Package and Container Tracking

Applications
Title	Package and Container Tracking
Author(s)	GMV.
Level	Medium
Year of Publication	2011

With GNSS vehicle tracking applications, companies can improve efficiency and control the distribution chain of their products and shipping's.

Asset's tracking systems help to identify the location of cargo or containers equipped with GNSS receivers whilst in transit by road, rail or ships.

Usually vehicle management applications encompasses package and container tracking applications, using GNSS in real time to identify trip inefficiencies, excessive stopping time, speeding incidences or unreasonable claims for overtime or driving incidents.

In addition, the time spent by drivers due to paperwork procedures can be reduced, allowing drivers to save time and fuel.

Application Architecture

Tracking architecture

Package and Container Tracking, is closely connected with assets and vehicles tracking. A system supporting vehicles fleet tracking can be extended to support the tracking of assets by incorporating low range devices in the packages or containers. Those devices establish communication with the the GNSS receiver, enabling the assets position assessment.

The combination of GNSS technology with GSM can provide continuous real-time tracking and tracing information continually during the journey.

Fleet Management Tracking

The core of a Fleet Management Tracking system is a GNSS tracking system used in conjunction with data transmission by means of the selected communications system, for instance GSM or GPRS.

This combination of GNSS technology with GSM/GPRS wireless coverage, can keep track on the position of all the resources, such as vehicles, personnel, assets, as well as incidents. This information is sent to a server and is accessed using a Geographic Information System (GIS) cartography, where the location, stops, idling and distance covered by each item can be obtained. Many systems keep the tracking data stored, which can be retrieved for further analysis.

The GNSS unit is essential to identify the position of the vehicle. The tracking systems usually use one of the following architectures, which always include a GNSS receiver:

• Passive Tracking: The tracking system stores the vehicles location, through a GNSS receiver, and other data, such as vehicle condition or container status. This data is stored and can be collected and analyzed at the end of the trip.

• Active Tracking: The tracking device stores and the vehicle location, through a positioning device (i.e. GNSS terminal), and send it through a wireless communication system to a control room for real-time update and monitoring.

• Real-time, cellular network: The vehicle's locations and speed are transmitted over a GSM cellular network. The controller accesses to the information by logging on to the vendor's website, which requires a monthly fee, or by receiving the data directly on a cell phone, which requires a cell phone account. The positions of trucks or goods are updated every few minutes, according with the system specification.

• Real-time, satellite: The vehicle's data is transmitted through satellite to the vendor and the controller accesses the data by logging on to the vendor's website. This method also requires a monthly subscription fee.

A fleet management tracking is constituted by the following components:

• On Board Unit (OBU), which includes the GNSS receiver and other types of receivers to collect the status of the track and the materials. This device will also have the ability to connect to a central tracking server. The vehicle's information can include latitude, longitude, altitude, computed odometer, door open or close, fuel amount, tyre pressure, turnoff ignition, turn on headlight, engine temperature, as well as cargo information and other vehicle's sensors.

• Central tracking server, which have the capability to receive, store and publish the tracking data to an user interface, which usually encompasses a Geographic Information System.

Application Characterization

The fleet management tracking is used for tracking of cargo, in tracks, ships or trains using the benefits for cargo management. Shipments can be located if stolen and customer service is enhanced with the ability for the shipper to accurately report delivery time.

Package and Container Tracking applications are very important for insurance companies, which can grant a tool to obtain proper data about the trail of a certain asset. The real time movements can be obtain, which allow the operators to take actions if an anomaly is detected.

Many trucks have different types of trailers, the truck's load carrying unit, (e.g., flat bed, refrigerated, curtain, box container). These units can be unfastened from the vehicle, which imply that each unit shall be monitored separately.

Shipping customers or logistic companies can analyze data to choose the most efficient shipper. Package and Container Tracking applications usually offer the following capabilities:

• Continuous assessing of real-time tracking and tracing information,
• Control of shipment in a specified route, according to the plan and authorized path,
• Incident prevention, due to the monitoring of status parameters,
• Alarm rising in case of anomaly condition detection,
• Recording and logging for regular roundup of reported incidents,
• Informing the emergency response forces for the emergency management arrangements,
• Safeguarding of vehicles against theft,
• Safeguarding of expensive and specialized equipment or assets, carried by stolen vehicles,
• Quickly recovering of stolen vehicles,
• Route replay features, can help to detect where a certain stolen vehicle, was unloaded.

Tracking of Dangerous Goods and Livestock

The transportation of dangerous industrial waste from its originating source to the site where it will be treated is increasing every year. Trucks carrying the waste-filled containers typically travel through several European countries for two to three days. For security reasons, and to ensure that all the waste arrives where it is intended to, a small Italian company has developed an innovative tracking system which uses location data from the GNSS to accurately track all movements of the industrial waste throughout its journey.

The safe transport of nuclear material is regulated by the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rules. In Europe, the transport of radioactive material is also regulated by the laws regulating the transportation of dangerous goods. Such regulations classify the dangerous material such as nuclear waste and material, and establish rules for the relevant safe and controlled transportation.

None of these regulations specifically oblige the use of positioning technology, although the use of GNSS provide enhanced and guaranteed positioning allowing to support law enforcement and to cope with security needs.

The application of satellite positioning for livestock traceability is becoming a general objective to support livestock transportation policies. Regulation in Europe, requires an appropriate navigation system allowing for recording and providing information equivalent to those required in the journey log and information concerning opening/closing of the loading flap. It also requires a temperature monitoring and recording system which alerts the driver of the vehicle when the temperature in the animal compartment reaches the maximum of 30°C or the minimum of 5°C and a sensor that detects when the loading door is opened or not.

In livestock transportation, GNSS will permit to:

• Localize and continuously track and trace the vehicles transporting livestock in order to increase the efficiency of all activities related with livestock transportation.
• Generate reports about sensors information such as temperature, loading doors information, warning signals, etc. in order to improve the animal's welfare.
• Optimal route calculation to specify the most suitable roads and hence, to ensure a fast and safe delivery of the cargo.
• Geofencing and alarming.
• Recording of data for statistical and enforcement / governmental use.

Application Examples

Fleet management application appear in many OEM products such as:

• Truck manufacturers (Mercedes-Benz, Volvo Group, Scania, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, or DAF Trucks)
• Construction equipment manufacturers (Caterpillar, Volvo CE, Komatsu)
• Trailer manufacturers (Schmitz Cargobull, or Krone)

In R&D field, the GSA MENTORE project is an example of how EGNOS and GALILEO will support track and trace of sensitive assets.