GPS and GSM Based Vehicle Tracking

System
Abadal-Salam T. Hussain Mohammed Fadhil Taha A. Taha
Department of Medical Instrumentation Department Computer Science Unit of Renewable Energy, Northern
Techniques Engineering, Technical Collage of Engineering and Science Technical University
2023 7th International Symposium on Innovative Approaches in Smart Technologies (ISAS) | 979-8-3503-8306-5/23/$31.00 ©2023 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/ISAS60782.2023.10391720

Engineering College, Al-Kitab Bayan university Kirkuk, Iraq

University, Erbil, Kurdistan region, Iraq t360pi@gmail.com
Altun Kupri, Kirkuk, Iraq mohammed.fadhil@bnu.edu.iq
asth2233@gmail.com

Omer K Ahmed Shouket A. Ahmed Hazry Desa

Unit of Renewable Energy, Northern Centre of Excellence for Unmanned
Department of Medical Instrumentation Aerial Systems (COEUAS), Universiti
Technical University Techniques Engineering, Technical
Kirkuk, Iraq Malaysia Perlis, Jalan Kangar-Alor
Engineering College, Al-Kitab Setar, 01000 Kangar, Perlis,
omerkalil@yahoo.com University, MALAYSIA
Altun Kupri, Kirkuk, Iraq hazry@unimap.edu.my
shouketunimap@gmail.com

Abstract— Vehicle theft is a significant problem that affects notifications and updates about their vehicles, ensuring
various types of vehicle owners, ranging from those with timely intervention in case of theft. Moreover, SMS
motorcycles to those with cars, within the context of today's communication offers a cost-effective alternative to
progressive societies. Nevertheless, implementing lost vehicle conventional alarms, making it an attractive option for both
tracking systems can be financially burdensome, thus
car owners and manufacturers [5].
presenting challenges for individuals with lim-ited income to
access such solutions. Moreover, in situations where vehicles are While many individuals recognize the enhanced security that
stolen, owners often rely on authorities' ability to track signals, GPS can offer for their cars, the primary deterrent to its
leaving them dependent on official intervention to recover their widespread adoption is the associated cost. Advanced car
stolen vehicles. To address these challenges, our study has taken security systems are often prohibitively expensive, making
the initiative to develop a comprehensive vehicle tracking sys- them financially impractical for many consumers.
tem that empowers owners to track their own vehicles Additionally, the requirement to subscribe to costly monthly
autonomously. Based on the adaptable PIC microcontroller, this services further compounds the affordability issue.
cutting-edge system in-tegrates GPS and GSM technologies as Originally, tracking systems were developed predominantly
well as a practical and functional implementation circuit. By
for the shipping industry's need to ascertain the real-time
providing an affordable and effective solu-tion, our project
strives to enhance vehicle secu-rity, minimize dependence on whereabouts of each vehicle. However, for applications
external assistance, and offer peace of mind to vehicle owners in demanding immediate access to live vehicle location data,
navigating the complexities of vehicle theft and recovery. existing systems fall short as they store this information
internally, only accessible when the vehicle is physically
Keywords— A vehicle tracking system, GPS and GSM present.
track-ing, mobile, PIC. In contrast, an automated vehicle location system capable of
real-time location transmission has emerged. This system
I. INTRODUCTION combines a hardware device within the vehicle (the vehicle
The use of vehicle tracking systems are becoming unit) with a remote tracking server. Leveraging a GSM
increasingly popular due to the rate of loss of vehicle theft modem operating within the GSM network, location data is
cases increasing every year [1-3]. The prevalence of car theft relayed to the tracking server through SMS, allowing for
incidents has highlighted the need for advanced surveillance dynamic and continuous real-time monitoring of the vehicle's
techniques and effective methods to alert motorists in case of position [6].
emergencies. The current conventional security systems An alternative approach involves equipping vehicles with a
exhibit inefficiencies, often resulting in a higher risk of car terminal configuration that comprises a GPS receiver. This
theft. This vulnerability primarily stems from the limitation receiver retrieves positional information by interfacing with
of alarms to audible ranges. However, this system can GPS satellites. Subsequently, this data is transmitted through
undergo significant enhancements by exploring alternative the GSM network to a centralized control center. The
methods to transmit alarms to car owners, track vehicles, and information is interpreted at the control center using a
promptly notify them of any potential theft [4]. Geographic Information System (GIS) management system,
One promising approach to address this issue is leveraging then stored within database systems. As per consumer
SMS (Short Message Service) communication. Unlike requests, this data is presented on electronic displays as
traditional alarm systems, SMS communication provides a overlays on a map. Another innovative system has been
robust solution that transcends the limitations of hearing and proposed, which not only efficiently conveys vehicle
visual cues. By utilizing SMS, car owners can receive instant information like speed limits but also enables data storage,

