In today’s article, you will learn all about video monitoring and telemetry, including the 3 reasons that make these technologies essential for any fleet.
In the sections that follow, we will go over definitions of video monitoring and telemetry, practical applications, and even market statistics. And we will not stop there! Throughout the post, you will understand how video monitoring and telemetry help make fleets safer in every way.
What we will look at next:
- What is fleet video monitoring?
- Types of video monitoring monitoring categories
- What is telemetry for fleet management?
- Basic Telemetry
- Advanced Telemetry
- 3 Reasons that make video monitoring and telemetry essential for any fleet.
- Conclusion
What does video monitoring mean for fleet management?
Video monitoring in fleet management consists of using cameras to monitor vehicles. Using traditional equipment or equipment with integrated intelligence, the technology records video images of the vehicle, inside and out.
In this context, the use of cameras with artificial intelligence (AI) is noteworthy. Based on advanced algorithms, AI detects signs of drowsiness and distraction while driving, such as closed eyes, yawning or using a mobile phone.
Types of video monitoring
To get a comprehensive overview of the topic, it is important to divide video monitoring into categories. From this perspective, there are two subdivisions: compact and robust.
Compact video monitoring
In short, the compact form of video monitoring tends to bundle more devices into smaller units. For example, compact video monitoring can have cameras with or without artificial intelligence, with the main difference being the size of the devices.
Thus, despite the smaller footprint, compact video monitoring offers features such as remote transmission and later viewing of the recorded footage (video streaming and playback)
Robust video monitoring
For managers looking for a more comprehensive system, robust video monitoring solutions are available.
Due to the larger hardware, they have all the advantages of the compact category and offer a diverse combination of cameras that integrate a variety of technologies.
In this context, the MDVR (Mobile Digital Video Recorder) comes into play as the “brain” to coordinate these resources, providing advanced tools for video capture, storage, and processing.
In practice, there are several options that can be brought together in the MDVR to help save lives in your fleet. Check out the most important ones:
- ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) – an advanced driving assistant that helps drivers watch out for pedestrians on the road, sharp turns, and the risk of frontal collision.
- DSM / DMS (Driver Monitoring System / Driver Status Monitoring) – these are cameras with built-in artificial intelligence that detect the grimaces on the driver’s face, indicating drowsiness and distraction at the wheel.
- Side and rear cameras – due to their strategic positioning, they help expand the field of vision and provide images of what is happening outside the vehicle.
- Interior cameras – provide a direct view of what is happening inside the cabin and provide real-time images of the driver behind the wheel.
Now that you have familiarized yourself with the categories of video monitoring, you can already see how important it is for the system to capture and store data, right? Valuable information can be collected from the stored recordings, enhancing safety within the fleet.
What is fleet management telemetry?
Before we talk about telemetry for fleet management, it is pertinent to look at the formal definition of the term, which states that:
“Vehicle telemetry is a wireless technology for sending and receiving data that has the purpose of remotely monitoring environmental conditions or the status of specific equipment.”
When speaking on this topic, the question commonly arises: are telemetry and tracking the same thing?
No, they are different technologies. While tracking focuses only on the location of your vehicle, telemetry has a broader range of information that goes far beyond location. If you want to stay up to date on this topic, read this post on Creare Sistemas’ blog.
Another interesting point is that when many people think of telemetry, they think of it as a tool for monitoring vehicle performance. However, apart from the “mechanical” aspects, there is also the human factor involved in the process.
For example, there are telemetry systems that provide options to monitor the driver’s behavior and violations they may commit on the road.
In addition, it is worth noting that despite the general concept, not all telemetry providers on the market have the same functionalities.
Therefore, in the next sections, we will divide telemetry into two categories: Basic and advanced.
Basic Telemetry
Basic telemetry is a useful tool for obtaining vehicle indicators quickly and inexpensively. Here, only approximate values are available, as vehicle information is shared via satellite.
- Speeding (via GPS)
- Abrupt braking and acceleration
- Real-time location
- Data on previous routes
Advanced telemetry
Advanced telemetry is a technology with complex aspects for collecting vehicle data.
Thanks to the CAN bus readout, the system connects to the various sensors of the vehicle and receives data identical to that displayed on the dashboard. The full explanation of this concept can be found here.
The advanced telemetry thus makes it possible to obtain additional data such as:
- RPM
- Engine temperature
- Ignition status
- 4WD activation (for vehicles equipped with this function)
- Driver identification
How do video monitoring and telemetry help fleet managers?
To better explain the topic, we will show you statistics that illustrate the impact of telemetry and video monitoring on fleet management.
According to recent surveys, such as this one from Business Daily, telemetry can help save up to 30% in fuel costs.
Such results can be achieved with two main indicators of advanced telemetry:
1. Technical data on drivers’ behavior
2. Location records and distance covered by vehicles
These indicators help increase assertiveness in management decision-making.
For example, we can mention the development of more efficient routes and measures to curb habits that increase fuel consumption.
In addition to the statistics on cost reduction, there is also data that indicates a dramatic situation:
40% of all road accidents are associated with drowsiness at the wheel (ABRAMET, 2019).
With this in mind, we cannot help but wonder how many deaths could be with video monitoring.
A recent highlight is Amazon, which has installed video monitoring systems in several vehicles to prevent problems related to distraction and drowsiness.
Figures are already being published on this topic, including a 48% reduction in accidents in vehicles that had video monitoring.
It is also worth mentioning a case involving GoAwake in Brazil, where a fleet manager highlighted the aspects of “(…) comprehensive and optimized control of our processes, the integration of monitoring and telemetry for rapid information gathering, all with tracking by satellite”.
3 reasons that make video monitoring and telemetry indispensable for any fleet
Now that you know the most vital details about the concept of video monitoring and telemetry, let us look at the practical side of the matter.
For this purpose, we have prepared a special list of the 3 reasons that make these technologies indispensable for any fleet.
- Increased safety to prevent and reduce accidents – It is worth noting that both telemetry and video monitoring help monitor vehicle operation and drivers. This feature helps identify risky situations and detect drowsiness and distraction on the road. As a result, accident prevention and driver retraining initiatives can be taken by managers.
- Accurate decision making based on metrics – Video monitoring and telemetry provide data that can become strategic information for operational ends. That is why at GoAwake, we have an exclusive portal for managers to access management reports and dashboards in real time. Knowledge of incidents on the road is the first step of producing the right solution to maintain the integrity of fleets and their drivers.
- Cost reduction and greater fleet efficiency – We can say that this is a sum of the previous two items: With more safety, it is possible to have a fleet policy based on responsible and defensive driving. Consequently, expenditure on fines and citations can be reduced, and vehicles’ lifespans can be extended. Finally, the indicators defined by the manager and the corresponding management reports lead to the identification of risks and the adoption of measures to avoid them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, after what we have seen in today’s article, we can say that video monitoring and telemetry are essential for good fleet management, as they allow control over how, where and when vehicles are operated.
Have you ever thought about having a custom video monitoring and telemetry system for your fleet? At GoAwake, you will find all that and a 24/7 monitoring center. Contact us and check out our solutions!
