Does Weather Impact GPS Tracking Systems?

Contrary to what many believe, GPS tracking technology is really not much different than it was when it was first conceived over 5 decades ago. The one thing that has certainly changed during this time is the way in which GPS is used.

Any company which runs fleets and which works within shipping and logistics, relies heavily on the use of fleet tracking software. The location reporting which GPS delivers is as important as it has ever been, yet there are many more benefits to this technology which is used on a daily basis. For example thanks to smarter software we can gain much more by way of data and metrics from a simple commercial GPS tracker. One concern which many have about such ‘rudimentary’ technology, is that it could be affected by weather conditions, so here is the breakdown of how that works.

Which Weather Impacts GPS Data?

In truth there isn’t much that weather can do with regards to the reception of GPS technology. Occasionally the atmospheric pressure change which is brought on by heavy rain and snow could certainly weaken the signal, but the reception largely remains the same. This is yet again another huge benefit of using this kind of technology, as GPS tracking on fleets ensures that drivers are always safe, regardless of the conditions.

The only other issue which may present problems in colder climates are trackers which are battery operated. This is because of the fact that the cold weather can cool the battery, which results in less power being emitted from the device, resulting in a patchy signal.

Commercial GPS Trackers

In the case of small GPS trackers such as what you will find on a watch or a phone, thick cloud cover and heavy precipitation can certainly impact the quality of the information which is being sent and received by the tracker. In the case of a fleet management company however, they are using heavy duty tracking devices which have the capability to punch through any heavy cloud cover or strong pressure, to ensure that they are always able to deliver high quality results.

What Does Affect GPS Reception?

Although weather doesn’t have much of an impact on the quality of the fleet GPS tracking device, there are some issues that could be presented. In the main however these are solid structures which can actively block the signal. Remember that GPS tracking technology uses radio waves, which are not able to penetrate physical objects. Owing to this, heavily wooded areas or tunnels could have an impact on the GPS tracker, and make it tougher to find out the location of the vehicle and driver.

GPS tracking is used throughout the world of business and although the technology hasn’t changed much regarding the tracker over the years, the reality is that it has never needed to. The software will continue to change in order to harness all of the data which these trackers produce, but the devices themselves are perfectly fit for purpose, whatever the weather.