Geofencing involves creating a virtual boundary around a specific geographical location using a GPS tracking system. By setting the boundaries of a “safe area” around a chosen starting point, you establish a geofence. This geofence then serves as a trigger for various notifications and events. For instance, should your pet leave the area you’ve designated as safe, your tracker will immediately notify you.
Pets, particularly cats and dogs, often stay close to home yet finding them can prove challenging as they excel at hiding in unexpected places. Cats, for example, may become disoriented following a chase or seek refuge in a tree, complicating efforts to find them. A geofence alerts you in time to prevent your pet from straying too far.
The accuracy of contemporary pet GPS trackers is noteworthy, capable of pinpointing your pet’s location to within a few inches. Locating your pet then becomes a task of discovering their hiding spot.
How to Establish a Geofence
Typically, to create a geofence with leading GPS pet trackers, users would select the “Add New Location” option. The interface presents a map appropriate to your location, facilitating the swift creation of a safe perimeter around your home or yard.
Once the geofence is named, activation of alerts for when your pet leaves this predefined area is as simple as checking a box. The shape of the geofence, often a choice between circular and polygonal, is also selectable.
Determining the center of your geofence involves inputting latitude and longitude coordinates or a street address, followed by setting the border’s radius, which can vary widely from 0.1 to over 100 miles or kilometers, depending on the tracker’s specifications.
Beyond Pet Tracking
While the primary function of GPS pet trackers and their geofencing capability is to monitor pets’ movements within a safe zone, inventive uses extend into family and business realms.
For instance, geofences can monitor the comings and goings of a family car or ensure a child arrives at school on time. Additionally, geofencing offers a strategic method for theft prevention.