Feb/March 2007

Qualcomm, one of the leading names in wireless communication and vehicle navigation and tracking systems, has developed a unified Web portal through which European users will be able to access all its various productivity tools and applications in this field.

In the US, Qualcomm offers a tracking solution called GlobalTRACS, recently upgraded to version 4.0, while in Europe is has a range of solutions including the satellite-based EutelTRACS cross-border tracking system and TrailerTRACS.

Functions available through the new site will include vehicle tracking and tracing; drivers' hours management; and trip, load, vehicle and trailer management.

Several suppliers have been involved in setting up the portal. The underlying geographical engine is Webraska's Geospatial Platform (SGP4), which has been deployed at the Qualcomm Wireless Business Solutions Europe headquarters in the Netherlands. It supports a range of functionality including geocoding, reverse-geocoding, routing and points of interest searching.

 

The digital mapping of Europe has been supplied by Navteq, and is described as being made up of seamlessly connected map databases for the whole of Europe, including the company's latest Eastern European dataset.

Also included is Navteq Transport, a collection of truck-related attributes that are held in a specialist dataset to optimise the calculation of routes for commercial vehicles. They include details about physical restrictions such as the height and width of bridges and tunnels and hazardous materials restrictions, as well as legal restrictions - for example, information on locations where trucks and trailers are prohibited.

Navteq Transport is a relatively new development, initially available in France and due for roll-out across other countries later this year (see panel right).

Qualcomm says the truck-related information represented a key factor in its decision to choose Navteq data for the project.