Geofencing for Fleet & Freight Management

Fabrice RECLUSCETE de LYON

25, av. F. Mitterrand 69674 BRON, FRANCEfabrice.reclus@developpement-durable.gouv.fr

Kristen DROUARDCETE de LYON

25, av. F. Mitterrand 69674 BRON, FRANCEkristen.reed-drouard@developpement-durable.gouv.fr

Abstract — This paper deals with geofencing: an innovativetechnology, based on telematics and satellite positioning.Geofencing enables remote monitoring of geographic areassurrounded by a virtual fence (geofence), and automaticdetections when tracked mobile objects enter or exit these areas.The paper presents fundamental concepts of geofencing andsome applications based on this technique, in the transport &logistics sector.

Tracking & tracing systems that are based on global navigationsatellite services and include a geofencing feature, could alsoefficiently contribute to the enforcement of heavy goods vehicles(HGV) regulations: weight and height restrictions on specificroutes or tunnels, dangerous goods transports restrictions,restricted access in urban areas.

Keywords - Tracking, tracing, GNSS, geofencing, restrictedareas, geofenced area, dedicated routes, route adherence

I. PRESENTATION

A. IntroductionGeofencing is a technology used to monitor mobile objects

(vehicles, persons, containers…), located by GPS. Thegeographic coordinates of the tracked object are automaticallyand regularly sent to a control center, via mobile phonenetworks.

In parallel, another set of geographic coordinates is used toconstitute a virtual boundary (geofence) around a geographicarea. The system determines whether the tracked object islocated inside or outside the geofenced area. An alert isgenerated when the tracked object crosses the geofence. Thistechnology can also allow the detection of spatial proximitybetween tracked mobiles and a specific geofenced area.

Figure 1. The systems detects a vehicle exiting a geofenced area

In figure 1, the green area has been geofenced. Vehicles areallowed to move inside this area, but the system has beenconfigured to detect any vehicle exiting the area (e.g. the redvehicle).

B. Applications based on geofencingGeofencing can be applied to various fields related to the

monitoring of people and mobile assets. Solutions have mainlybeen developed for the transport sector, but others applicationsalso exist for civil safety, security or public works.

1) Transports & LogisticsThe Transport & logistics sector uses geofencing to provide

improved and more flexible services to their customers. Heavygoods vehicles or delivery vehicles are generally assigned toreach particular points, such as warehouses or customerfacilities. These points are called points of interests (POI).Geofencing enables a better organization of goods movements,by monitoring the location of vehicles in relation to thesepoints of interest. An alert is sent to the POI when a vehicle iswithin proximity.

2) Fleet managementSome professional vehicle fleets (commercial vehicles,

public transport vehicles) are by nature captive fleets, i.e. theyoperate within given geographical areas, for example a city or awider area. Geofencing is used here to automatically monitorthese vehicles and ensure that they remain inside theirdesignated area.

3) Defense & SecurityDefense & Security solutions based on geofencing are

essentially governmental applications, created a few years ago,especially in the United States, Sweden or Singapore. SomeR&D programmes have studied geofencing, with the particularaim of preventing potential terrorist attacks using highlyhazardous goods transport (fuel, radioactive materials, toxicwaste…) as weapons of destruction or contamination.

C. Tracking & tracing system descriptionTracking & tracing systems are mainly composed of four

linked segments, which constitute an information chainbetween tracked mobile objects and the control center.

These four segments are:

• A spatial segment: signals from Global NavigationSatellites Systems GPS, GLONASS and EGNOS.

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• A telecommunications segment: mobile phonenetworks or satellite communications for remote areas.

• An application segment: interface solutions areavailable on a virtual private network or with a securedconnection directly onto the Web.

• A user segment: comprising both an on-board unit andthe control center. Others mobile devices can also beused for monitoring, such as PDA or smart phones.

Figure 2. Tracking & tracing system based on GNSS

II. GEOFENCING TECHNIQUESGeofencing can be of benefit in numerous domains and has

many functions: the monitoring of mobile assets and peoplewithin geographical areas, intrusion detection and protectionagainst theft are examples of use.

Various geofencing techniques have been developed tomeet different pragmatic needs. The main techniques arepresented in this paper, but this list is not exhaustive.

A. Geofenced areaThis technique provides automatic monitoring of mobile

objects moving around or inside a geofenced area. Alarms aregenerated when mobiles respectively enter or exit theboundary.

The size of the area can range from a few tens of meters toseveral kilometers. The shape of the geofence can be a simplegeometric figure, like square or rectangle, or a morecomplicated one, like complex polygon.

Coordinates from characteristic points of the shape arenecessary to define the geofence perimeter. These coordinatesare supplied to the calculation algorithm, along with theinclusive or exclusive nature of the geofence, which enablesthe computing of alerts.

Figure 3. Active geofence (black perimeter) around an area (zone A)

B. Proximity with a point of interestThis technique is intended to detect the proximity of a

vehicle in relation to a point of interest (POI). In practice, thegeofence is a circle, and the POI is located at the center. Theradius is parameterized according to the distance that isregarded as "proximity" to the POI, from a few meters toseveral tens of kilometers.

This method is the simplest way to implement geofencing,because it only needs two parameters, coordinates of the centerand value of the radius. The algorithm calculates the distancebetween the mobile object and the center of the circle.According to whether this distance is lower or higher than thevalue of the radius, the mobile object will respectively beconsidered inside or outside the geofence.

Figure 4. Detection of proximity with a circular geofence

In figure 4, a truck is heading to a factory, which representsthe POI. Detection occurs when the truck crosses the circle,and is thus located by the system at a lower distance from thePOI than the value of the radius.

