Dead reckoning: how GPS tracking works even where there's no signal

Dead reckoning: how GPS tracking works even where there's no signal

You've probably been there. You're watching a vehicle on the map, it drives into a tunnel or an underground car park, and its position “disappears” for a while. That's because conventional GPS needs to receive a signal from satellites. As soon as it loses it, it can't determine exactly where the vehicle is.

That's exactly why dead reckoning technology was developed. It helps keep vehicle tracking seamless even in places where ordinary GPS falls short.

What is dead reckoning?

Dead reckoning is a method that can calculate a vehicle's position at moments when no GPS signal is available.

The system works from the last known position and from information about the vehicle's movement. This allows it to estimate with a high degree of accuracy which route the vehicle takes until the GPS signal reappears.

As soon as the vehicle leaves the tunnel or an area with a weak signal, the system locks back onto GPS and resumes standard tracking.

The result is a continuous route with no gaps and a more accurate record of the vehicle's movements.

Where is dead reckoning most useful?

It brings the greatest benefit wherever the GPS signal regularly drops out:

• tunnels and underpasses,
• underground car parks,
• city centres with tall buildings,
• logistics and industrial sites,
• halls, warehouses and other places with a limited view of the sky.

Instead of a broken route or two points joined by a straight line, you see the actual course of the trip far more accurately.

 

How does dead reckoning help you in practice?

A more accurate overview of vehicle movements

If your vehicles regularly travel through tunnels, underground car parks or dense urban areas, you get a continuous route with no blind spots. That means more accurate data for fleet management and a better overview of where your vehicles have actually been.

A more reliable trip journal and reports

GPS outages often cause inaccuracies in route records. Dead reckoning helps close these gaps, so you have more reliable records for your electronic trip journal, reports and operational analysis.

Better protection against theft

Thieves today often use GPS jammers designed to prevent a vehicle from being tracked. Dead reckoning technology does not replace GPS, but it can help you keep track of the direction and course of movement even while the signal is being jammed.

So when tracing a stolen vehicle, you may have more information to go on than with an ordinary GPS tracker.

How we can help

We offer dead reckoning technology as part of selected GPS trackers for vehicle tracking and fleet management.

We'll help you choose the right solution for your types of vehicles and the way you use them. Not every business needs this feature, but if your vehicles operate in city traffic, underground car parks or industrial sites, or you face an increased risk of theft, it can be a very useful addition.

We'll be happy to show you which options make sense for your particular operations.

Want to track your vehicles without unnecessary gaps?

Get in touch. We'll design a solution that gives you a more accurate overview of your vehicles' movements, better-quality data and greater certainty, even in places where ordinary GPS loses its signal.