International Journal of Science and Engineering Applications

Volume 7–Issue 11,433-436, 2018, ISSN:-2319–7560

Real-Time Vehicle Tracking System Using Arduino, GPS,

GSM and Web-Based Technologies
June Myint Mo Khin Dr. Nyein Nyein Oo
Department of Computer Engineering and Information Department of Computer Engineering and Information
Technology Technology
Yangon Technological University Yangon Technological University
Myanmar Myanmar

Abstract: Vehicle tracking system is a well-established technology in this era which is used by fleet system and owner of vehicle all
over the world. It is a very safe and reliable technology. In this paper a real time tracking system is proposed. It is going to design a
system which is used for tracking and positioning of any vehicle by using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global System for
Mobile Communication (GSM). The design is an embedded application, which will continuously monitor a moving vehicle and report
the status of vehicle on demand. Tracking device used in real time vehicle location tracking is made up with Arduino Uno R3,
SIM800A module and NEO 6M GPS module. For doing so the Arduino Uno R3 is interfaced serially to a GSM module and GPS
module. The GSM module is used to continuously send the position of the vehicle from remote place. The GPS module that uses
satellite technology for its navigation system will continuously give data like longitude, latitude, speed, distance travelled etc. Google
map is used to view the position of vehicle on a digital mapping. For this work the software XAMPP and Google Map API are used.
XAMPP is a free and open source cross-platform web server solution stack package consisting mainly of the Apache HTTP Server,
MySQL database and interpreters for scripts is written in PHP and Perl programming languages. The Google Maps API allow for the
embedding of Google Maps onto web pages using a JavaScript interface which is designed to work on desktop browser application.
The MySQL database is used to store all the data of the GPS and Google Map API is used to display the location information through
a Google Map.

Keywords: Vehicle Tracking System, GPS, GSM/GPRS Technologies, HTTP Service, Google Map

received vehicle location information through the network and

1. INTRODUCTION stores this information in database. This information is
The vehicle tracking system is a total security and fleet
available to users of the system over the internet on map. GPS
management solution. It is the technology used to determine
is a satellite based navigation system; it is made up of 24
the location of a vehicle using different methods like GPS and
satellites, these satellites placed into the orbit. These satellites
other navigation system operating via satellite and ground
transmit coded information towards GPS receiver, this
based stations. Modern vehicle tracking system use GPS
information use to identify vehicle locations on earth by
technology to monitor and locate the vehicle anywhere on
measuring the distance from the satellites. GPRS network is
earth, but sometimes different types of automatic vehicle
an "always on", private network for data. It uses the existing
location technology are also used. The vehicle tracking
GSM network to transmit and receive HTTP based data to and
system is fitted inside the vehicle that provides effective real
from GPRS device/module. It supports packet switched data
time location and the data can even be stored and downloaded
services such as email and web browser. The GPRS can
to a computer which can be used for analysis in future. This
transfer data at the maximum rate of 115.2 kbps. It is most
system is an essential device for tracking car any time the
suitable for a real-time tracking management system [4].
owner wants to monitor it and today it is extremely popular
among people having expensive cars, used as theft prevention
and recovery of the stolen car. The data collected can be
viewed on electronic maps through internet and webpage.

2. OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED SYSTEM

The following block diagram of vehicle tracking system
shows how the proposed system actually works. For the
implementation of the proposed real time vehicle tracking
system, navigational technologies such as GPS, GPRS and
database technologies are used. The system is installed in a
vehicle to allow the owner to track the vehicle’s location, this Figure 1. Block Diagram for Overall Proposed System
system will use GPS and GPRS module. Global Positioning
System can determine the precise location of a vehicle. The
3. CONFIGURATION OF REAL TIME
GPS antenna attaches with the GPS receiver module receives VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM
the information from the GPS satellite in NMEA (National
The development of the real time vehicle tracking system
Marine Electronics Association) format and this information
will be described in details in this section. The two main parts
is transmitted to a server using GPRS module. GPRS provide
of the system are the hardware and the software components.
HTTP connection with tracking server. Tracking server has
The hardware component consists of tracking unit. Tracking

