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GPS and Google Earth used to make the world a smaller place
Added: (Thu Mar 30 2006)
Steve Kemish is Online Channel Manager at RM plc, and after 8 years developing and integrating the company�s internet strategy he is about to undertake a 5 month sabbatical embarking on a round the world trip. Nothing unusual there, however, in Steve�s case, his friends, family and colleagues will be able to track his every step.
When preparing and organising his trip, Steve was more than aware of the everyday problem encountered by so many gap-year travellers and career breakers - keeping people back at home up to date of their whereabouts, not always easy when in a remote corner of Asia or Africa. With this in mind and driven by his passion for technology, Steve is working closely with a number of industry partners to keep his, largely envious, network of friends back home up to date on his route. In addition to reliving his adventures and experiences via his blog and photo/video diary, his friends and family will also know exactly where he is in the world at any given time.
Steve will carry a small Trimble TrimTrac Global Positioning System (GPS) device in his rucksack, which is about the size of a pack of playing cards. Supplied and supported by GPS Location & Timing Ltd (GLT), Trimble�s International Distributor, the TrimTrac is a device that can be used for a wide range of asset tracking applications.
Traditionally GPS/GSM devices have required an external power source, or have limited operational life between mains charging (12 -20 hours) but the TrimTrac is unique in design, allowing long-term (months) autonomous operation on 4 x AA batteries.
Via local GSM mobile service providers, this device will transmit messages three times a day back to a modem at GLT�s offices in the UK which will highlight Steve�s exact whereabouts. The enhanced GPS feature of the TrimTrac allows the GPS signal to be acquired in �non line of sight� environments, where less advanced GPS receivers would struggle to achieve a position.
Using software supplied by Vital Trace, these TrimTrac messages will be downloaded, decoded by the software and will be viewable on Steve�s website www.5monthsaway.com using the Google Earth application. The only pre-requisite is that visitors to his site download Google Earth.
Steve�s trip covers South East Asia, Australasia and South America and will include trips to places where email access just isn�t available. In this instance, assuming that GPS and GSM coverage are available, Steve�s location will still be available to download and view.
This unique project highlights just how GPS technology is transforming everyday life enabling data, location information and location based services (LBS) to be viewed. Harnessed to TrimTrac, it finally allows everyone to enjoy remote asset tracking, virtually anywhere in the world.
For further details of this unique project or the software used please email Gabi at GLT (gabi@gpslt.com).