Construction World says while GPS tracking solutions aren’t anything new, they’re now being used in more creative and resourceful ways including:

• Surveying has been dramatically improved because crews no longer need to use traditional surveying equipment.
• Data for prospective project sites can be quickly and accurately collected.
• Project managers are also using GPS in fleet management. Today, each of their vehicles is equipped with a device that is trackable via both computer and smartphones. This lets everyone know where vehicles always are.
• It’s easier to find lost or stolen equipment because managers can now generate maps that pinpoint the exact location of any of these items.

Many people within the construction industry feel that we haven’t even come close to seeing the end of the growth of GPS technology today though. Not only are applications in autonomous vehicles and wearable technology are on the rise, but we’re bound to see driverless vehicles as well. This will no longer be something we only hear about Uber using, construction companies will also be using them too. In fact, the general public will probably have these vehicles available to them as soon as 2020.

They’ll see it in the form of buses, trains, and trucks but construction fleets seriously aren’t far behind. There are many professionals who are currently working on autonomous vehicles that will make job sites even more efficient. For instance, both Caterpillar and John Deere are currently working on dozers that will have automatic blade control and hopefully they’ll take this even further and create fully autonomous and driverless versions of these vehicles as well.

We’re also witnessing the construction industry borrowing from the mining industry. In specific, there’s one piece of driverless equipment that Tokyo–based Komatsu uses GPS in for moving high-grade ore. As the number of these driverless vehicles continues growing, we’ll have a reliable and powerful guide to automated machinery. We’ll also witness GPS tracking solutions be relied on for positioning and sensor integration so that they can avoid accidents and make sure everyone is safer.

**Article first appeared on Geniebelt.com**