Although Telematics/Vehicle Tracking generated GPS location data is the primary source for an Expert Witness report or expert advice when analysis of a vehicle’s location is required, there are several alternative sources for location data. Each has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of the accuracy of the data and the frequency of the location data recorded.

• • Vehicle Telematics/Vehicle Tracking
    • The most common source of location data with Telematics /Vehicle tracking installed on a wide range of vehicles, including;
      • • • Commercial vehicles, Rental fleets, personal vehicle tracking devices
    • The location data can be exported from the software application used to track the vehicle. Still, the data will only include basic information about the location, possibly just an address, latitude, and longitude, plus the date/time. Additional data such as satellite quality, unique record and event numbers, and X, Y, and Z values would typically not be included.
      • • • It is still valuable information, but it lacks detail and is, therefore, restricted in the details of the analysis that can be done.

• • SatNav units
    • • • SatNav units, such as Garmin products, are used as an alternative to navigation apps such as Google Maps on smartphones, and many products are available for use on motorbikes and cars.
          • Most of these products allow the export of location history with varying levels of detail. Generally, the data contains a latitude and longitude record with a date and time stamp.
          • Data files typically require converting to allow an initial analysis of the data in Excel or similar, and further data formatting can be completed to view the location data in a mapping application such as Google Earth.

• • Smartphone Activity Trackers and Health Apps
    • Many different health and activity applications are available for iPhones and Android OS smartphones. Some are installed as default applications, and some free or subscription-based apps are available from the Apple Store or Google Play.
      • • • The data are available for export, and the level of detail varies from app to app. Some contain GPS data from the phone’s built-in GPS receiver, while others may only include data such as the number of steps taken.
          • The data can help cross-reference against other location data, and even the number of steps taken can indicate movement from one location to another.

• • Google Timeline
    • • • Google Maps Timeline is a personal map that helps users remember routes taken, places visited, when, travel time, and the method of travel, such as walking, driving, or public transport. It is available on iPhones and Android phones.
          • The app requires users to activate Location History on their phones and have a Google account to record journeys and places visited.
          • Location history can be viewed in Google Maps via the Timeline function and exported for analysis. Once exported, the data file requires converting to allow the location and associated data to be analysed in detail.
          • Although the data’s use is limited, it is still useful due to its frequency of updates and the user’s ability to edit and delete it. Data analysis can usually identify when location data has been edited or deleted.
          • Google Timeline data can be beneficial for cross-referencing with other location data or when confirmation of the phone’s location at a date and time is required. 

• • Cell Site / Call Data records
    • • • • Cell Site Records: These are similar to call data records, which contain the date, time, and the other number the phone was in contact with, as well as the type of contact: SMS, MMS (both kinds of text messages), or a regular phone call. In addition, the cell site data includes “cells” that were used to connect the calls or texts provided.
          • With suitable call data records, the location of the cell site is also available, which can then be used to cross-reference against any GPS location data. Do any GPS locations match the area of coverage of the cell site identified?
          • The location of any phone identified in the cell site / call data records will always be an area and not a specific location. This is due to several factors, such as the cell height, type, technology it is using, and the surrounding terrain. Cells can provide a service for relatively short distances of ½ to 1 km up to several kilometres and in an arc centred on the cell.

• • Automatics Number Plate Recognition ( ANPR )
    • • • • As a vehicle passes an ANPR camera, its registration number is read and checked against database records of vehicles of interest. A record of all vehicles passing by a camera is stored, including those for vehicles not known to be of interest at the time of the read. ANPR data from each police force is stored together with similar data from other forces for one year.
          • Vehicle cloning, where a different number plate is put on a vehicle to hide its identity, may result in a vehicle being captured on camera at a location it never visited.
            • • • The vehicle’s location captured by an ANPR camera is based on the camera’s known location and can be cross-referenced against any GPS location data. Unlike cell site / call data records, the area of any ANPR data is more specific.