GPS Tracking Research Articles

RIDE QUALITY MEASUREMENT AND USER RATINGS: INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF IMPROVED TECHNIQUES

Improved techniques for assessing ride quality have been developed by the authors that closely simulate actual vehicle ride dynamics and the responses of humans to whole-body vibration. Using numerical models to simulate four generic road-user vehicle classes – passenger cars, heavy commercial vehicles (trucks), off-road recreational and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and motorcycles – fundamental issues associated with current ride quality measurements are addressed leading to more robust and accurate estimates of pavement rideability. Initial field trials and tests of the proposed ride quality model for a passenger car were conducted. To assess the effectiveness of the model as a ride quality predictor, the overall modelled ride responses were compared with actual measured ride vibrations (objective measures) and road-user ride ratings (subjective measures), all taken on the same sections of pavements. For the objective measures of ride quality portable vibration measuring equipment, comprising accelerometers, event markers and a data logger were assembled, customised and tested. In later versions of the equipment, also described in this paper, GPS tracking was incorporated to provide precise time-based recordings of location and speed. Developed specifically for this project, the equipment is small in size, completely self-contained, and is readily adapted for use in both small and large vehicles (motorcycles, cars, SUVs and trucks). The initial study found there was good agreement between the modelled responses, vibration measurements and subjective ratings. A further larger study is planned, which is discussed in this paper.

Lifelink Medical Emergency Handling App

This paper presents LifeLink, a novel system designed to address the critical challenges of medical emergency response in India. The system integrates advanced technologies such as GPS tracking, AI-powered risk assessment, and telemedicine to streamline emergency response, reduce response times, and improve healthcare outcomes. LifeLink aims to enhance coordination among different entities involved in emergency response, improve access to timely medical care, and ultimately save lives. Key Words: Medical Emergency, Telemedicine, AI, GPS Tracking, Mobile App, IoT

Developing a Health Support System to Promote Care for the Elderly

In light of the demographic shift towards an aging population, there is an increasing prevalence of dementia among the elderly. The negative impact on mental health is preventing individuals from taking proper care of themselves. For individuals requiring hospital care, those receiving home care, or as a precaution for a specific individual, it is advantageous to utilize monitoring equipment to track their biological parameters on an ongoing basis. This equipment can minimize the risk of serious accidents or severe health hazards. The objective of the present research project is to design an armband with an accurate location tracking system. This is of particular importance for individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, who frequently leave their homes and are unable to find their way back. The proposed armband also includes a fingerprint identification system that allows only authorized personnel to use it. Furthermore, in hospitals and healthcare facilities the biometric identification system can be used to trace periodic medical or nursing visits. This process improves the reliability and transparency of healthcare. The test results indicate that the armband functions in accordance with the desired design specifications, with performance evaluation of the main features including fall detection, where a hit rate of 100% was obtained, a fingerprint recognition test demonstrating accuracy from 88% to 100% on high-quality samples, and a GPS tracking test determining position with a difference of between 1.8 and 2.1 m. The proposed solution may be of benefit to healthcare professionals, supported housing providers, elderly people as target users, or their family members.

Satellite-tracking provides first description of migration in Tasmanian Boobooks Ninox leucopsis

ABSTRACT Avian migration exposes birds to a suite of threats across breeding and non-breeding grounds and within migratory corridors. Consequently, research describing migratory behaviours, including phenology and spatial patterns, has important implications for wildlife management and conservation. Tasmanian Boobooks Ninox leucopsis are widely speculated to be partial migrants, with a subset of the population thought to winter in mainland Australia. Despite strong circumstantial evidence, including apparent staging on headlands in Victoria prior to anticipated southward migration, large-scale movement in this species remains unconfirmed. We reviewed occurrence records of Tasmanian Boobooks from mainland Australia to demonstrate a pattern of seasonal occurrence, with all verifiable records (n = 140) occurring predominantly in winter. We then captured five Tasmanian Boobooks on Victorian headlands, verified their species identity through molecular screening, and used satellite- and GPS-tracking to demonstrate their migration. Three of these birds were tracked for the entirety of their journey across Bass Strait. Migration journeys were each completed in an overnight, direct flight. GPS tracks showed that these owls settled around Tasmania’s central highlands, and point to a possible altitudinal element to their migration, with relatively harsh climatic conditions in montane regions (>450 m altitude) during winter as a possible driver. This evidence from tracking and genetic sampling indicates that Tasmanian Boobooks are partial migrants. Our results have direct implications for understanding a key avian flyway across Bass Strait. These findings underscore an urgent need to better understand this flyway, given anthropogenic modifications to this system, including impending development of offshore wind infrastructure.

