OVERVIEW
The LIVETRACK system is being developed to provide a solution to tracking un-manned and un-powered Containers on Global Movements.

LIVETRACK will collect Position and Status data from the containers via an electronic satellite transceiver ("Tag") attached to the container. The data will then be re-transmitted to the Container Owner / Operator and their associated Clients and Suppliers.

LIVETRACK will act as an Automated Service Provider of Logistics information thereby replacing the traditional manual Operations Department of the Container business. In practice this means that Clients and Suppliers involved in the movement chain will be able to access data relating to the current location of the container, via the internet, without the need to contact the Container Operator.

PROJECT HISTORY
Development on the LIVETRACK Project commenced in early 1995. It quickly became apparent that due to the Global nature of the project, the only suitable communication system to use would be satellite based. After evaluation of the various satellite systems available, the Inmarsat System was identified as being the most suitable at the time.

The LIVETRACK system was unveiled to the Tank Container industry at the Marichem exhibition in Cologne, Germany during November 1995. The system was received with tremendous enthusiasm and was followed in 1996 by tours of Europe and the USA where detailed discussions and system trials were carried out with the interested parties.

The system trials revealed several inadequacies in the Inmarsat Satellite System with regard to its suitability for use as part of the LIVETRACK system. These were in particular:-

High Capital Cost -	Approx $3000 to $4000 per Container
High Running Costs -	Approx $10 to $12 per day per Container
Very Short Battery Life -	Approx 6 weeks
Large Physical Size -	Approx 16" x 16" x 16" (transceiver & battery)

At this stage it was decided to suspend the LIVETRACK System development until a more suitable Satellite System could be found.

CURRENT PROJECT STATUS
During 1997 contact was made with a US company who are developing a LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Satellite System called NANOSAT. The system is primarily designed for Asset Tracking on a Global basis. After several discussions and meetings in the USA it has been decided that in principal this system meets all the necessary criteria for the LIVETRACK system. These are in particular:-

Low Capital Cost -	Approx $500 per Container
Low Running Costs -	Approx $1 per day per Container
Very Long Battery Life -	Approx 2.5 to 5 years (trickle charge solar panels)
Small Physical Size -	Approx 6" x 4" x 3"

These criteria are significant improvements on the Inmarsat System and are commercially acceptable to the potential LIVETRACK clients.

The US Satellite System is planned to commence live operation in 2001. In the interim period LIVETRACK has carried out trials on routes from Chicago to Venezuela. Trial candidates have agreed that the costs of the system are now acceptable and subject to successful trials, will be contracting to fit between 200 and 500 containers each once live operation commences.

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