What is a geofence?

A geofence is a virtual boundary around a real-world location, set with GPS coordinates. When a tracked asset crosses it, MapTrack can log time on site automatically for utilisation, billing and compliance, alongside your asset register.

Lachlan McRitchie

GM of Operations

|Reviewed by Jarrod Milford

Updated 20 February 2026

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What is a geofence?

A geofence is a virtual boundary drawn around a real-world location, defined by GPS coordinates. When a GPS-tracked asset enters or leaves that boundary, the system records the crossing and can trigger an alert, a status change or a time-on-site calculation. In asset and fleet management, geofences turn raw location into something you can act on: they flag unauthorised movement, automate time-on-site reporting, and enforce restricted zones without anyone watching a live map.

Construction: a boundary around a job site flags when a high-value excavator leaves unexpectedly.
Mining: a geofence around a restricted blast zone alarms if a loader or light vehicle enters.
Hire and rental: a boundary around the depot tracks how long equipment sits on a customer site, so billing matches actual use.
Fleet: time-in-zone data costs jobs accurately when a vehicle arrives at and leaves a client site.

How accurate are geofences?

GPS geofences are typically accurate to within 3 to 10 metres under open sky, which is enough for site-level boundaries. Accuracy drops indoors, underground, in dense vegetation or among tall buildings, where signals reflect or drop out. To avoid false alerts from GPS drift, size the geofence slightly larger than the physical boundary and ignore very short entries. Where you need tighter precision, combine GPS geofencing with Bluetooth beacons or QR check-in and check-out at known points.

The problem

When plant or equipment has GPS, you want to use that data for more than just location, e.g. time spent within a job or site boundary for utilisation, billing or compliance. Many systems don't tie geofence data to the asset register or make it easy to report time onsite. You need geofence time onsite integrated with your asset and work management so you can act on it.

How MapTrack addresses it

MapTrack can use geofence data from connected GPS/telematics (integration-dependent) to report time onsite for assets. Where configured, this supports utilisation reporting - how long plant or equipment was at a site or within a zone, and can feed into compliance or billing workflows. Geofence behaviour depends on your telematics/OEM integration; MapTrack brings that data into the same platform as your asset register, work orders and reservations. You get one place for location-based utilisation alongside tracking and maintenance.

How it works

GPS and integrations

MapTrack supports GPS where devices are fitted and integrates with a range of OEM/telematics providers. Geofence and time-onsite capabilities depend on the integration. Verify for your hardware.

Geofence and time onsite

Where supported, geofence data is used to calculate or report time onsite (e.g. within a job or site boundary). Use for utilisation and reporting.

One platform with asset data

Geofence and utilisation data sit alongside the asset register, work orders and reservations. No need to jump between systems.

Reporting and visibility

Use time onsite and utilisation data for reporting, billing or compliance. Exact metrics depend on your integration and configuration.

Geofence alerts in real time

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Frequently asked questions

Where GPS devices are fitted and integrations are configured, MapTrack can use geofence data to report time onsite (e.g. time within a job or site boundary). This supports utilisation reporting and can help with billing or compliance. Geofence behaviour depends on the telematics/OEM integration. Verify with MapTrack for your hardware and use case.

No. Geofence time onsite applies to assets that have GPS devices installed. For assets without GPS, MapTrack still gives you reservations, assignments and check-in/out, so you have visibility from usage data. Add GPS where the cost is justified (e.g. high-value plant, hire equipment).

MapTrack supports a range of OEM and telematics integrations for meter data and location. The exact list and geofence capabilities depend on the integration. Book a demo to confirm support for your devices and geofence use case.

GPS tracking tells you where an asset is. Geofencing adds a rule on top: a boundary that, when crossed, triggers an action such as an alert, a status change or a time-on-site record. You need location data for geofencing to work, but geofencing is what turns raw GPS into something you can act on automatically.

GPS geofences are usually accurate to within 3 to 10 metres under open sky, which is enough for site-level boundaries. Accuracy falls indoors, underground, in dense vegetation or among tall buildings. Size the geofence with a margin and combine it with Bluetooth or QR check-ins where you need tighter precision.

Geofencing needs location data, so it relies on GPS trackers or OEM telematics fitted to the asset. Where GPS is not fitted, MapTrack still gives you reservations, assignments and QR check-in and check-out for visibility, and you can add GPS to the high-value assets where automated time on site pays for itself.