GPS can do much more than you probably realize and is capable of anything from monitoring volcano eruptions and measuring earthquakes to analyzing the atmosphere. GPS capabilities seem endless, and there is no telling what the future might hold.
In your daily life, you might only use GPS tracking to map your trip home or check the traffic conditions. However, there is much more you can do with GPS to make your life easier.
Keep reading this guide to learn five common uses of GPS tracking and see how you can use them in your life today!
1. Preventing Theft
Do you know a car is stolen every 43.8 seconds in the United States? Protecting your assets is one of the smartest ways you can use GPS tracking devices.
There are many GPS devices that you can buy to keep your car safe. These devices are relatively easy to use and have apps you can download on your cell phone so that you can access them anytime.
This way, you’ll be able to find out where your vehicle is at any time, get help in an emergency situation, monitor your teenage drivers, and recover a stolen car quickly. You can even integrate GPS tracking devices like Vivint Car Guard with your car’s security system.
In addition, you can use a GPS tracker to prevent theft of other equipment like jet skis. A jet ski GPS tracker allows you to monitor your jet ski for unauthorized use so you can report a theft immediately, even if you’re not nearby.
2. Tracking Down Your Pets
It’s always a scary situation when your pet wanders away from home, and you’re left trying to guess where they might have gone off to.
Pets go missing for various reasons, and most of the time, it’s because they were frightened by a thunderstorm or distracted by certain sounds or food smells. Other times, your pet goes missing because they were stolen.
You can place a GPS tracking device on your pet’s harness or collar and can track them easily. Devices like PAJ GPS have GPS tracking software that allows you to track multiple pets simultaneously on a finder app.
You can also use GPS to keep track of your pet’s health. You can keep a close eye on the movements of elderly pets or pets that suffer from diabetes or seizures. If they haven’t moved much during the day, you’ll be able to check on them quickly to ensure they’re doing well.
3. Tracking Elderly Relatives
A GPS tracker device is a useful tool when it comes to tracking an elderly relative that has Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other medical conditions that impair their ability to call for help.
You have different devices you can choose from and may need to try out a few of them to determine the best GPS tracker for your family member’s individual needs.
GPS medical alert systems have devices that can be attached to your loved one’s clothing, worn as a necklace, or attached to their keychain. These types of GPS systems allow elderly people to send a signal that pinpoints their exact location if they need medical help.
Tracking systems like PocketFinder is helpful for people with dementia and use cellular technology to provide an accurate location. You can also easily access them from your cell phone to check in regularly.
4. Locating Positions When You’re Hiking
Hiking is full of fun and adventure, but frequently you’ll need a reliable tool in case you get lost, separated from your group, or sustain an injury and need medical assistance.
GPS hiking devices typically come in the form of a smartwatch or a handheld device. They also come with extra features like fitness tracking, weather tracking, and satellite messaging and are also water resistant.
Handheld devices like the Garmin Montana are easy to use and have preloaded maps that you can manage by connecting to your Mac or PC. They also have wireless data transfer capabilities that allow you to share data of your location with other people.
GPS smartwatches track the steps of your journey accurately, so they’re great for when you’re trying to retrace your steps. Some smartwatches even track your body’s oxygen levels and heart rate so you can see how you’re doing at different altitudes.
5. Locating Objects on a Treasure Hunt
Using GPS tracking for treasure hunting is becoming increasingly popular. Geocaching is a game that mixes treasure hunting and adventure. You’ll need to use a handheld GPS unit instead of a treasure map to locate particular objects.
The game starts with you having to locate and plot the coordinates of one container. Inside the container are objects you can take and divvy up among your group. In exchange, you’ll leave your own objects in the container for the next person or group to find.
You can start by joining the world’s largest treasure hunt online to find treasures located in your area.
Not only will you have fun, but you’ll get plenty of experience using a GPS unit and understanding coordinates. This way, you’ll be much more comfortable using it for other purposes like hiking.
Start Using GPS Tracking More in Your Life
Now that you know the different ways GPS tracking can be helpful in your life, you can start putting them to good use today.
If you’re not comfortable using a GPS tracking device, try working with it each day. Go on a treasure hunt or simply walk around and practice tracking your location.
Also, do more research to understand how these devices can connect with your cell phone and computer to gain more knowledge about using GPS software. Before you know it, you’ll be a GPS pro.
If you’re ready to learn more, check out the rest of our blog for more tech articles that will boost your mind!
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