Google Earth as an AVL tool for business and pleasure

Peter van MuydenEPCOR

Overview

• Google Background• Google Earth Background• AVL definition• KML format• A few commercial AVL solutions

supporting Google Earth• Demonstration

Google Background• Google was founded in September 1998 by Larry

Page and Sergey Brin• The Company's name is derived from the word

"Googol”10100 • Google is based in Palo Alto, California. • Google's mission is to organize the world's

information, making it universally accessible and useful.

• Intel based search engines• Business model

Google Earth Background• Mark Aubin at Silicon Graphics (SGI)• Left SGI and teamed up with a few others to create Keyhole• In 2004 Google acquired Keyhole • Windows, Linux and MAC support. October 2008 IPhone

support.• Fat client with Internet based data• A 3D interface to the planet• 400 Million downloads since June 2005• 30,000 Geo developers registered with Google by 2006

Google Earth Background

"Our job is not to display the world’s geographic information; it is to display the world’s information and use geography as a context." Michael Jones, CTO, Google Earth

AVL definition• Automatic vehicle location or AVL is a means For

determining the geographic location of a vehicle and transmitting this information to a point where it can be used. Telelocation is a synonym used in the European Union. www.glossary.com

• Vehicles are non-living means of transport. Vehicles (cars, boats, equipment), animals, people, icebergs etc

• Automatic object location or AOL might be a better term

AVL definition• A way to find the location of the object– GPS (outside coverage only for now), Cell coverage, RFID,

Dead reckoning, Access card readers• A method to transfer the location of the object– Telemetry, EVDO, GSM, Private Network, FRS, GMRS, satellite

• A method to display the object– Computer, Cell Phone & PDA’s, GPS

Vehicle attributes are available

• speed, temperature, engine rpm, ignition on/off, heading, seatbelt use, oil pressure, elevation, etc

• Dynamic checking of speeding based on the road speed parameters.

• The number of hours behind the wheel for truckers.

AVL example

AVL example

Dog AVL example

Dispatching with AVL

Fire and Police

Freeware

Display speed as height of symbolMD-GPS2KML

KML format

• Keyhole Markup Language (XML)• Google Earth KML format for a point–Display point in Google Earth

• Google Earth KML format for a time series–Display time series in Google Earth

Create a Google Earth AVL

• Create KML point file on the fly (database, manually, etc)–Create GE Network Link Edit file

• Create KML time series file • Use a WMS service• Use the Google Earth API

Commercial AVL systems supporting Google Earth

• Ravtrack•World Tracking Solutions• GPS Insight• Global Fleet Management• Rastrac

AVL demos

• Sailboat race• EPCOR’s Mobile Workforce Management Syst

em• Whale shark• GooPS Free Google Earth AVL tool– Compare versions

• Inbound flights to LAX Airport