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 International Journal of Science and Engineering Applications
Volume 7–Issue 11,433-436, 2018, ISSN:-2319–7560

device used in real time vehicle location tracking is made up consumer GPS devices [5]. In Fig.3, arduino IDE sketch of
with Arduino Uno R3, SIM800A module and NEO 6M GPS coding for the proposed real time tracking system is
module. The core part of vehicle tracking is microcontroller described.
Arduino Uno. The geo location of vehicle can be captured
through GPS module and that data is transmitted to the web
server by using GSM technology. The implementation of the
tracking unit is shown in Fig.2

Figure 2. Tracking Unit For real Time Vehicle Tracking System

SIM800A module requires 2A peak current. So, external

power supply like 12V-2A battery is used to provide the
power. GPS module and GSM module are connected to the
microcontroller. Firstly, the GPS module is connected easy to
digital input/output pins in Arduino Uno. One thing to note
was that the TX pin of the Ublox GPS module was connected
to the RX pin of the Arduino Uno. The main reason for this
was, TX stands for Transmit where data is send out and RX Figure 3. Arduino IDE Sketch of Coding for the Proposed System
stands for Receive where data is received. Therefore, the
GPS-TX sends data to the Uno RX and the GPS RX receives For sending Vehicle location GPS data and other
data from the Uno TX. GPS RX (receive) is connected to the information received from GPS module through GSM
Uno TX (transmit) and GPS TX (transmit) is connected to the network, SIM800A module connected with Arduino Uno
Uno RX (receive). microcontroller is used. AT command has been used in
Secondly, the GSM module is connected with digital programming for communication with connected server and
input/output pins of Arduino Uno. The TX pin of the GSM SIM800A module. AT commands are instructions used to
module was connected to the RX pin of the Arduino Uno. control a modem. AT is the abbreviation of ATtention. Every
This is because the Uno (TX) D3 transmits data to the GSM command line starts with "AT" or "at". That's why modem
(RX) and conversely the Uno (Rx) D2 receives from the GSM commands are called AT commands [6].
(TX) shown in Fig.2. The modules and Arduino have a For using GSM network the response of SIM card is
common ground. The tracking unit collects the location checked by using AT commands firstly. Then it checks the
information via the GPS, formats this information into a response of network status. After the confirmation of network
system-specific packet format and sends it to the server via status is available, it checks the GPS status and acquires the
GPRS. After establishing the GPRS connection it tries to GPS information of the bus. Then it checks the HTTP request
connect to the service provider’s server using the HTTP for internet. Initially, the network registration is done by
protocol. After successful connection, the GPS data is sent to using AT+CGATT command and set Access Point Name
the server as a string. Then after a certain time period it (APN), user name and password. After getting the data of
checks the availability of GPRS and connects to the HTTP vehicle’s location, the data are sent to the web server by using
server. The current location of the device is sent to the HTTP HTTP request. AT+SAPBR command has been used for
server. In this way the device communicates with the server setting the configuration of GPRS. To access the internet
and sends the location. HTTP service, AT+HTTPINIT command is used to initialize
The software components consist of Arduino IDE and HTTP service, HTTPPARA command is used to set the
web server software. Arduino Integrated Development parameters value.
Environment (IDE) is a cross platform application written in To check the GPRS parameters, the following steps are
self-installable java. The C/C++ languages are used to shown:
program Arduino. The Arduino IDE provides a powerful yet 1) sending “AT+SAPBR=3,1,\”Contype\”,\”GPRS\” ”
user-friendly programming environment. It is used for and the response “OK”
compilation and uploading codes to the Arduino board 2) sending “AT+SAPBR=3,1,\”APN\”,\”mptnet\” ”
through a USB connection. In this system, the coding which and the response “OK” (where MPT SIM card APN
consist of two libraries SoftwareSerial.h and TinyGPS++.h is = mptnet)
written C programming Language. TinyGPS++ is a new 3) sending “AT+SAPBR=3,1,\”USER\”,\”\” ” and
Arduino library for parsing NMEA data streams provided by receiving the response “OK” (where MPT SIM card
GPS modules. Like its predecessor, TinyGPS, this library USER = blank)
provides compact and easy-to-use methods for extracting 4) sending “AT+SAPBR=3,1,\”PWD\”,\”\” ” and
position, date, time, altitude, speed, and course from receiving the response “OK” (where MPT SIM card
USER = blank)