A Comparison of Tourists’ Spatial–Temporal Behaviors Between Location-Based Service Data and Onsite GPS Tracks

Tourism and recreation managers rely on spatial-temporal data to measure visitors’ behavior for gauging carrying capacity and sustainable management. Location-based service (LBS) data, which passively record location data based on mobile devices, may enable managers to measure behaviors while overcoming constraints in labor, logistics, and cost associated with in-person data collection. However, further validation of LBS data at more refined spatial and temporal scales within tourism attractions is needed. We compared observations of salient spatial–temporal measures from a stratified sample of onsite visitors’ GPS traces in a popular U.S. National Park during peak season over two years with a sample of visitors’ traces collected during the same period by a third-party LBS data provider. We described trip characteristics and behaviors within 34 points of interest (POIs) and then pre-processed both datasets into weighted, directed networks that treated POIs as nodes and flow between POIs as edges. Both datasets reported similar proportions of day-use visitors (~79%) and had moderate-to-strong correlations across networks depicting visitor flow (r = 0.72–0.85, p < 0.001). However, relative to the onsite data, LBS data underestimated the number of POIs the visitors stopped by and differed in its rank of popular POIs, underestimating the length of time visitors spent in POIs (z = 1, p ≤ 0.001) and overestimating visitation to the most popular POIs (z = 180, p = 0.044). Our findings suggest that LBS data may be helpful for identifying trends or tracking tourist movement in aggregate and at crude spatial and temporal scales, but they are too sparse and noisy to reliably measure exact movement patterns, visitation rates, and stay time within attractions.

Investigating Environmental Determinants of Hookworm Transmission using GPS Tracking and Metagenomics Technologies.

To identify potential sources of hookworm infections in a Ghanaian community of endemicity that could be targeted to interrupt transmission, we tracked the movements of infected and noninfected persons to their most frequented locations. Fifty-nine participants (29 hookworm positives and 30 negatives) wore GPS trackers for 10 consecutive days. Their movement data were captured in real time and overlaid on a community grid map. Soil samples were collected and divided into two parts: one for determining the physical and chemical properties and the other for culture of helminth larvae. Soil parameters were determined using standard methods, and the number of larvae recovered from Baermann cultures (expressed as larvae per gram of soil) was recorded. We found no significant difference in the larval counts between sites of infected and noninfected participants (P = 0.59). Sandy-loam soil, pH, and effective cation exchange capacity were associated with high larval recovery counts (P <0.001), whereas nitrogen and clay content were associated with low counts (P <0.001). Genomic DNA was extracted from helminth larvae, and species were identified using metagenomic analysis of DNA sequences. The dominant helminth species identified were Panagrolaimus superbus, Parastrongyloides trichosuri, Trichuris trichiura (human whipworm), and Ancylostoma caninum (dog hookworm). Despite Necator americanus being the predominant species in the community, no larvae of this species were identified. This study, however, demonstrates the feasibility of applying molecular tools for identifying environmental factors and places associated with exposure to human and zoonotic helminths, including areas that may be targeted to break transmission in communities where infection is endemic.