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information accuracy, and even remote vehicle control via the
internet. This solution is positioned to address traffic-related
challenges by integrating GPS technology [7].
As the number of stolen vehicles continues to rise, vehicle
tracking systems have become increasingly important for
motorists. These systems provide better security than other Antenna
options, making them a wise choice. GPS [8] and GSM [9]
technologies are used to track vehicles and send SMS
messages directly to mobile phones. However, the cost of
manufacturing an expensive vehicle tracking system has led
to concerns about affordability for vehicle owners. To make
the system more interactive, a display can be added to show
basic information about the vehicle. By using affordable
components and manufacturing costs, vehicle owners can
have their own tracking system without worrying about the
expense. Overall, these systems are easy to use and provide Fig. 1. GSM Modem
peace of mind for those who park their cars in faraway places.
This study implemented a low-cost vehicle tracking system 2) GPS Hardware
as a designed application. The GPS2 Click is an additional board designed for a specific
form factor. It comes with a Quectel L30 GPS module and an
II. METHODOLOGY
SMA antenna connector. The module is equipped with an
The main focus of this article is on GPS and GSM-based advanced jamming suppression mechanism and innovative
vehicle tracking systems. The process is divided into two RF architecture to provide optimum GPS performance. It can
main sections. The first section involves mastering the be used for location, navigation, and industrial purposes, such
MPLAB programming language, which is crucial for as autonomous GPS C/A, SBAS (WAAS or EGNOS), and A-
controlling GPS and GSM functionalities. The second section GPS. The board is intended for use with active antennas, and
includes designing the circuit program and incorporating SMD jumpers are available in three groups to select between
essential hardware components like GPS and GSM modules UART and I2C communication lines. Another SMD jumper
to implement the Vehicle Tracking System. The primary goal is used to choose between 3.3V or 5V power supply. Figure
of this article is to introduce a simple technology for the 2displays the GPS Modem which can be used to check the
tracking system using both hardware and software. vehicle's longitude and latitude. Additionally, the module
supports autonomous GPS C/A, SBAS (WAAS or EGNOS),
A. Project Design and A-GPS for location, navigation, and industrial
applications.
1) GSM Hardware
The essence of data communication in this system is
facilitated by wireless communication control terminals,
utilizing GSM Modules for the extensive and reliable transfer
of long-distance data. These modules support AT commands
for instruction. The Click GSM2 module can seamlessly
integrate with a diverse range of applications. As an
accessory for the form factor, Click GSM2 offers a compact
and straightforward solution for incorporating a GSM module
into designs. It operates within the frequency range of
850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, up to 1900MHz, covering
Quad-band frequencies. Figure 1 shows the front and rear of
GSM Modem.
Fig. 2. GPS Modem

3) Power Supply
Power Supply is the device that transfers electric power from
a source to a load using electronic circuits. Some of the
requirements of power supplies are small size, lightweight,
low cost, and high-power conversion efficiency. It is also
possible to generate multiple voltages using linear power
supplies. A single voltage must be converted into the required
system voltages in a multi-output power supply. For example,
+12V for input power supply from the source uses voltage
regulator LM7805 converts to +5V, and LM317T of voltage
regulator converts to +3.3V used for GPS and GSM modem.

4) Real Time Clock

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The DS1307 IC is responsible for maintaining and updating microcontroller interfaces with hardware components such as
the time. It also comes equipped with a battery backup, the LCD, GSM modem, and GPS receiver.
ensuring that the time stays accurate even if the board loses
power. The IC stores time values in separate registers for
years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds. In the GPS
and GSM vehicle tracking system project, a real-time clock
was used to keep track of the vehicle's time.
5) LCD Circuit
Liquid-crystal display (LCD) as shown in Figure 3
use to display the command that programming sent.
Programmable Interface Controllers (PIC) has been
programmed; re-power up the circuit. Many words will
appear on the display.

