Vehicle Tracking System Design & Deployment Competency Report

This Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) details the design and deployment of a vehicle tracking system in Fiji. The project involved developing a GPS-based system using GSM technology to provide real-time location tracking of vehicles via mobile phones and computers. The report outlines the project's objectives, including developing an automatic tracking system, acquiring vehicle locations at predefined intervals, determining longitude and latitude from SPS data, and creating a user-friendly application. The author's responsibilities included designing the system, determining hardware requirements, conducting testing, and configuring TCP communication for secure data transmission. The report also discusses the engineering knowledge and skills applied, such as installing GPS trackers and GSM antennas, utilizing a centralized server for processing information, and establishing TCP communication channels. Challenges encountered, such as antenna stability, and their solutions are also presented. The project's innovative aspects, including integrating complex software and servers for detailed vehicle parameter display and employing reverse geocoding, are highlighted. The author successfully developed a tracking system prototype tested on various vehicles in Fiji, demonstrating accurate real-time location detection.

CE 1.1: Project Introduction
Name of the Project : Design & Deployment of Vehicle Tracking System for
Fiji
Geographical Location : Fiji
Project Duration : [Please Fill]
Organization : Shazcom Technology
Position in the Project : Research & Development Engineer
CE 1.2: Project Background
CE 1.2.1: Characteristics of the Project
The rapid and significant advancement and development of technology in an exponential
rate has impacted the entire world and force towards the development and modernization and Fiji
has not been an exception. The surveillance and monitoring of the vehicles can be implemented
for ensuring the safety of the cars. I was involved in the project for the development of GPS
(Global Positioning System) based Vehicle Tracking System with Shazcom technology. Through
this project, I have aimed at increasing the line of products currently provided by Shazcom
technology. In this project I have worked for the design and implementation of the tracing
system that would be implemented in buses, boat and cars for viewing the current location of the
vehicle through mobile phoned and computers. I took the advantage of GSM technology, GPS
antenna and TCP protocol for configuring the tracking system.
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CE 1.2.2: Objectives developed for project
In this project, I have aimed at providing the real time location of the moving vehicle.
The proposed system would assist the users to relocate and find their vehicles if stolen. The
development of the system required the integration of the hardware, software and the application
for viewing the vehicle through the mobile and computer devices. Therefore, for the completion
of the development and integration of the tracking system, I have defined the following
objectives:
 To develop the automatic device tracking system with GPS and GSM technology;
 To acquire the location of vehicle after pre-defined interval of time;
 To determine the longitude and latitude of the vehicle location from SPS data;
 To develop the application for viewing the location of the vehicle from mobile and
computers;
 To provide the users with the nearby street information of the vehicle’s real time
position;
CE 1.2.3: My area of work
Being the research and development engineer, I have taken the sole responsibility of
developing the design of the vehicle tracking system. For determining the hardware requirement
for the vehicle tracking, I have studied various past studies and internet articles. After evaluation
and reviewing, I have developed block diagram while indicating the GSM and GSM module, two
way communication and internet application for viewing the real time location of the vehicle. In
addition to that, I have conducted the testing of the tracking system for ensuring the accuracy and
reliability of the location detected by the developed system. I have further configured the TCP
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communication between the server, tracking device and application for secure transmission of
information.
CE 1.2.4: Project Group
Figure 1: Project Team involved for the development of the Vehicle Tracking
System
CE 1.2.5: My responsibilities throughout the project
I took the responsibility of developing the connectivity of the hardware element used for
the GPS and GSM antenna that has been attached with the vehicle for tracking the location. I
have further developed the coding for obtaining the location of the street, vehicles speed and
accurate location form the latitude and longitude information obtained from the GSM signal.
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Apart from that I took more responsibility in ensuring the proper deployment and initiating sales
for the tracking system.
CE 1.3: Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1: Comprehending the Theory of the project
Fleet management System is completely different concept from the Vehicle Tracking
System. The vehicle tracking system does not recite the location to the driver like the fleet
management system. Through the vehicle tracking system I was able to remotely track and view
the location of the vehicle through the application developed on Smartphone and computers.
