A GPS tracking unit is a device that uses the Global Positioning System to determine the precise location of a vehicle, person, or other asset to which it is attached and records the position of the asset at regular intervals.

The recorded location data can be stored within the tracking unit, or it may be transmitted to a central location data base, or internet-connected computer, using a cellular (GPRS), radio, or satellite modem embedded in the unit.

A vehicle position is triangulated using GPS satellite technology and converted to longitude & latitude coordinates.

This Latitude and Longitude, along with the specific event code, is transmitted via the GPRS network direct to the server which logs the raw data and converts it using reverse geo-coding technology into place names and positions on a map.

This allows the asset's location to be displayed against a map backdrop either in real-time or when analysing the track later, using customized software. Such systems are not new; amateur radio operators have been operating their free GPS-based nationwide realtime Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) since 1982

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