No bus should drive past a school too fast, but sometimes drivers make mistakes. A way to minimize the risk of human error is to use digital technology to control how the vehicle is driven in a certain geographical zone. This is done with the connected service zone management enabled by Volvo Group Connected Solutions and made possible through connectivity.
Limits you can't exceed
The zone management service Safety Zone let the customers of Volvo Buses set specific guidelines and limitations for each vehicle as it enters a defined geographical area. A technology often referred to as "geofencing".
– A city bus company can for example set speed limits to make sure none of their buses can be driven too fast in areas with a lot of pedestrians, explains Akshatha Alva, product owner of Zone Management at Volvo Group Connected Solutions who leads the development teams.
Business at stake
Controlling the vehicles is a way for companies to protect themselves against human errors when information, alerts, and indications on the vehicle dashboard is not enough.
– On some construction projects there might be strict governmental legislation for speed limits. This means that there is a lot at stake for the contractors. One driver’s mistake and your company might be punished, and your contract lost, says Akshatha. Zone management in cases like these becomes a safety net for our customers.
Making buses safer
Volvo Buses were the initial developers of the service zone management. Their
customers see great benefits with this service which results in a safer traffic environment. The operators receive less complaints and the drivers feel safe knowing they won't exceed the speed limit by mistake.
A competitive edge
This explains the interest that bus and truck owners express for the service, as well as politicians and government officials. This is also why geofencing services are getting added to the list of demands in procurements in many countries. With Zone Management we can show that our buses are safer,
Facts: Zone Management/Geofencing
Zone management is a connected service in Volvo Connect that combines vehicle positioning with rules set for specific zones on a map. The telematic unit onboard the vehicle transmits its GPS-position and receives instructions set by the fleet management. At Volvo Group Connected Solutions there are two development teams working with zone management, one in Gothenburg and one in India. All work done in close collaboration with and Volvo Buses.