11 May 2017

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award appoints Mapyx as exclusive tracking partner using SPOT satellite devices

Globalstar Europe Satellite has announced that The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) charity has signed a new three-year exclusive contract with Globalstar value added reseller, Mapyx, to provide tracking using the SPOT Gen3 satellite tracker, after having partnered with Mapyx for the previous five years.

Every year, more than 300,000 young people take part in DofE expeditions across the UK countryside. With the combination of SPOT Gen3 devices and Mapyx’s mapping and tracking solution, leaders can track the location of each expedition group of 5-7 participants, while each group can send standard messages and request help whenever required.

Mapyx tracks more than 10,000 young people each year and hundreds of UK schools are already using its solution. It also provides satellite tracking and SOS for school trips to regions of the world with unreliable mobile communications including the Himalayas and Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Mapyx and SPOT solution gives organisers a complete picture of each group’s journey and location meaning staff don’t have to waste hours waiting for groups to arrive at checkpoints or worrying about their safety. Staff can maintain their distance while still having an overview of the participants’ progress.

The rugged, pocked-sized SPOT Gen3 allows DofE participants to send pre-programmed messages to expedition organisers, for example, letting them know they have arrived at a checkpoint; are taking a break; or require help. If the worst should happen, the participants can simply press the one-touch SOS button to send their GPS location to initiate emergency response procedures. Mapyx then works with GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Centre (IERCC) and, if required, UK Mission Control Centre (UKMCC) and Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) to manage the emergency response.