Aug/Sept 2008

A lone worker tracking and protection system based on PDAs but drawing on vehicle tracking infrastructure has been launched by telematics specialist CMS, the company behind the Supatrak system. Appropriate enough, it's called PDATrak.

The location of the target PDA is updated constantly and displayed on the SupaTrak Web-based mapping system. However, the system comes into its own when a 'panic' alarm is triggered, and CMS has provided a variety of ways for alerts to be initiated.

At the simplest level, the alert can be triggered if the PDA is tapped three times. Another option opens a voice channel when the panic switch is activated – enabling the recipient to hear what is happening at the lone worker's location.

For users whose lone workers visit unsafe places or regularly encounter adverse situations, there is an option to place the panic switch discreetly inside worker's vehicle.

 

It is also possible to set the system to send an alert automatically if there is no activity for a specified period, or the worker fails to get in touch by an agreed time.

Among early users is Hampshire County Council, which has deployed the system to 50 of its community support officers and a number of trading standards officers.