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Real-time Geolocation Tracking by using GPS+GPRS and Arduino based SIM908

Article · July 2015

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 Baki Koyuncu, Erkan Meral, Pejman Penahi| Real time Geolocation Tracking by using GPS+GPRS and
Arduino based SIM908

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Journal homepage: www.ifrsa.org

Real time Geolocation Tracking by using GPS+GPRS and

Arduino based SIM908
Baki Koyuncu1, Erkan Meral2 and Pejman Penahi3
Computer Engineering Department, Ankara University, Turkey

ABSTRACT
Global Positioning system (GPS) is a satellite network
around the world in space and it assists to determine the
target locations on earth’s surface. In this paper, GPS
system is employed together with the state of the art
Arduino based electronics circuitry such has SIM908
and the target coordinates are displayed on a Google
map via a web site by using cell phones. Target position
is detected and tracked every 30 seconds and displayed Figure 1:GPS satellite
on a cell phone screen in real time. The positioning
accuracy which is obtained with this system is around 2-
4 meters. Geofencing is introduced around the marked 2. PROCEDURES
locations and any entrance along the boundaries of this
A. SIM908 shield
fence by the target is detected and alarm is given.
This shield module contains a GPS and GPRS sections
Keywords—GPS, GPRS, Arduino, SIM908,
with their relevant antennas. SIM908 module chip is
Geofencing, Tracking, HTTP, PHP, Google map
stationed on one face of the module card. See Figure 2.
1. INTRODUCTION All the connector sockets are arranged on the other side.
See Figure 3
IMPROVEMENTS in wireless network systems and
mobile computing introduced a large amount of interest
in location detection systems. Mobile targets are tracked
across the environment in real time. This tracking is
divided into two parts such as indoor and outdoor
tracking. Indoor target tracking includes the patient
tracking in hospitals and fireman tracking in a fire.
Outdoor tracking, on the other hand, covers tracking of
military personnel, children in playground and goods
around the factories.
Outdoor location tracking system can determine the Figure 2: SIM908 module chip side
position of the targets by using different wireless
systems. Target coordinates can be found in 2D and 3D
Cartesian coordinates. GPS is the most well know
positioning system and it works with transmitted and
received radio waves. It is a global navigation system
[1]. The system works 24 hours a day and provides
location and time information. See Figure 1.

