WHAT IS LAIS?

The LAIS, or Location-Aware Information System, is an tracking tool.  The LAIS has two components - a mobile component which can be outfitted on any moving object, person, or animal - and a software package which cross-references the information.

When activated, the LAIS mobile device will record the movement of any person, object, or animal.  When the LAIS mobile device is returned to the vicinity of a computer with the LAIS software package, its data will be retrieved and post-processed.  The software package can do a number of things: the most basic is a replay of where the user has been.  Advanced options for post-processing include weather updates, news, sports information, and local resources (such as stores) at the time of the replay. 

WHY RESEARCH LAIS?

LAIS has a number of applications.  Since it is small enough to be employed on persons, animals, and other moving objects, it can be an useful tool when studying patterns in schedules of humans and animals, and in tracking the security of inanimate objects.

Bus schedule efficiency is one good example of the possible use of LAIS on an inanimate object.  When a bus with a LAIS system returns from a run/round, it can upload the data it gathered to a station's computer with LAIS.  The relational database can then analyze the information based on time between stops, time at stops, and the weather conditions.  The schedules can then be changed accordingly by the schedule manager.

Bears!  They can attack at any time!  Well, not really.  But they do rummage through trash bins for food that humans find unsuitable to consume.  Current tracking systems are limited to a transmission collar so that scientists can find the animals and follow them.  LAIS makes the time consuming task easier.  Since LAIS records historical location- data, whenever a bear or other animal with a transmitter approaches a wireless LAIS receiver, the data will be stored for scientists to retrieve.

The possibilities for LAIS are limited only by imagination.

WHERE AND WHEN WILL LAIS BE DEPLOYED?

LAIS was deployed in front of a live audience of judges in May 2004.
Documents, images, and video are available on the previews page.  Details on progress up to that stage are visible on the progress page.