Contractors Locate Mobile Assets with GPS Technology

At ASIS International and ISC New York, Zalud’s Blog visited DeWalt to learn that industry studies have shown that jobsite theft is a top concern for the construction industry, with losses of more than $1 billion in the United States each year. To help professional contractors better protect mobile assets on jobsites, DeWalt developed the MOBILELOCK GPS Locator and Anti-Theft Alarm (DS500) that features state-of-the-art locating capabilities. The Global Positioning System (GPS) feature allows contractors to locate the MOBILELOCK unit in real time using the Internet. The launch of the MOBILELOCK product demonstrates the expansion of the DeWALT security business and illustrates the company’s commitment to developing innovative solutions to help professional contractors protect their jobsites and mobile assets.   

 

The MOBILELOCK product is a stand alone, portable, wireless locating and alarm system that is easily mounted to equipment using integrated heavy-duty magnets or fastening the unit into place using screws. Unlike other mobile asset protection systems that use radio frequency to locate stolen assets, MOBILELOCK features a GPS locator that can help users find stolen or lost assets anytime. Additionally, an alarm notification alerts the user when the protected piece of equipment has been disturbed or if someone tries to remove the MOBILELOCK unit. The MOBILELOCK locator and alarm is a user-friendly, self-installed system that contractors can customize to fit specific applications and security needs. The unit runs off of rechargeable lithium ion batteries and will remain powered for approximately 30 days.

 

Contractors can easily customize the MOBILELOCK settings to create their own arm and disarm schedule, change contact phone numbers, adjust siren settings, and report status information such as battery level and signal strength.   Users can operate their MOBILELOCK entirely over the web or from any phone.

 

If the MOBILELOCK-protected asset is disturbed the alarm is triggered and the contractor receives a phone call or email notifying them that there has been a security breach. The contractor can log onto the MOBILELOCK website, enter their personal pass code and then access street maps or satellite imagery showing the approximate location of the MOBILELOCK unit. This enables the contractor to quickly recover stolen or lost assets when the MOBILELOCK unit is properly attached. 

 

There are four sensors built into the MOBILELOCK unit:

·         Tamper sensor

·         Door contact sensor

·         Vibration sensor

·         Temperature sensor 

 

Each sensor can be programmed individually through a phone or the MOBILELOCK website to monitor the mobile asset. If an intruder tries to enter a secured area, disturb a piece of protected equipment, or remove the unit from the asset, the alarm activates and a signal is sent over the cellular network. The MOBILELOCK cellular and location-based services run on the Nationwide Sprint PCS Network, the number one wireless provider of GPS solutions.  

 

General contractors, home builders, remodelers, landscapers, earthmoving contactors as well as electrical, mechanical and HVAC professionals can utilize the MOBILELOCK locator and alarm to monitor mobile assets on the jobsite. It is ideal for the protection of assets on commercial construction sites such as heavy construction equipment, office trailers, gang boxes, and remote storage containers. On residential construction sites, MOBILELOCK can help deter the theft of tool trailers, appliances, landscaping materials and equipment as well as thefts from garages or open rooms under construction.

 

MOBILELOCK will be available in Fall 2006. Additionally, there is an indoor motion detector available in a combo kit (DS510K) that protects open areas and triggers the alarm if movement is detected. Users can also purchase the extended runtime combo kit (DS505K) for up to 90 days of additional run-time.