Daily walking time effects of the opening of a multifunctional facility “ONIKURU” using propensity score matching and GPS tracking techniques

Urban design focused on improving walkability has received attention as a method of increasing physical activity among the population. However, only a few studies have examined the effect of walking time of opening multifunctional facilities as an architecture-scale intervention. This study aimed to clarify the effect of opening a multifunctional facility on residents’ daily walking time. In addition, this study analyzed the gender and age subgroups. The natural experiment was conducted using the case of the Ibaraki City Cultural and Childcare Complex “ONIKURU,” a public multifunctional facility. This study used GPS-trajectory data based on GPS tracking techniques, which is anonymized location data for smartphone users. The causal relationship was analyzed using propensity score matching and difference-in-differences analysis. The results showed that the opening of ONIKURU significantly increased the average walking time of visitors to 3.165 [− 1.697, 8.027] min/day compared with that of non-visitors. Specifically, visitors’ average daily walking time improved to a level comparable to that of non-visitors after the opening of ONIKURU. In addition, opening ONIKURU significantly increased female young adults’ average walking time to 3.385 [− 4.906, 11.676] min/day. Therefore, this study provides theoretical contributions to a health-promoting built environment significantly affecting walking at an architecture-scale intervention.

The Effect of Competitive Exercises Using Physical Performance Tracking Technology (GPS Playertek Plus and Polar H9) on Developing Speed in Iraqi Premier League Football Players

Football is one of the most important team sports, practiced by men and women, young and old, across various age groups. The physical development in this sport can be attributed to athletic training and modern technology, which have contributed significantly to advancing the sports field in general. Outstanding performance in football requires precise and quick physical abilities, closely tied to the competitive nature of the game. Speed is fundamental in football, making the use of technologies such as GPS tracking devices and heart rate monitors essential in both training and matches. This study aims to develop the speed of Al-Talaba SC players in Baghdad using a scientifically-based approach to improve their performance. The importance of the study lies in introducing competitive exercises with the help of global tracking technologies to enhance performance during training and develop training strategies based on scientific data. The research highlights a physical weakness in speed among the players, which calls for the use of the GPS Playertek Plus tracking device to improve speed. The scientific approach helps in analyzing data, designing competitive training sessions, and achieving optimal performance in matches. The study indicates that competitive exercises based on GPS tracking devices positively impact the development of player speed, reinforcing the importance of using these technologies in sports training, such as GPS tracking devices, to enhance player speed and design appropriate exercises for each player.

Parental perspectives on barriers and facilitators of early adolescent outdoor play: A qualitative study

Background: Outdoor play supports physical and psychological health among children and early adolescents (EA; ages 10–14). However, most research to date has focused on younger children (under 10), leaving a gap in understanding the specific barriers and facilitators of outdoor play for EA. Objective: This study investigated parental perspectives on the barriers and facilitators of outdoor neighbourhood play for EA in the UK. Methods: Eleven parents (ages 30–50, 82% women) from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds participated in semi-structured online interviews. A content thematic analysis, guided by the socioecological model, was used to identify key themes. Results: Six key themes were developed: autonomy and independence, social connectedness, the built environment, social development, technology and parental behaviours. While parents recognised the importance of outdoor play for EA, concerns about neighbourhood safety, traffic and inadequate play and recreational facilities were significant barriers. Technology played a dual role: facilitating safety through regular communication but also contributing to sedentary behaviour. Parents also drew attention to lack of community cohesion, which limited their comfort about unsupervised outdoor play. Conclusion: Parents valued outdoor play but imposed restrictions due to safety concerns at a time at which EA should be developing independence and autonomy. Addressing these concerns by improved play and recreational facilities, fostering community trust and utilising safe technological solutions such as GPS trackers and apps providing location sharing could enhance outdoor play opportunities for EA. Future programmes and interventions should be tailored to meet the unique developmental needs of members of this age group.

Local rainfall is more likely than distant thunderstorms to affect movement behaviour in Northern Kenyan elephants