IFRSA International Journal Of Electronics Circuits And Systems Vol 4|issue 2|July 2015 148
 Baki Koyuncu, Erkan Meral, Pejman Penahi| Real time Geolocation Tracking by using GPS+GPRS and
Figure 3: SIM908 module connector side
SIM908 module,[2], has serial communication jumpers
which allow the module to be used in 2 formats. These
are Arduino and gateway positions.
An Arduino card is employed as a base for the SIM908
module,[3]. Hence Arduino/RPI jumpers are placed at
Arduino position and the module is integrated on the
Arduino as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Arduino+ SIM 908 module
B. Arduino
SIM908 module is operated by using Arduino editor.
Operation codes are placed on this editor and they are
transferred to Arduino card by a USB connection. Once
codes are verified and compiling is done; SIM908 is
configured and the codes are loaded in Arduino,[4].
Serial port terminal is deployed in order to provide the
communication between arduino and the user. This
terminal can be a “hyper terminal” for windows
operating system or IDE “serial monitor” which can be
reached from Arduino editor.The second one is
preferred for easy access during operations.
Source code starts with setup () function as shown
below:
sendATcommand("AT+CPIN=3344","OK", 2000);
Get_GPS() function is called and data is received from
GPS with the following code segment;
while (start_GPS() == 0);
sendATcommand("AT+CGPSINF=0",
"AT+CGPSINF=0\r\n\r\n", 2000);
Location data consists of latitude, longitude, altitude,
date, number of satellites, speed and direction, [5]. A
IFRSA International Journal Of Electronics Circuits And Systems Vol 4|issue 2|July 2015
Arduino based SIM908
Sim card is placed in the SIM908 module which uses
VODAFONE grid and Vodafone APN settings are used
for GPRS operations. APN is the Access Point Name. It
is the address which supplies the routing of data packets
to different IP points.
sendATcommand("AT+SAPBR=3,1,\"CONTYPE\",\"G
PRS\"", "OK", 2000);
sendATcommand("AT+SAPBR=3,1,\"APN\",\"internet\
"", "OK", 2000);
sendATcommand("AT+SAPBR=3,1,\"USER\",\"vodafo
ne\"", "OK", 2000);
Later on HTTP() function is called and the data received
from SIM908 is transferred to web server. Code
segment is shown below;
answer = sendATcommand("AT+HTTPINIT",
"OK", 10000);
The data is used with PHP code to show the location. In
order to activate PHP commands An Apache server is
needed. Hence a WAMP server is set up and Apache
services are activated.
In PHP code Google map Application interface (API) is
necessary to use Google map. Code segment for
mapping interface is shown here;
http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=AIzaSyD2
yePZdQsSHcbSQez2NEHJsb5FQmdKuz8&sensor=fals
e"
“Key” variable in the above code is an important part
of the mapping operation. This variable is necessary to
use the Google map APIs. Google provides this Key
free in web media.
The location data received from GPS are written in
gps.txt with PHP code and it is read from this txt file to
be displayed on the map in web page.
Hence http://localhost/demo_sim908.php page is called
to a web server in a PC where the Apache server is
setup. PHP codes are activated and the Google map is
displayed as seen in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Google map with target location.
In second stage, an electronic fence is generated around
a fixed geographical point. This fence is chosen in
149
 Baki Koyuncu, Erkan Meral, Pejman Penahi| Real time Geolocation Tracking by using GPS+GPRS and
square shape with 50 meter sides and assumed to be a
restricted military area. The fixed geographical point is
at the center of the square area.
If the target with SIM908 GPS module, in this study,
tries to enter this square area, GPS detection is carried
out and the system software will give an alarm.
Additionally a reverse function is also facilitated with
the developed system. The target can stay in the square
area and whenever it tries to go outside the electronic
fence an alarm will be given again.
3. CONCLUSIONS
In this study, GPS location detection is carried out by
using the most up to date GPS receivers called SIM908
Quad band GPS module. There are many GPS receiver
devices using for real-time geolocation tracking.
SIM908 module contains GPS, GRPS and GSM all on
the same module. It is a compact device.
GPS data, identified as longitude and latitude, is
received from satellites. They are displayed as the 2D
target coordinates on the web and PC across the google
map. Arduino card is used as the electronic base to
supply power and connect to PC for the SIM908
module. Arduino card is a tool for analysing the data
and communicate with PC. Hence it presents a user
interface.
It is realized that the configuration settings are parts of
the receiving data from GPS. Data reception is a little
bit critical. Hence real time satellite tracking is obtained
by adjusting the signal sampling intervals with software
during the GPS reception.GPS and GSM antenna
orientations are also very critical during the localization.
Especially, GPS antenna must see the clear sky for
better signal reception. The positioning accuracy is
IFRSA International Journal Of Electronics Circuits And Systems Vol 4|issue 2|July 2015
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Arduino based SIM908
around 2-4 meters. This accuracy levels are better than
many GPS localization systems which are around 5 to
10 meters. The target locations are displayed both on
PC monitor and intelligent cell phone screens. The
accuracy levels are the same for both cases.
Geofencing is also successfully deployed with the
developed system. 50mx50m area is fenced for
experimental purposes. The localization accuracy is
around the same. When the target enters or leaves the
geofenced area it was detected and alarm is sounded.
It can be concluded that SIM908 module GPS device
is successfully employed in GPS tracking and
localization. Next step of this study would be to
miniaturize the whole system for mobile usages.
REFERENCES
[1] Garmin Corporation, About GPS,
http://www.garmin.com/aboutGPS/
[2] www.cooking-hack.com web site
“http://www.cooking-hacks.com/documentation/
Tutorials/geolocation-tracker-gprs-gps-
geoposition- Sim908-arduino-raspberry-pi”
[3] [3] Michael Margolis “Arduino Cookbook”,
2011
[4] [4]ShanghaiSIMCom Wireless Solutions Ltd.
[5] “SIM908_AT Command Manual_V1.02”, 2011
[6] [5] Manuel Hernández Pajares, José Miguel Juan
Zornoza,
[7] Jaime SanzSubirana “GPS Data Processing:
Code and
[8] Phase : Algorithms, Techniques and Recipes”
Centre
[9] dePublicacions del Campus Nord, UPC, 2005
150