During the project I have identified that the efficiency of the tacking system can be obtained and
determined based on the accuracy and real-time updating of the vehicle location. For ensuring
the accurate tracking of the vehicle, I have used GPS and GSM for mobile communication. The
device can detect the real-time location of the vehicle; I have embedded the tracker within the
vehicle. I have used the GSM module for tracking the location. Furthermore, I have also
developed an application for viewing and monitoring the location of vehicle. For ensuring the
accuracy of location I have embedded Google API in the software. Further, through the
developed tracking system, I was able to provide the details of various vehicle parameter
including street address, latitude, longitude and speed at real time.
CE 1.3.2: Engineering Knowledge and Skills applied in the project
While developing the tracking system, I have installed the GPS tracker within the vehicle
along with the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) antenna and GPS antenna.
The GPS antenna used in the vehicle extracts the location of the vehicle in term of coordinated
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from Satellites. I have used the location of the cars at various instances for determining the speed
of vehicle and transmitted the data to centralized server thorough the attached GSM antenna. I
have further utilized the centralized server for processing the information and indicating the real-
time location of the vehicle through Google Maps. Apart from that, I have used the tracker for
sending the location information within the GSM local data network. Furthermore, for ensuring
secure communication I have established TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) communication
channel for data transmission.
CE 1.3.3: Accomplishment and Task Performed
In this project as an Research & Development Engineer I was successful in
accomplishing all the activities and responsibilities provided to be for the development of the
tracking system. After the development of the prototype model of the tracking system I have
tested the prototype with a sample of vehicles in Fiji.
CE 1.3.4: Identified Issues and Their Solutions
Issue: In the project for the development of the vehicle tracking system, I have
incorporated several technologies together for ensuring proper functionalities and operations.
The inclusion of several technologies together has created significant issues during the
deployment of the system. One significant problem that I have encountered that during the
installation of the tracking system, the devices was not 100 % stable due to the movement of the
vehicle. This was providing inaccurate results regarding the vehicle location.
Solution: In order to ensure the stability of the antenna, and the GPS model, I have
attached the antenna with the body of the vehicle ensure no movement of the antenna with the
vehicle’s motion. I have further attached the system and connected the circuit with the vehicle’s
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battery for ensuring continuous power input. After securing the tracker I have tested the
functionality and found accuracy in 99% of vehicles location in real time.
CE 1.3.5: Plan for producing creative and innovative work
While developing the system and integrating the tracking functionality within the vehicle,
I have observed that the vehicle tracking system initiative in a commercial range has been taken
by any other company operating in Fiji. Therefore, the idea of vehicle tracking in Fiji was
innovative and creative that I have provided through my business organization. In addition to
that, for providing creativity within the developed system, I have integrated the complex
software and servers through which I was able to fetch and display the information of the
ignition status, speed, street address and status of the vehicle. In addition to that, I have
employed reverse geocoding for determining the accurate longitude and latitude of the vehicle
through the current position. Through the application of geocoding process, I was able to
determine the country, state, neighborhood and nearby address of the real-time position of the
vehicle. I have also used routing services for converting the coordinated to readable information
obtained through GPS module.
CE 1.3.6: Collaborative work
I have followed collaborative approach for the development of the tracing system with
the department and project team member. I have developed the communication matrix while
including the contact number all the team members available for the project. Furthermore, I have
organized weekly meeting with the other employees associated in this project for discussing any
issues and progress with the project.
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CE 1.4: Project Review
CE 1.4.1: Project Overview
I was successful in developing the tracking system. The developed system was accurately
detecting the position of the moving vehicle in real time. In addition to that, ii have conducted
the testing on cars, motorcycle and boats. All of them have reflected positive results in
determining the location and speed of the vehicle and reflected the same on the mobile phone
application.
CE 1.4.2: My contribution to work
I have taken the sole responsibility of developing the system design and plan for tracking
system. In addition to that, I have developed the required application for showing and accessing
the location of vehicle through computers and mobile phones. In addition to that, I have gathered
relevant data for ensuring the reliability and accuracy of performance of the tracking system
developed.
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