Geofencing

Create virtual boundaries and get alerts when vehicles enter or exit

Geofencing

Geofences are virtual boundaries on the map. When a vehicle enters or exits a geofence, Yipii IoT can send you alerts, log the event, and generate reports. Use geofences to monitor customer sites, restricted areas, or track deliveries.

What is a Geofence?

A geofence is a virtual perimeter around a real-world geographic area. Think of it as an invisible fence that triggers actions when vehicles cross it.

Common uses:

• Customer delivery locations
• Warehouses and depots
• Construction sites
• No-go zones or restricted areas
• School zones
• Home base/garage locations

Geofence Types

Yipii IoT supports four geofence shapes to match any location:

Circle

A circular zone with a center point and radius.

Best for:

• Single addresses (customer locations)
• Points of interest
• Parking areas
• Quick setup for simple locations

How to create:

1. Click the center point on the map
2. Set the radius (meters)
3. The circle expands from the center

Polygon

A custom multi-sided shape defined by multiple points.

Best for:

• Irregular property boundaries
• Industrial complexes
• Farms and large land areas
• Exclusion zones with precise borders

How to create:

1. Click each corner point on the map
2. Connect at least 3 points
3. Close the shape by clicking the first point again

Polyline (Route Corridor)

A line-based boundary with a buffer distance on each side.

Best for:

• Road corridors
• Delivery routes
• Pipeline or utility corridors
• Linear infrastructure

How to create:

1. Draw the route line on the map
2. Set the corridor width (buffer distance)
3. The zone extends on both sides of the line

Point (Arrival Zone)

A single location with a trigger radius.

Best for:

• Delivery destinations
• Pickup points
• Arrival notifications
• Time-on-site tracking

How to create:

1. Place a marker at the exact location
2. Set a trigger radius
3. Smaller radius = more precise arrival detection

Creating a Geofence

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Navigate to the geofence management area from the Operations view
2. Click Create Geofence
3. Enter a Name (e.g., "Customer ABC - Melbourne")
4. Select the Type (Circle, Polygon, Polyline, Point)
5. Draw the boundary on the map
6. Set the Color for visual identification
7. Configure Alerts (optional):
   • Entry alerts
   • Exit alerts
   • Dwell time alerts
8. Click Save

Drawing Tips

• Zoom in for precision when drawing
• Use satellite view to see actual buildings and boundaries
• Start with a larger area and refine - you can edit later
• For circles, choose appropriate radius:
  • Street address: 50-100 meters
  • Parking lot: 100-200 meters
  • Industrial site: 200-500 meters

Geofence Alerts

Configure what happens when vehicles interact with geofences:

Entry Alert

Triggered when a vehicle enters the geofence.

Use cases:

• Customer arrival notification
• Unauthorized area access
• Driver reached job site

Exit Alert

Triggered when a vehicle leaves the geofence.

Use cases:

• Departure from base
• Left customer site
• Asset removed from authorized area

Dwell Time Alert

Triggered when a vehicle stays inside for longer than specified.

Use cases:

• Long stop at customer (possible issue)
• Extended time at fuel station
• Vehicle abandoned at location

Setting Up Geofence Alerts

1. Open the geofence settings
2. Go to the Alerts tab
3. Enable the alert types you need:
   • Notify on entry: Yes/No
   • Notify on exit: Yes/No
   • Dwell time threshold: Minutes before alert
4. Select notification channels:
   • Email
   • SMS
   • WhatsApp
5. Save your settings

Arrival Detection

For delivery and service operations, use geofences to track:

Proof of Arrival

When a vehicle enters a customer geofence:

• Timestamp is recorded
• Location is logged
• Dwell time tracking begins

This creates an auditable record for:

• Delivery confirmation
• Service call verification
• Job site attendance

Arrival-Based Link Expiry

Public tracking links can expire when a vehicle arrives:

1. Create a tracking link for a delivery
2. Set expiry: "On arrival at geofence"
3. Select the destination geofence
4. Customer can track until delivery arrives
5. Link automatically expires on arrival

Managing Geofences

Editing a Geofence

1. Go to Geofences list
2. Click on the geofence name
3. Modify the boundary, settings, or alerts
4. Click Save

Changes take effect immediately for all future events.

Deleting a Geofence

1. Open the geofence settings
2. Click Delete
3. Confirm deletion

Note: Deleting a geofence removes it from alerts and reports. Historical data showing past visits is preserved.

Organizing Geofences

Use colors and naming conventions to organize:

By type:

• Green: Customer locations
• Blue: Own facilities
• Red: Restricted/no-go zones
• Yellow: Temporary sites

By region:

• Prefix with region code: "MEL-Customer ABC"
• Group by city or territory

Geofence Reports

Analyze geofence activity with these reports:

Geofence Visit Report

Shows all entries and exits for selected geofences:

• Vehicle name
• Entry time
• Exit time
• Duration inside
• Distance traveled inside

Point Visits Report

For single-point geofences, shows:

• All visits to specific locations
• Time spent at each visit
• Pattern analysis (frequency, typical duration)

How to Generate

1. Go to Reports
2. Select Geofence or Point Visits
3. Choose date range
4. Select specific geofences or all
5. Select vehicles
6. Click Generate

Best Practices

Size Your Geofences Appropriately

Too small:

• Vehicles may not trigger entry if GPS drifts
• False exits from GPS fluctuation

Too large:

• Premature triggers before actual arrival
• Less precise timing data

Recommended sizes:

• Street address: 50-100m radius
• Building/facility: Match actual boundary
• City area: 1-5km radius

Use Descriptive Names

Good: "ABC Transport - Sydney Warehouse - Loading Dock B" Bad: "Zone 1"

Include:

• Customer or site name
• City/location
• Purpose (optional)

Review Regularly

Geofences may need updates when:

• Customers move locations
• New sites are added
• Boundaries change
• Operational areas shift

Combine with Alerts Thoughtfully

Don't over-alert:

• Entry + exit + dwell can be overwhelming
• Start with what's essential
• Expand alert coverage based on actual needs

Common Questions

How accurate is geofence triggering?

GPS accuracy is typically 3-10 meters. For reliable triggering:

• Use geofences at least 50 meters radius
• Allow for GPS drift at boundaries
• Consider adding a small buffer to your intended area

Can I import geofences from a file?

Bulk geofence import is not currently available through the web interface. Create geofences individually using the drawing tools, or contact support@yipii.com for assistance with bulk setup.

How many geofences can I create?

There's no fixed limit. However, for best performance:

• Keep active geofences under 500
• Archive unused geofences
• Consolidate overlapping zones where possible

Do geofences work when vehicles are offline?

Geofence events are calculated when the tracker sends data. If a vehicle enters a geofence while offline:

• The entry is recorded when data arrives
• Timestamp reflects actual entry time (from GPS data)
• Alert may be delayed until data is received

What's Next?

• Alerts — Configure notifications for geofence entry, exit, and dwell time events
• Reports — Generate geofence visit and point visit reports
• Public Tracking Links — Use arrival-based geofences to auto-expire customer tracking links
• Assets — Manage the vehicles monitored by your geofences