“The science of telematics has long been applied to keep track of vehicles and to protect those vehicles, their drivers, and their cargo. Now, Big Data is driving an explosion in the power of telematics, which presents huge benefits for drivers and fleet owners alike”, says Cliff de Wit, Netstar Chief Technology Officer.

Telematics is a field that combines telecommunications and informatics and is often used in the mobility sector to gather data from vehicles. Telematics applications then use insights from the acquired data to provide services such as protecting drivers and fleets as well as enhancing efficiency and productivity.

Big Data, on the other hand, involves the analysis of large and complex data sets to draw insights. Big Data relies on volume, variety, velocity, and veracity to ultimately provide value through the insights from the data.

As technology has advanced, sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices have become able to obtain ever larger amounts of data. Today, IoT generates most of the data on earth. Some estimate that the volume of data in the world should reach 163 Zettabytes by the year 2025.

Data is generated by vehicles, their drivers, and their cargo. Modern telecommunications allow that data to be transmitted in real time. Powerful processing capacity now exists to be able to process this data, extract numerous valuable insights from it and then present these insights rapidly, in an easily digestible format.

Besides the IoT devices and sensors that gather data, a key technology helping to gain understanding from the telematics-Big Data revolution is artificial intelligence (AI). AI can be used in many ways to gain insights and predictions on data. For example, AI allows fleet managers to proactively monitor fleet and driver performance, using AI-powered onboard cameras.

Technology such as the Netstar AI Camera Solution uses road-facing cameras to provide real-time output on safe following distances and forward collision risks, while in-cab cameras monitor driver fatigue and distractions. In-vehicle voice notifications coach drivers in real time to rectify any risky driving behaviour while they are behind the wheel.

This application fuses telematics, AI and Big Data to source data and provide fleet managers with actionable insights that they can use to protect their fleets, as well as their brand reputation.

Drivers also get real-time alerts about any road danger. Driving events are tagged and recorded and uploaded to the cloud for later online review – for driver training, or in the case of insurance claims.

Human error accounts for 90% of road accidents. The loss of life and collateral damage from road accidents can be prevented, or reduced, by improving poor driver behaviours such as speeding, harsh braking, smoking, or using a cellphone. Better driving can also massively reduce fleet costs like fuel, maintenance, and insurance overheads. 

AI-driven telematics using onboard cameras allows the kind of data insights to be gleaned that can improve driver safety and performance, though video-based coaching.

This leads to safer roads for drivers, passengers, and other road users; reduced vehicle downtime; fewer accident-related repairs and maintenance costs; and real savings on insurance premiums and fuel.

For fleet managers, AI-powered data analytics means safer drives, better driver behaviour, and greater efficiencies across their businesses. Ultimately, businesses can pass on the benefits of this AI-telematics-Big Data convergence to consumers in the form of more affordable services and far safer road transport networks.