SEATTLE — Zonar's new patent-pending technology adds fuel as a fifth dimension to the company's HD-GPS reporting.

Zonar's vehicle telematics platforms have always utilized four-dimensional — latitude, longitude, time and odometer — GPS reporting. Now, with the addition of fuel as the fifth dimension, Zonar's telematics platforms will not only determine sample rates based on geographical data, but also fuel consumption.

"Our unique sampling methodology accounts for route and driving changes," said Mike McQuade, Zonar's chief technical officer. "For example, if a vehicle is driving in the city with frequent stops and turns, the computer samples much more frequently than if the vehicle is running down a long, straight highway."

Employing Zonar's patent-pending technology, fleets will now be able to easily identify in detail the routes and lanes over which their vehicles are most and least fuel efficient. The GPS sampling density increases when fuel consumption increases or "spikes" and relaxes when fuel consumption decreases or is relatively static.

"Fuel is the No. 1 variable cost for fleets. Incremental decreases in fuel consumption can greatly impact the bottom line," McQuade added. "With our telematics platforms, fleets improve their ability to measure fuel consumption, and that information is coupled with a litany of other essential data elements, including speed, vehicle health and load, to name a few."

In addition to five-dimensional data sampling, Zonar's telematics platforms transmit engine fault codes and verified electronic vehicle inspection data in real time. This information alerts maintenance personnel to potential service events and provides the ability to remotely diagnose vehicles in the case of a malfunction.

Also captured and transmitted in real time is a robust set of driver performance metrics including, but not limited to, accelerating too quickly, hard braking, excessive idling, anti-lock brake system activation and roll stability control activation. 

All of the data captured is available instantly through Zonar's web-based Ground Traffic Control (GTC) fleet management portal. GTC presents the data via dashboards and traditional reporting, and also employs push technology to send alerts via text message, e-mail and screen pops to notify the proper personnel when a vehicle or driver is performing outside acceptable parameters.