. Pollution, according to CNN, is the second leading cause of death in the UK, after smoking. This statistic is so startling that it has prompted Britain’s Supreme Court to demand that the government of the country makes plans to reduce pollution and clean up the air.

Pollution isn’t the only thing that fills the London skies; pigeons take to the skies of this city in droves and have long been seen as a detriment to the city. However, now, thanks to GPS tracking devices, science is actually using the birds, which were once one of the biggest banes of London, to its advantage.

Recently, 10 pigeons were outfitted with miniature backpacks and were sent to fly over the London skies. The backpacks carry very important cargo, the aim of which is to combat the city’s air pollution problem: Pollution sensors and GPS trackers. Read the rest of this entry »

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease can make simple, daily activities that people often take for granted more challenging. These conditions can also make life more challenging for the loved ones of those who are afflicted with these conditions.

In addition to making life more trying, these conditions can also result in danger. Misplacing keys or putting the milk inside a cabinet instead of the refrigerator can be frustrating, but other things, like leaving the oven on, forgetting to take medication, or wandering off can be extremely hazardous.

Fortunately, thanks to technological advances, there are now many tools available to help those who suffer with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Society has joined forces with several different organizations to create technology that is designed to assist with the everyday challenges and dangers that these patients and their loved ones face.

If you or a loved one is suffering with dementia or Alzheimer’s, the following five technologies can be very helpful, if not life saving. Read the rest of this entry »