Geotab’s annual Connect event returned to Florida in February this year, drawing telematics and fleet management professionals from around the world.
Over three days, industry leaders explored the future of data-driven mobility – from AI-powered telematics to innovations designed to make roads safer and fleets more efficient.
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The event was also a platform for major announcements, with Geotab outlining its vision for the evolving transport and logistics sector.
It focused on the future of connected vehicles within the industry, looking at how its telematics solutions are evolving in their use and applications.
We spoke to senior manager, solutions engineering Chris Martin about how connected vehicles can impact heavy transport in Australia.
This is done through video-to-infrastructure, or V2I, communication, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.
“When we talk about V2I communication as part of the broader V2X, we are referring to connected vehicles interacting with infrastructure, such as traffic signals and road networks,” Chris says.
“In Australia, this technology is not as advanced as in some other regions, but leveraging connected vehicles for planning and operating road infrastructure will play a significant role in future road networks.”
There are elements of this technology already in use in some parts of the world, but we are only scratching the surface of its potential. A key factor in advancing V2I communication is ensuring vehicles are connected and generating data to support these systems.
In the heavy transport sector, connected vehicles are able to provide data to regulatory bodies through programs like Transport Certification Australia.
“These programs help operators gain better road access by connecting their vehicles, benefiting both the industry and road managers,” Chris says.
“Operators get improved access, while road authorities gain valuable data to plan budgets, monitor road usage, and prioritise spending.
“This could mean upgrading a particular bridge or investing in specific road segments – improving productivity for operators and delivering more effective infrastructure planning.
“Traffic management, government planning, and insights into congestion and vehicle types on roads are all crucial from a regional perspective.”
Seeing advancement in this area will only see uptake grow in Australia, even if it still needs significant investment to reach the level that Geotab is seeing overseas.
With a number of OEMs releasing truck models that only include more technological capabilities, not just in terms of safety but also communication, this should see an upswing in connected vehicles on Australian roads.
“The key factor is the uptake of connected vehicles,” Chris says.
“As more OEMs produce vehicles with built-in connectivity, that will help drive adoption. Regulatory frameworks also need to be in place to integrate this data into broader systems.
“Right now, commercial fleet vehicles make up only a portion of the vehicles on the road, so the more we can connect, the better.”
One of Geotab’s solutions leveraging the potential of connected vehicles is Altitude, which has already seen great use and feedback in the United States.
The telematics data Altitude provides enables operators using it to perform in-depth analyses of potential crash hazards, traffic patterns and roadway risk factors.
This data can help to identify high-risk roadway segments, analyse traffic patterns, and assess potential hazards.
Not only does this have significant safety benefits, but also efficiency benefits and the potential to save major costs.
Decreasing downtime is the battle of every person and business within the transport chain. With software continually updating and staying aware of hazards and delays being caused on road, drivers can always take the safest and most efficient route, no matter how long or short their drive may be.
“Geotab is at the forefront of this issue, particularly with the Altitude product and the vast amount of data available,” Chris says.
“With 4.7 million vehicles connected and reporting daily, Geotab has an unprecedented dataset to analyse vehicle movements and identify patterns. In North America, Geotab is already leading in this space, and I look forward to seeing this technology expand into other parts of the world in due course.”
Outside of typical road freight applications, solutions like Altitude are well-suited to a number of diverse areas within the industry where trucks are running.
Chris and the team at Geotab have seen connected vehicles used successfully in industries adjacent to road transport, and have identified the potential it has on the road.
“At a commercial fleet level, this technology has been in use for a long time, particularly in industries like mining and oil and gas, where many workers operate in remote areas – sometimes alone,” he says.
“The safety benefits are well established. For example, using satellite backhaul, notifications can be sent when an incident occurs, whether it is a rollover, an impact, or a lone worker pressing a duress button.
“It is not just about vehicle incidents – someone could arrive at a site and experience a fall or another emergency, and the ability to send an alert is crucial.”
With so many of Australia’s operators working in rural areas, solutions like Altitude have the potential to offer safer roads in areas where road safety warnings may reach drivers later than they normally would.
This also has applications for operators running trucks in mines, quarries and other similarly remote areas.
“Connected vehicle technology has a huge role in improving safety for remote workers and those on rural roads,” Chris says.
“While it is already in use, advancements in satellite connectivity will make it even more reliable and cost-effective.”
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