Automatic Vehicle
Location

Automatic Vehicle Location

Automatic vehicle location (AVL) is used for determining the geographic location of a vehicle and transmitting this information to dispatchers and supervisors. It enables utilities to maximize the efficiency and safety of their field employees. AVL is often also referred to as global positioning system (GPS) tracking, fleet tracking, satellite tracking, vehicle tracking, asset tracking, and mobile workforce management (MWM). AVL technology is an important management tool. When laptops and/or personal digital assistants (PDA) are also located in the vehicle, drivers can find the quickest route to their destination while using the utility’s geographic information system (GIS) map as an overlay.

What can Power System Engineering, Inc. (PSE) do to assist utilities with AVL?

PSE can mitigate the risk of selecting an inappropriate AVL technology or service. Several key questions must be considered when making an AVL technology and vendor selection, including:

  • Does the utility desire to show vehicle locations overlaid on its own GIS maps?

  • Is there a desire to use or upgrade the utility’s own land mobile radio (LMR) communications system as the communications media or lease airtime from cellular or satellite providers?

  • What is the level of coverage provided by the existing cellular providers?

  • Who are the specialized AVL service providers that can bundle both the air-time and AVL software packages and features?

  • Does the preferred list of AVL providers have an interface to the utility’s LMR system? Is the interface MultiSpeak compatible?

  • Is there a preference to integrate basic AVL into a more advanced mobile work management system whereby the “system” has the intelligence to suggest which technician or vehicle should be dispatched based on location, the technician’s skill set, and the tasks required in the service/work order?

  • What AVL features/capabilities are a “must have”?

The AVL Procurement Process

PSE has found that an AVL investment costs far less than advance metering infrastructure (AMI), customer information system (CIS), GIS or other major automation programs. Because of this, often less due-diligence is justified for AVL. However, PSE can add value to the procurement process to provide the following:

  • Working with the utility to help answer key requirements questions and to identify other key questions to consider.

  • Prioritizing the utility’s requirements and needs.

  • Educating the utility on appropriate vendors without the utility having to invite a group of vendors into its offices.

  • Creation of a contract document or the creation of a request for proposal (RFP).

Call for more information

866.825.8895