Asset Tracking with LoRaWAN: GPS-Free Location for Industrial Applications

Beyond GPS Asset Tracking

GPS-based asset tracking has limitations:

• High power consumption (short battery life)
• No indoor coverage
• Expensive cellular data plans
• Overkill accuracy for many use cases

LoRaWAN geolocation offers an alternative that works where GPS fails.

LoRaWAN Geolocation Methods

1. RSSI-Based Location

• Uses signal strength from multiple gateways
• Accuracy: 50-200 meters
• Works with any LoRaWAN device
• No additional hardware required

2. TDoA (Time Difference of Arrival)

• Measures signal timing differences
• Accuracy: 20-50 meters outdoor
• Requires synchronized gateways
• Higher infrastructure investment

3. WiFi/BLE Sniffing

• Device scans nearby WiFi or BLE beacons
• Accuracy: 5-15 meters indoor
• Transmits MAC addresses over LoRaWAN
• Cloud-based location resolution

4. Hybrid GPS + LoRaWAN

• GPS module on device
• Transmits coordinates via LoRaWAN
• Best of both worlds
• Higher power consumption

Accuracy Comparison

Industrial Asset Tracking Use Cases

Construction Equipment

• Track expensive tools and machinery
• Geofence job sites
• Prevent theft and unauthorized use
• Optimize equipment utilization

Warehouse Inventory

• Pallet and container tracking
• Dock door assignment
• Yard management
• Inventory accuracy improvement

Fleet Management (Non-Vehicle)

• Trailers and containers
• Portable equipment (generators, compressors)
• Rental equipment location
• Maintenance scheduling based on usage

Hospital Assets

• Wheelchair and bed tracking
• Medical equipment location
• Staff safety (panic buttons)
• Patient flow optimization

Case Study: Construction Company

A large construction company deployed 2,000 asset trackers:

Equipment tracked:

• Generators, compressors, welders
• Scaffolding systems
• Power tools (high-value)
• Portable toilets

Results:

• $340K recovered in "lost" equipment found
• 15% improvement in equipment utilization
• Zero theft on monitored job sites (vs $200K annually previously)
• Battery life: 3+ years with daily location updates

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Start tracking your assets with ParticLIO location sensors. Contact us for deployment guidance.