Mel Lintern of CSIRO Exploration and Mining says that the technology can ve used to track "the behaviour of an altogether different animal, the scientist in the field."

The VTE system is attached to a four-wheel drive field vehicle is being evaluated as a means of upgrading the safety of scientists working in remote locations.

Mr Lintern, who is running the trial in remote areas in South Australia and Victoria, says that although the field vehicles are already equipped with satellite phones, EPIRBs (electronic position indicating radio beacon) and GPS (global positioning system), there are advantages in knowing where the vehicle is at any particular time.

"The VTE currently has a 10 minute automatic reporting procedure via satellite which allows us back in the office to follow the vehicle on a map and observe its speed and current direction," he says.

"We can also establish its position at any time."

"If field crews don't report in on schedule, we worry that they may have had an accident. With this type of system we can locate them precisely and quickly and send out emergency help."

The vehicle can be tracked on the web using any PC hooked to the internet.

The VTE fits on the roof of the vehicle and can be moved easily from one vehicle to another. It is about the size of a small lunch box and weighs less than a kilogram.

It can be operated in stand-alone mode or via the vehicle battery, either via the cigarette lighter or directly into the engine compartment. Either way, the field crew don't have to worry about it.

"It's early days yet, but the VTE appears to be handling the harsh environment well and very few reporting problems have occurred," says Mr Lintern.

"The VTE has the added bonus that it is very difficult to steal the vehicle and get away with it!"

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