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A GPS vehicle tracking device is the key component in the majority of vehicle tracking systems available today. In addition, GPS vehicle tracking is generally the most sought after type of vehicle tracking system as they are able to provide a highly accurate service at a low cost.

A key part of the vehicle tracking device is the GPS receiver/antenna. There are multiple GPS satellites that are developed and maintained by the US military, orbiting the Earth. These satellites are continually transmitting signals which are being received by the range of commercial devices that utilise this technology such as satellite navigation aids and of course tracking systems.

A GPS vehicle tracking device uses the signals received from multiple satellites to calculate its current global location as well as its direction of travel and speed. This data is then transmitted back to the tracking supplier’s server, via the mobile phone data network, where customers and users are then able to receive their vehicles location data via their internet based tracking applications.

In addition to transmitting the basic data, outlined above, many GPS Tracking devices are also able to further integrate with a vehicle and provide more detailed feedback.

Vehicle Tracking Unit
A vehicle tracking unit is a key part of any vehicle tracking solution. These devices are used to calculate a vehicle’s location and movements before then sending this data back to the user where it can be viewed on their vehicle tracking application.

The majority of vehicle tracking units that are used for modern tracking solutions use GPS technology to provide an accurate service. These types of units have a GPS antenna that is within the vehicle, which continually receives transmissions broadcasted from multiple GPS satellites that are orbiting the Earth.

The vehicle tracking unit uses the data received from multiple satellites, normally a minimum of 3 or 4, to accurately calculate its real time location, speed and direction of travel. All of this data is then sent back to the user, normally via the GPRS data network, where it is made available to the user via a web based tracking application.

The GPS network has been setup in such a way that there is always a sufficient number of satellites active to provide an accurate service anywhere in the world, providing that the tracking antenna is not obstructed, which can occur when in a tunnel or underground car park.
Source: middleeastmaps.co.uk

NAVTEQ announced the acquisition of Argentinean Map Provider, NAVKEY. NAVTEQ released its first map of Argentina in October 2008 and currently has 30 employees in the country.

In South America, NAVTEQ also provides maps for Brazil, Chile, Colombia, French Guiana, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

IWM co. digital mapping company announced a range of update and improvements for Iran GPS map. The new version of Iran GPS map releases with more cities and many improvements. (Read more)

IWM co. is the main digital mapping company in Iran which develop Iran Digital map for Garmin GPS and Navitel systems.

The new versions of Iran GPS map for Garmin and Navitel are available here.

Mobile navigation provider Telmap announced a partnership with Travel guide maker Lonely Planet to provide their digital content into its mobile search, mapping and navigation solution. Wireless operators customers of Telmap will now have the possibility to integrate this content into their portfolio.

This type of partnership with content providers is likely to be more frequent because of the new Telmap strategy that wants to help wireless operators to position their mobile navigation solution as the best “local” solution against worldwide giants such as Nokia and Google and their “standardized” offer.

Telmap’s parent company, the London-based Science Navigation Group also owns Global Datapoint, a UK and Israel provider of event listings that is expected to roll out soon in new countries, is linked to this strategy. The mobile application WoZZon is one of the consumer front ends of this event database in the UK.

Blaupunkt’s new display system, ‘Dual View’ lets user to view two different images from the same screen, at the same time, depending upon the angle they view. This means the driver and the front passenger can see two distinct pictures when looking into the same display. It makes possible to see both entertainment programmes and sat nav navigator when viewed from passenger seat and driver seat respectively.

The model is been expected to be produced by next year and will be first introduced in high end car models like BMW 7 series.

In about three years the sat nav technology has gone through a drastic advancement so as the survey team, currently using the latest techno survey cars. Initially they used only a laptop computer and a small display screen as the main equipment for survey but now the whole setup has changed, the entire car is packed with technology with hardly enough room to get in.

The Survey Car
The exterior appearance of the car look quiet regular to other cars, holding a luggage box on the top. However once the lid of the car is removed, you can see an industrial GPS antenna and a perspex dome hiding in which when driving around the town, gains attention of the people. The dome contains an array of about 6 cameras that are video cameras which constantly capture images while the car is in motion.

Out of 6 cameras, three are placed to the front, one on each side and one covering the right shoulder view. Altogether as the car is traveling, the video camera’s are positioned to cover all road, side roads and footpath.
The data put down from the camera is then integrated with the GPS signal while each frame of the video is Geo referenced. In case there is a mismatch among map data, the image is reference in order to obtain precise information. GPS is the main instrument for the survey which need to have great industrial strength since it is a crucial system. The antenna works fine for ground but in case of tunnel mapping, Gyros and motion sensors are used as back up by the GPS.

The car has got all necessary equipments, a network and docking station for a laptop, a wireless connection between keyboard and mouse and a microphone which is suspended from the roof to allow the surveying person to report what he is seeing. A simple keyboard, touch screen display and trackball controls all these equipments.

The Survey Car On The Road
As the car moves around the road, the video cameras starts capturing the features of the route while the analyst starts dropping icon, describing the POIs for GPS track is recording all these information. At office, the datas are downloaded and processed.

Processing Data In The Office
The video image and voice file is reference geographically with the GPS position. These info when loaded into the system provides number of POI on the map which could be later used to determine the current database.

A database is determined as the end result of the information which helps to generate maps that are been currently used in daily life in sat nav device.

Intermap Technologies today announced it has signed an agreement with Garmin to furnish 3D elevation data for the United States and Western Europe derived from its NEXTMap digital map database. Initial Garmin products utilizing these datasets are expected to reach the consumer market beginning in the first half of 2010.

“With our uniformly accurate and highly detailed elevation data, Garmin can upgrade maps in their outdoor GPS products, automotive portable navigation devices, and marine product lines,” commented Brian Bullock, Intermap’s president and CEO.”

14 months after Vodafone acquired Wayfinder, the wireless operator just announced the closure of their Sweden-based mobile navigation and LBS subsidiary, citing competitive pressure on the market from Nokia and Google.