Who knew? New GPS tracking technology helps scientist discover why birds often fly in a “V” formation.

It is no mystery that birds often fly in a V formation when in flocks, and there have been many theories as to why that is. Now, thanks to GPS tracking technology, the answer is no longer simply speculation. The technology has led researchers to the conclusion that they do so on purpose, in order to improve their aerodynamics.

When birds fly in the V formation, they typically beat their wings at precisely the same time. This allows them to take advantage of upwash from the flow of air at the edge of their wings, improving their aerodynamics as they fly. Read the rest of this entry »

A new study in Torrance, New Mexico asks for participants to track their daily activity with a GPS tracker.

The participants come from Torrance County in New Mexico, and are volunteering for a new health study. Each person who participates in the study will carry a GPS tracker during the upcoming summer. The GPS tracking device will track the participant’s movements and location throughout a typical day. The main focus of the study is to look at the health choices of people in local rural communities, particularly the poor choices people facing obesity have in a normal day.

Corina Chavez-Neish, a home economist form the New Mexico State University, says the study will track eating, exercise and what is available to the participants in their area. If they have barriers as far as safe places to exercise or healthy eating options, the study will hopefully help them find alternatives. One example Chavez-Neish uses is the many dirt roads in this community makes it difficult to walk or run. Read the rest of this entry »

A new proposed law asks parents to track their autistic children using GPS trackers.

Parents of an autistic child worry about a lot of things in regards to their child, but the threat of the child wandering off may very well be the biggest. It is not only a common occurrence with children (and adults) who are autistic, but can also be very dangerous.

According to the medical journalPediatrics, approximately half of the children with autism are prone to wandering.  Published in 2012, the article reported that this wandering has led to the deaths of over 60 autistic children since 2008. Read the rest of this entry »

Researchers attempt to save and protect the vulnerable and threatened leatherback sea turtle by monitoring them with GPS tracking technology.

The leatherback sea turtle is one of the most endangered species in the world. Sometimes referred to as the lute turtle, this special species is the largest of all living turtles and the fourth largest reptile, aside from three types of crocodiles.

Since 1980, the population of the leatherback sea turtle, who make their home in the Pacific Ocean, has declined by over 90 percent. Since the greatest risk to their life is longline fishing, researchers are using GPS tracking technology to help reduce how many turtles are caught by fishermen.

Longline fishing is a style of fishing done where thousands of hooks enter the ocean at once in an effort to catch large amounts of fish. The problem is that it also catches these rare and precious turtles, becoming the biggest threat to their survival. Because of this and other problems for leatherback sea turtles, they are now classified in threatened category, based on their conservation status. Read the rest of this entry »

The IRS has very specific rules regarding personal use of company or fleet vehicles. And the tax agency is beginning to seriously crack down in the form of audits, fines, and penalties levied against businesses that do not comply with these rules by allowing employees to use company vehicles for personal use.

Personal Use Problems

Employees’ personal use of company cars is supposed to show up on 1099 forms or employees’ W-2s. Companies that do not include this information are likely to become the targets of IRS audits for the use of business-owned vehicles for personal reasons.

Some businesses have a hard time getting cooperation from employees when it comes to reporting mileage and designated personal use. In response, many are turning to tactics such as reporting the full year’s lease value as personal use so that the employee is stuck paying the value of it.

In these instances, employees have the opportunity to itemize and deduct these business mileage expenses on their taxes. The fact remains that businesses need to create policies requiring employees to provide accurate and frequent mileage accounts. Read the rest of this entry »