GPS Technology Implemented in the Strait Region
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 5:42PM GPS Technology Implemented in the Strait Region
Port Hastings, NS:— Enhanced student and staff safety, increased efficiencies and reduced costs are several of the many benefits the Strait Regional School Board anticipates as a result of the recent implementation of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology in its school bus and maintenance vehicles. A GPS device is a cellular based service used as a vehicle tracking and fleet management tool.
Superintendent of Schools Jack Beaton explained that to gain some preliminary information in relation to the costs and benefits of a GPS tracking system, Transportation staff evaluated a system on a school bus during a 60-day trial period. With benefits clearly identified during this trial, the Board issued a Request for Proposals for the purchase of a GPS system for 128 school buses assigned to its daily routes and 20 service vehicles. To assist with the costs associated with the purchase of the GPS technology, the School Board successfully applied for a grant to Conserve Nova Scotia through its Greening the Nova Scotia School Bus Fleet program. Conserve Nova Scotia provided this program with funding from the EcoNova Scotia for Clean Air and Climate Change Fund. A grant of $121,984 was provided and funded the purchase of the GPS units. “I am very pleased to advise that following a rigorous process of examining vendors from across North America, a contract was signed on August 20, 2010, with Dartmouth-based Kerr Global Communications. All GPS units were installed prior to the start of the school year,” said Mr. Beaton.
“What this means for the school board is the ability to not only significantly reduce operating costs, but to also create a much safer environment for both students and employees”, Mike Herenberg, VP at Kerr Global Communications said today.
The School Board’s Transportation Staff will monitor and evaluate the information acquired through the GPS technology during the school year. Specifically, some of the additional anticipated benefits include a reduction in fuel use and vehicle idling; bus routing optimization; efficiencies related to tracking vehicle locations, responding to breakdowns, maintenance repairs and engine status.