Previous research indicates that African savanna elephants change their movements preceding or coincident with local rainfall and it has been suggested that they respond to thunder in remote storms–perhaps reading seismic cues. We therefore aimed to test if elephants in Northern Kenya adhere to distinct daytime movement states between the wet and dry periods, and whether their abrupt movement changes precede local wet periods in response to lightning strikes from a specific compass heading. In our study site, lightning to the North and East often preceded local rainfall and could possibly be used to anticipate local wet periods, but local rainfall appears a more likely trigger of behavioural change. While some abrupt movement changes occurred ahead of local wet periods, they were only particularly frequent shortly following the onset of wet periods. These findings do not concur with reports of Namibian elephants that generally changed their movement behaviour preceding local rainfall, and the additional exploration of individual behaviours in the present study likewise did not provide compelling evidence of a generic reliance on remote thunder cues by Northern-Kenyan elephants. Nonetheless, the GPS tracks of elephants indicated that daytime movement velocities differed between wet and dry periods. Specifically, elephants were generally in a slow-moving state during the day through wet periods, and in a fast-moving state during the day through dry periods. There is a further indication that some elephants compensated for slow daytime speeds by moving faster at night. This shift towards increased nocturnal activity may become more common with climate change and may slightly reduce elephant foraging efficiency. We conclude that climate change makes a strong case for studying elephant behaviours in response to environmental cues during the day and night, especially in dry-land study sites like Northern Kenya.

Effect of Fleet Vehicle Tracking on Operational Performance of Road Transporters in Mombasa County

This study examines the effect of vehicle tracking on the operational performance of road transporters in Mombasa County. Effective fleet management, and specifically vehicle tracking, is essential for optimizing resources, reducing costs, and improving efficiency in transportation operations. Guided by the Technology Diffusion Theory, the study employs a descriptive research design and targets 250 registered road transport companies in Mombasa County, selecting a sample of 154 participants through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed with descriptive and regression techniques. The findings indicate that vehicle tracking significantly enhances operational performance, evidenced by a positive unstandardized coefficient of 0.459 and a p-value of 0.000. Key practices, including speed monitoring, route management, and real-time vehicle dispatch tracking, were identified as crucial contributors to this improved performance. The study concludes that vehicle tracking systems foster accountability, decrease fuel consumption, and boost overall productivity. Recommendations include the implementation of advanced GPS tracking technology, regular maintenance of tracking systems, and comprehensive staff training to maximize the benefits of vehicle tracking for operational efficiency. This research enhances the understanding of how technology can be utilized to tackle challenges in fleet management, particularly in developing regions.

Domestic Use of E-Cargo Bikes and Other E-Micromobility: Protocol for a Multi-Centre, Mixed Methods Study.

Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Climate change is now regarded as the biggest threat to global public health. Electric micromobility (e-micromobility, including e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, and e-scooters) has the potential to simultaneously increase people's overall physical activity while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions where it substitutes for motorised transport. The ELEVATE study aims to understand the impacts of e-micromobility, including identifying the people, places, and circumstances where they will be most beneficial in terms of improving people's health while also reducing mobility-related energy demand and carbon emissions. A complex mixed methods design collected detailed quantitative and qualitative data from multiple UK cities. First, nationally representative (n = 2000), city-wide (n = 400 for each of the three cities; total = 1200), and targeted study area surveys (n = 996) collected data on travel behaviour, levels of physical activity, vehicle ownership, and use, as well as attitudes towards e-micromobility. Then, to provide insights on an understudied type of e-micromobility, 49 households were recruited to take part in e-cargo bike one-month trials. Self-reported data from the participants were validated with objective data-using methods such as GPS trackers and smartwatches' recordings of routes and activities. CO2 impacts of e-micromobility use were also calculated. Participant interviews provided detailed information on preferences, expectations, experiences, barriers, and enablers of e-micromobility.

Advanced Smart Bracelet for Elderly: Combining Temperature Monitoring and GPS Tracking

Indonesia is entering an aging population period, marked by an increase in the number of elderly individuals, accompanied by a rise in dementia cases. This situation leads to higher dependency among the elderly on others for assistance or long-term care. Dementia can cause elderly people to lose their sense of direction, often wandering aimlessly, making them difficult to track. To address this issue, a wearable smart bracelet is proposed to monitor the location and a vital body parameter such as body temperature. The system is equipped with a tracking application that can send an alert if the user is outside a designated area. It automatically sends a warning message to the caregiver's or family member's smartphone when abnormal signs are detected. The bracelet is designed like a wristwatch, to be worn on the wrist. It is small, lightweight, and battery-operated. Temperature and location data can be transmitted in real-time using an internet network to mobile devices. The device can notify when the user is outside the specified area. Test results indicate that the device has high accuracy and reliability in monitoring location and body temperature with accuracy around 98.5%, as well as sending notifications through a Telegram bot when certain thresholds are exceeded. This device can work properly for up to 5 hours on a single battery charge. With this device, it is expected to help monitor and support the care of the elderly so that they can improve their quality of life. This device can also provide an emergency alarm if the elderly are outside the area.

