Accuracy and Validation of Geotab GPS Fleet Tracking Devices for Medium Duty Trucks

Fleet management companies have implemented tracking devices in their vehicles that employ Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in near real time for optimizing fuel consumption, determining smart routes, and for monitoring driving behavior. For this purpose, Geotab Inc. has developed OBD-II connected Geotab GO devices. These devices are capable of recording vehicle position and speed data using GPS. This study seeks to validate and compare Geotab recorded speed and acceleration data to reliable reference data collected from a VBOX 3i for medium duty trucks. The effect of Geotab’s ProPlus mode on the accuracy of the data was analyzed. This study considered the latest Geotab model, the GO9. The device was connected in parallel with the VBOX 3i using a two-way splitter connected to each test vehicle’s OBD-II port. The present study was performed to provide insight for accident reconstructionists investigating crashes involving vehicles equipped with Geotab GO9 devices.

Two different test scenarios were conducted with three different medium duty trucks to validate the recorded data. The intent of these scenarios was to simulate emergency type situations that would not normally be experienced in everyday driving. Scenario 1 consisted of accelerating the vehicle by pressing the accelerator pedal to 100%. Scenario 2 consisted of accelerating the vehicle to a given speed and then applying the brakes quickly and with as much pressure as physically possible. The results for all scenarios were analyzed, with average positional error and average speed error calculated. The tests conceived and performed were intended to breach the threshold for data recording to then determine what said threshold is. Knowing what the threshold for data recording is for these types of scenarios will provide accident reconstructionists with justification for acceleration and deceleration rates experienced by vehicles involved in accidents that are using Geotab devices.