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In June 2005, EDZ deployed a Global
Positioning System (GPS) for fleet
management. The system main objectives
are to provide online tracking services
over the company's vehicles and carry
out corresponding analysis methods. The
system is as well of a great benefit
under emergency situations being
equipped with panic push buttons, which
instantaneously notify an urgent
condition.
System Description and Operation
The system main components are as
follows:
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GPS unit installed
in the vehicle equipped with
waypoint and panic push buttons.
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GPS antenna mounted
inside the vehicle and used to
establish connection between the
vehicle's unit and the satellite for
positioning purpose.
-
GPRS antenna mounted
as well inside the vehicle and used
to establish connection between the
vehicle's unit and the sever station
for communication purpose.
-
Server station
installed at the company's offices
and continuously connected to a
broadband internet connection.
-
Software package
running analysis modules and
managing a history database.
-
GIS digital maps
showing different land base and
distribution layers, streets,
network lines, transformer
substations, etc...
The GPS unit and its antennas are
installed inside the company's vehicles
and powered through their batteries. The
unit locates itself with respect to the
orbiting satellites to get corresponding
position, Longitude and Latitude values.
The unit communicates with the server
station through GSM SIM card (GPRS)
transmission mode to send information
packets every 40 seconds if the vehicle
is moving and every 3 minutes if the
vehicle is in stop mode. The information
is received on the server station
through internet connection and the
vehicles are then positioned on the
digital maps. The information is as well
stored in a database to issue later
different charting and tabulated
reports.
The system is of great benefit when
carrying on maneuver works, where all
the vehicles are easily located without
the need of any other communication
technique.
The panic buttons introduce an added and
important value over the system
operation. This button is only used in
emergency situations when our crews need
to notify an urgent condition, an alarm
signal is instantaneously sent to the
server station with the precise location
of the concerned crew for the engineer
in charge to take appropriate actions.
System Benefits
The introduction of the GPS Fleet
Management provided EDZ with the
following benefits:
Online positioning
of the company's vehicles over the
concession geographic maps
Determine their
traveling direction and speed
Geographically
define multiple labor zones and
accordingly assign tasks to the
crews
Host waypoints
collection approach that enables on
demand position recording.
Issue visual and
tabulated reports on a daily basis
showing the route, the distance
crossed and over speed records.
Apply travel time studies including
fuel consumption, mileage follow-up,
and car maintenance schedule.
Instantaneously
notify emergency situations
with the introduction of panic push
buttons.
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