UAV-Based 3D-Calibration of Thermal Cameras for Bat Flight Monitoring in Large Outdoor Environments

The calibration of 3D cameras is one of the key challenges to successfully measure the nightly 3D flight tracks of bats with thermal cameras. This is relevant around wind turbines to investigate the impact wind farms have on their species. Existing 3D-calibration methods solve the problem of unknown camera position and orientation by using a reference object of known coordinates. While these methods work well for small monitoring volumes, the size of the reference objects (e.g., checkerboard patterns) limits the distance between the two cameras and therefore leads to increased calibration errors when used in large outdoor environments. To address this limitation, we propose a calibration method for tracking flying animals with thermal cameras based on UAV GPS tracks. The tracks can be scaled to the required monitoring volume and accommodate large distances between cameras, which is essential for low-resolution thermal camera setups. We tested our method at two wind farms, conducting 19 manual calibration flights with a consumer UAV, distributing GPS points from 30 to 260 m from the camera system. Using two thermal cameras with a resolution of 640 × 480 pixels and an inter-axial distance of 15 m, we achieved median 3D errors between 0.9 and 3.8 m across different flights. Our method offers the advantage of directly providing GPS coordinates and requires only two UAV flights for cross-validation of the 3D errors.

Survival of White-Tailed Eagles Tracked after Rehabilitation and Release

ABSTRACT There are many raptor rehabilitation centers around the world that receive and care for wild raptors. Wildlife rehabilitation is a labor- and cost-intensive part of addressing animal welfare. Apart from the compassionate aspect of taking responsibility for an injured animal, there remains an open question as to whether doing so contributes to animal conservation. The fates of such animals after their rehabilitation and release have rarely been studied. Long-term post-release monitoring is needed to assess survival and reproduction. Here, we investigate the post-release fates of 22 White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), including juveniles, immature birds, and adults in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Slovakia. Using GPS tracking, we monitored the eagles for 2–2639 d (median = 340 d) between 2005 and 2023. The longest-surviving eagle was tracked for more than 7 yr. Release was followed by a short 6-d period of high mortality, followed in turn by a long-term annual adult survival rate of 74.6%. Anthropogenic factors contributed to 70% of the long-term mortality cases. Reason for admission, length of hospital stay, and use of flight aviaries had no statistically significant effect on long-term survival. Five eagles successfully bred and produced a total of 10 fledglings. Traveling as much as 1378 km, the released eagles dispersed throughout central, northern, and eastern Europe. Thus, it can be concluded that successful rehabilitation of White-tailed Eagles resulted in high survival rates; and in five cases, successful reproduction indicated effective reintegration into the wild population.

The e-biking in Switzerland (EBIS) study: methods and dataset

AbstractThis article presents the EBIS (e-Biking in Switzerland) study, including its methodology, the resulting dataset, and an initial descriptive analysis of the population surveyed. The EBIS study is a Switzerland-wide GPS-tracking study with the aim of investigating the scope of carbon savings in the transport sector due to e-biking. Participants consisted of cyclists and e-bikers across the French- and German-speaking regions of Switzerland. In addition to extensive GPS tracking, the study included a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on transport pricing’s role in substituting e-bike trips for car trips, a retrospective survey on mode shift, and a stated preference survey on cycling infrastructure preferences. We here report participant attrition and engagement rates and compare the EBIS population to the 2021 Swiss Mobility and Transport Microcensus (MTMC) in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and travel behavior. In doing so, we present a unique dataset of 3,940 participants, 324 thousand user-days of tracking data, and over half a million stages by bike or e-bike.

Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Elderly Mobility and Emergency SOS Alarm Responses: A GPS-Based Study in the Czech Republic.