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 International Journal of Science and Engineering Applications
Volume 7–Issue 11,433-436, 2018, ISSN:-2319–7560

5) sending “AT+SAPBR=1,1” and receiving response The web page shown in Fig.5, user can get vehicle
“OK” information such as latitude, longitude, satellites, speed and
6) sending “AT+HTTPINIT” and receiving response course and vehicle’s current location is pointed in Google
“OK” map with maker.
7) sending “AT+HTTPPARA= \”URL\”, \”\” ” and
receiving response “OK”
8) sending “AT+HTTPACTION=0” and receiving
response “OK”
In Fig.4 shows serial monitor of the Arduino IDE when
running the proposed tracking system.

Figure 5. Web Page for the Proposed Real Time Vehicle Tracking
System

5. CONCLUSION
This paper presents an efficient real time a vehicle
tracking system that is flexible, customizable and accurate
using GPS and GPRS of GSM network, suitable for wide
range of applications all over the world. The combination of
the GPS and GPRS provides continuous and real time
Figure 4. Serial Monitor of the Arduino IDE during Running the tracking. To display the position on Google map Google map
Tracking System API is used. The Arduino is the brain of the system and the
After the activation of the GPRS service, the HTTP GSM module which is controlled by AT commands that
protocol starts work directly [2]. This is used to send the enable data transmission over GSM network while the GPS
vehicle’s position to a web server. A free web hosting service provide the location data. Whenever the GPS receives a new
is used for a web server construction. In this system, the data it is updated in the database and hence it is able to see the
000webhost.com is used as an unlimited free web hosting and location on the Google map [3]. In the case of vehicle
an account is created for website of real time vehicle tracking tracking, the proposed system gives the vehicle location
system. The FileZilla client software is used for connecting to information include latitude, longitude, altitude, date,
an FTP or SFTP server. The required files for website is satellites, speed OTG and course. The outcomes of the system
uploaded or downloaded by using it. To implement the are good like the results of the industrial devices. For the
website for the proposed vehicle tracking system, PHP with future work, a variety of services can be added to this system
MySQL has been integrated together with Apache web server by using sensors or actuators.
is used.
6. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
4. SIMULATION AND RESULTS The author is deeply grateful to Dr. Nyein Nyein Oo, her
dissertation supervisor in Department of Computer
For visualization of the location of vehicle into the Engineering and Information Technology at Yangon
Google map, HTML is written in web application which is Technological University and all who provided her with
developed with PHP script to show the web page into the necessary assistance for this paper. The author wishes to
browser [1]. In this script Google Map API is embedded. express her guidance to all persons who helped directly or
MySQL database is used for storing the data into database. indirectly towards the successful completion of paper. Finally,
By using GET and POST function in the PHP script, GPS data the author wishes to express her special thanks to her parents
which is transmitted by GPS module through HTTP for their support and encouragement to attain her destination
connection are stored in database and fetched into the Google without any trouble.
map to show the location of bus.
The API automatically handles access to Google Maps servers
and display map [7]. API calls also are used to add markers.
7. REFERENCES
For setting the center location of map google.maps.LatLng ( ) [1] S.Bharthepudi, Dr.S.Umar, S.Sanakkayala and
method is used. As Google Maps API provides different kind S.Nismitha, “A Review of Low Cost Object Tracking
of maps view, ROADMAP is used for this web application. System”,International Journal of Computer Science
For fetching the data into the Google Map, getElementByID ( Engineering and Technology, Vol.3, Issue 11, November
) method is used. JQuery and Google Map API are embedded 2013, 423-426.
into the script which helps to show the location of the vehicle [2] O .A. Mohamad and R. T. Hameed, “Design and
into the Google Map in real time. Implementation of Real Time Tracking System Based on
Arduino Intel Galileo”, International Conference and
Artifical Intelligence, 30 June-02 July,2016.

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 International Journal of Science and Engineering Applications
Volume 7–Issue 11,433-436, 2018, ISSN:-2319–7560

[3] L. SeokJu, G. Tewolde and K. Jaerock, “Design and

Implementation of Vehicle Tracking System Using
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[7] https://developers.google.com/maps/

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