Fig. 4. Overview of system

In this paper, the main circuit board for the GPS and GSM-
based vehicle tracking system is displayed in Figure 5. Upon
testing the functionality of the GSM with a microcontroller,
it was observed that the GSM successfully sent the message
to the mobile phone, and the LCD displayed the same
message. However, the GPS could not function correctly as
the longitude and latitude of the tracking system could not be
detected.

Fig. 3. LCD circuit A. Testing Programming

Proteus is a comprehensive software application developed
In this study, the main components used are the GSM and by Labcenter Electronics that encompasses microprocessor
GPS Modem for input. The program execution takes place simulation, schematic capture, and printed circuit board
within a microcontroller, and the resulting longitude and (PCB) design. Within the Proteus PCB design suite, the ISIS
latitude data are displayed on an LCD screen. Additionally, schematic capture and ARES PCB layout programs are
LED indicators are integrated into this project. Figure 1 integrated, offering a cohesive and user-friendly platform for
provides an overview of the paper. professional PCB design. All versions of Proteus PCB design
III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION come equipped with an integrated shape-based auto-router
and basic SPICE simulation capability. For more advanced
In this section, we will cover the tests conducted on the GPS routing modes, Proteus PCB Design Level 2 and higher
and GSM circuit, programming, circuit troubleshooting, and versions are available, while simulation capabilities can be
data analysis. These efforts are aimed at achieving a extended through the acquisition of the Advanced Simulation
successful work outcome with a limited number of prototype option and/or microcontroller simulation features. It is
tests. essential to verify correct GSM programming prior to
The work employs the PIC16F877A microcontroller to create initiating original programming. Simulation within Proteus is
an embedded system for detecting vehicle positions using an effective means to identify any incorrect microcontroller
GPS and GSM technologies. This system continuously programming. Figure 6 illustrates the PROTEUS simulation
monitors vehicle movement and provides status reports as of GSM programming.
needed. The PIC16F877A interfaces with a GSM modem and
GPS receiver to accomplish this.
The GSM modem remotely transmits the vehicle's position
(Latitude and Longitude). The GPS modem continuously
provides the latitude and longitude data of the vehicle.
Although the GPS modem generates various output
parameters, only the NMEA data is extracted and displayed
on the LCD. This same information is then sent to a
designated mobile phone upon request for vehicle location.
An EEPROM is employed for storing phone numbers. The

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 Fig. 8. GPS location at Changlun , Kedah

Fig. 5. Main Circuit Board

Fig. 9. GPS location at Pauh, Perlis

IV. CONCLUSION
In summary, the paper's goal of designing and developing a
Vehicle Tracking System utilizing GPS and GSM
Technology has been largely achieved, although with some
limitations. The GSM component operates effectively as
intended, enabling data transmission through AT Commands
Fig. 6. Simulation of GSM via messages to the phone. However, the GPS functionality
encountered challenges. Due to signal obstructions, the GPS
The final testing phase focused on evaluating the GPS was inconsistent in providing accurate longitude and latitude
functionality, specifically assessing the accuracy of latitude data, leading to signal reception issues. Consequently, there
and longitude information. During the testing process, it was were instances where the system failed to transmit the
evident that the GPS initially did not operate as expected in vehicle's location coordinates to the mobile phone. In general,
the first two attempts, only functioning properly on the third the project showcases promising outcomes, with the GSM
testing iteration of location. The observation revealed a component performing well. Nonetheless, the GPS
complete absence of GPS signal during the initial tests. The component's effectiveness was hindered by signal obstacles
GPS signal data is illustrated in Figure 7 for Arau, Perlis, in in specific scenarios.
Figure 8 for Changlun, Kedah, and in Figure 9 for Pauh, For further enhancements, it is recommended to integrate
Perlis. Strikingly, all three instances yielded the same result Google Maps with the GPS and GSM based Vehicle Tracking
of a latitude of 0° and a longitude of 0°. System for direct and easy location tracking. Utilizing
Google Earth/Maps would enable remote monitoring of the
vehicle's location and status online. Additionally, developing
a compact and user-friendly circuit specifically designed for
vehicles is advised. Implementing a system that can be
deactivated through a simple SMS command can enhance
security. As vehicle costs continue to rise, affordability
becomes less of a concern. To make the setup more
interactive, consider adding a display to show basic vehicle
information and emergency contact numbers for critical
situations. This system can also be easily upgraded to meet
future needs without requiring a complete overhaul, thereby
ensuring efficiency and adaptability.
.
Fig. 7. GPS location at Arau, Perlis

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