Methods, systems, and computer program products for locating and tracking objects
A system for locating and tracking an object is provided. The system includes a measuring device configured to determine a property of a paving-related material, a locating device configured to determine a location of the measuring device, a tracking system configured to store tracking information associated with the measuring device and one or more properties determined by the measuring device, and a communications system configured to transfer, to a remote device, the location of the measuring device and the tracking information associated with the measuring device.
1. A system for locating and tracking a measuring device, the system comprising:
a measuring device configured to determine a property of a paving-related material;
a locating device configured to determine a location of the measuring device;
a tracking module configured to track the measuring device; and
a communications module that transmits tracking information to a remote device.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the measuring device is selected from the group consisting of a nuclear density gauge, a nuclear moisture gauge, a microwave moisture gauge, a TDR moisture gauge, a TDR density gauge, a frequency domain electromagnetic moisture gauge, a frequency domain electromagnetic density gauge, a seismic pavement analyzer, a portable seismic pavement analyzer, a stiffness gauge, a falling weight deflectometer, a ground penetrating radar-type instrument, a radio frequency device, an electromagnetic device, a microwave device, an acoustic device, a moisture measuring device, a surface roughness measuring device, a pavement temperature sensor, a pavement temperature measuring device, pavement roughness measuring device, soil composition property device, pavement thickness device, a roof moisture device, and combinations thereof.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locating device is operable with at least one of a geographic information system (GIS), a global positioning system (GPS), a nationwide differential global positioning system (NDGPS), a high accuracy-nationwide differential global positioning system (HA-NDGPS), a global navigation satellite system (GLONASS), the European satellite system Galileo, general radio packet service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), and combinations thereof for determining the location of the measuring device.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locating device comprises at least one of geographic information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS), nationwide differential global positioning system (NDGPS), high accuracy-nationwide differential global positioning system (HA-NDGPS), satellite system, signpost components, dead reckoning components, wave propagating components, radio frequency (RF) components, accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, optical system, mechanical system, and combinations thereof.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locating device is configured to receive data related to the location of the measuring device and determine the location of the measuring device based on the data.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tracking module is mounted to the measuring device.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tracking module includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) component.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communications module and the remote device are configured to communicate via at least one of a wireless network and a wireline network.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communications module is configured to receive a polling signal associated with the measuring device and configured to communicate the location of the measuring device and tracking information associated with the measuring device in response to receiving the polling signal.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote device is selected from a computer, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal navigation device, a networked distributed computing device, and a personal communications device.