Understanding the impact of pandemic measures on elderly mobility is crucial for shaping public health responses. This retrospective study assesses the changes in mobility of 216 elderly individuals (average age 84 years) in the Czech Republic before and during COVID-19 restrictions, using two years of GPS tracking data. We conducted statistical analyses across various physical, demographic, and social factors. Data were analyzed for mobility patterns, SOS alarm usage, and relationships between mobility and factors such as age group, body mass index, sex, city size, and housing type. During the study, 4409 SOS alarms were triggered, with only 16.6% requiring action. Alarms triggered outside the home decreased from 34% pre-COVID-19 to 29% during COVID-19, reflecting reduced outdoor activity. Mobility decreased by 43.9% overall during the pandemic. The largest year-on-year decline in mobility was in May, reaching 57.6%. However, 10% of the participants exhibited increased mobility. Factors such as age group, body mass index, sex, city size, and type of housing were analyzed, and we found that city size and housing type did not significantly influence mobility levels. These findings highlight the substantial decline in elderly mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasize the need for tailored interventions, such as outdoor mobility programs and telemedicine, to support elderly populations during public health crises.

Migratory flyways and connectivity of Brown Headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) revealed by GPS tracking

Migratory flyways and connectivity of Brown Headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) revealed by GPS tracking

PD210 Sustainable Innovation In UK Care Homes: Acoustic Monitoring Systems In A “Living Lab” Setting - Technology Assessment Example

IntroductionSuccessful development of technologies to support older people in care homes remains challenging. The strategic establishment of a group of residential settings providing 24-7 living labs plus an innovation hub is described. Acoustic monitoring (AM) for continuous nighttime checking of residents was selected for assessment. A pilot study in 2016 identified potential cost savings, reduced nighttime falls, and improved daytime well-being.MethodsThe AM system was systematically assessed in four WCS Care Group Ltd care homes following demonstration and testing in an innovation hub. The first author undertook a mixed-methods study (2019 to 2023) to assess the technology in terms of falls prevention, practical implementation, and future benefits of enhanced sound classification using artificial intelligence (AI). In 2020, a network of care providers, the National Care Forum (NCF), was funded by National Health Service Digital to develop three similar innovation hubs across England. The NCF undertook a national survey to identify priorities in terms of implementing new technologies in care homes.ResultsStructured interviews with care workers and observational assessment in four care homes confirmed that the AM system has the potential to identify active residents and reduce the risk of falls, although it cannot offer fall prediction or prevention functionality. Two new functions were proposed. Eight machine learning models for sound classification and demonstration tests in three simulated settings supported feasibility and adoption. A post-demonstration survey (n=39) identified a high probability of adoption for these additional functions. The NCF survey found that the top four new technologies of interest to care homes were medication management systems, electronic care planning, wearable GPS trackers, and AM systems.ConclusionsCare homes report interest in procuring AM systems, which could reduce the risk of falls. In addition, new AI-supported functions are acceptable to care providers. The UK government has proposed that 20 percent of care homes introduce AM by March 2024. Guidelines for future assessment of sustainable care technologies in living lab settings now need to be developed.

Employee attendance system using face recognition and GPS using local binary pattern histogram

Tracking employee attendance is an integral part of running a company in an organized and economical manner. Conventional approaches such as manual sign-ins and RFID cards or fingerprint scanning have shown important weaknesses, especially with regard to proxy attendance (buddy punching). We chose the LBPH algorithm since it has a higher flexibility against changes of light, which means that we can use it in many situations like indoor or outdoor cases. The system performances for various conditions were also noteworthy, achieving 96.4% recognition accuracy with FAR = 0.05 %, FRR = 1 % in normal lighting conditions and maintaining a 94.1 % near-accurate performance under low-light environmental settings whilst sustaining the performance at 90.6 % in outdoor environments, which resulted in detection time of approximately between 1.3–2.3 seconds respectively. For further peace of mind, the system incorporated GPS tracking to provide location verification with a 90% to 94% accuracy rate—logging attendance only when students were present in a designated area. This integrated system is especially useful in contemporary hybrid workplaces, as it minimizes attendance fraud and enhances operational efficiency. Although the system is capable of functionally robust performance under normal conditions, tests point to possible scalability and performance improvements in extreme lighting conditions and outdoor applications, thus establishing future development paths for environmental adaptation.