In this configuration, the geofence has been matched withtime slots. This means that the nature of the geofence willevolve during the day. For example it can be active duringcertain time slots and inactive the remainder of the time.

C. Route adherenceThis technique relates to the monitoring of a mobile object

throughout a journey, from the departure point to the finaldestination. Geofencing makes it possible to ensure that avehicle does not deviate from its allocated route.

In practice, a route is created with a set of coordinates, andis recorded in the software application before the departure ofthe vehicle. A set of circular geofences is applied along theentire route, one after the other, as shown in figure 5.

Figure 5. Route adherence control via geofencing

If the vehicle deviates from the route, it may cross one ofthe geofences. Depending on a preset deviation tolerance, analert is then generated and sent to the control center, with thelocation where the vehicle has exited the assigned route.

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D. Route and schedule adherenceIn specific cases, classical geofencing techniques have to be

enhanced to meet user requirements. This leads to newfunctionalities, like route and schedule adherence. Thistechnique is used in particular to follow a mobile object’sprogression on an assigned route, in relation to a schedule.

Figure 6. Route and schedule adherence monitoring via geofencing

In figure 6, a pre-planned route has been assigned to avehicle. The journey along this route is split into stages, whichrepresent a sort of checkpoint. Each one is associated with atime slot for passage, corresponding to where the vehicle has tobe at a given moment.

Each checkpoint is covered by a circular geofence,associated with a set of coordinates. Throughout the journey,the system checks if the vehicle has entered the geofence ofeach checkpoint area at the planed time.

III. PERSPECTIVES FOR FLEET & FREIGHTMANAGEMENT ON ROADS

A. Monitoring and control of restricted areasAccess restrictions or prohibitions for certain categories of

vehicles are implemented on certain road infrastructures (suchas tunnels) or around geographical areas (e.g. conurbations). Inparticular, such regulations are applied to vehicles transportinginflammable or toxic materials, and to excessively high orheavy vehicles. Finally, dangerous routes (for example withsteep slopes) are identified and prohibited for coaches andHGVs.

Geofencing these regulated zones, infrastructures androutes would enable targeted field data collection, but also acontrol of entries and the detection of vehicles in infringement.Beyond enforcement purposes, one can also imagine the use ofgeofencing for the protection of vulnerable sites or areas, withrisk prevention in mind. Protection would be provided throughthe installation of access control to the zone in question. Risksmust be detected sufficiently early to make it possible toquickly engage effective measures, the idea being that adetected unauthorized vehicle should not be able to reach thevulnerable site or protected area.

B. Monitoring of motorway corridorsTraffic schemes for cities or conurbations sometimes

include recommended routes for HGVs, due to weight orheight restrictions. Alternatives routes are also obligatory forhazardous goods vehicles, which must avoid dense urban areassuch as town centers. Monitoring of motorway corridors andalternative routes dedicated to this type of transport is thereforeessential to ensure that regulations are actually respected. Other

categories of heavy vehicles such as coaches are likely to betracked by satellite in the future.

Figure 7. Monitoring of a roadway with geofencing

In this context, geofencing could provide a possibleefficient means of monitoring tracked mobiles, by controllingthat they actually drive along the dedicated road, and don’t exituntil the end of the restricted corridor.

In figure 7, a geofence is implemented on each side of theroadway (orange lines), considering a buffer area between thepavement and the boundary of the geofence. The mobile islocated on the roadway (blue cross), and also inside thehorizontal protection level (HPL) around its estimated position(black cross).

Considering the estimated position only, the mobile couldbe considered exiting the roadway, but due to the buffer zone,the geofencing algorithm doesn’t trigger the alert. The bufferzone is designed to widen the size of the corridor, and to avoidthis kind of false detection. The width of the buffer zoneconstitutes an adjustable parameter in the geofencingalgorithm, which has to be continuously compared with HPLaround positions.

C. Service area parking management Managing service area parking for certain categories of

transport (for example dangerous goods vehicles) can befinancially difficult to implement, as numerous sites can beconcerned. A geofencing system can prove to be an effectivesolution to this problem.

It can contribute to the automatic monitoring of parkingareas, by monitoring available spaces, ensuring that designatedareas are respected and monitoring the quantity of dangerousgoods entering the area. This would help improve the safety ofservice area users.

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IV. CONCLUSIONThis paper deals with the concept of geofencing. It presents

various applications used in the field of surface transport, andthe main control and monitoring techniques based ongeofencing. There would appear to be a strong potential forgeofencing, as in as far as it can help authorities andinfrastructure operators prevent risks, guarantee decisional aidand enable better risk assessment.

Firstly, geofencing is a highly flexible technique, because itis not related to a specific means of transport, and can adapt toco-modal transport requirements. Secondly, there is no need forheavy on-site investments (barriers, badge readers, monitoringcameras…). Many emerging applications based on geofencingare also foreseen, such as HGV electronic toll collection, theftprotection on public car parks, or statistical data production forstudies.

Lastly, future applications based on geofencing shouldbenefit from satellite navigation services, where greatimprovements are also expected in location precision, thanks tonew global navigation satellite systems like EGNOS andGALILEO. By providing better accuracy and improvedconfidence in mobile positioning thanks to integritymechanisms, these systems will lead to more efficientgeofencing applications.

This essential guarantee in terms of positioningperformances will make it possible in the future to considergeofencing for safety and security applications in publictransport, the protection of vulnerable infrastructures or reliableroad infrastructure pricing.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We kindly thank R. PAGNY, E. LOUETTE, J-P.SALANDRE and all the people at D.E.S. for theirs help andsupport in this work.

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