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What is a geofence?

A geofence is a virtual boundary around a real-world location, usually set with GPS coordinates. When a tracked asset crosses it, MapTrack can turn that location event into a time-on-site record, entry or exit alert, utilisation signal or audit trail alongside the asset register.

Lachlan McRitchie

Lachlan McRitchie

GM of Operations

|Reviewed by Jarrod Milford
Updated 9 July 2026
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What is a geofence?

A geofence is a virtual boundary drawn around a real-world location, usually with GPS coordinates. When a tracked asset, vehicle or device enters or leaves that boundary, the software records the crossing and can trigger an alert, status change, timestamp or time-on-site calculation. In asset and fleet management, a geofence turns raw location data into an automatic business rule.

  • 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 does a geofence work?

A GPS tracker, mobile device or OEM telematics unit reports location at regular intervals. The platform compares each location update with the geofence boundary. When the asset changes state from outside to inside, or inside to outside, the rule attached to that boundary runs. That rule might send an entry alert, start a dwell-time timer, mark equipment as on site, notify a supervisor, or create a record for job-costing and utilisation reports.

  • Boundary: a circle or polygon around a site, depot, customer address, yard or restricted area.
  • Location signal: GPS, OEM telematics, fleet tracker or another location source reports the asset position.
  • Rule: entry, exit, dwell-time or after-hours movement logic decides what action to trigger.
  • Record: the event becomes an audit trail, time-on-site line, alert or utilisation signal on the asset record.

Geofence vs GPS tracking

GPS tracking answers "where is this asset right now?" Geofencing answers "what should happen when this asset is inside, outside or moving across this place?" GPS gives the location feed; the geofence adds operational context. For example, a GPS tracker can show an excavator on a map, while a geofence can confirm the excavator arrived at a project, stayed there for 6.5 hours, left after the shift, or crossed a boundary it should not have crossed.

Common geofence examples

Geofences are most useful when a location change should trigger a workflow, not just a map update. Heavy equipment teams use them to detect plant leaving site after hours, calculate time on a customer job, alert when hire gear returns to the depot, surface assets sitting idle on a project, and prepare maintenance when a vehicle enters a workshop yard. The same idea works for fleet vehicles, trailers, generators, forklifts and other GPS-connected assets.

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, vehicles or hire equipment have GPS, the raw dot on a map is not enough. Teams need to know when an asset arrived, how long it stayed, whether it left after hours, and whether that movement should change a job, bill, service plan or compliance record. Many systems show location but do not tie geofence events to the asset register, work orders, reservations or utilisation reports.

How MapTrack addresses it

MapTrack can use geofence data from connected GPS and telematics sources to report time on site for assets where the integration supports it. Those events sit beside the asset register, work orders, reservations and service history, so a site entry, depot exit or restricted-zone crossing can become a useful operational record instead of another separate map alert. Geofence behaviour depends on your telematics or OEM integration; MapTrack helps verify the hardware and workflow before rollout.

How it works

  • 1

    GPS and integrations

    MapTrack supports GPS where devices are fitted and integrates with a range of OEM and telematics providers. Geofence and time-on-site capabilities depend on the integration, so verify the hardware and data feed first.

  • 2

    Define the site boundary

    Draw the job site, depot, customer yard or restricted zone as a circle or polygon. Add a practical margin for GPS drift, access roads and loading areas.

  • 3

    Attach the trigger

    Choose what should happen on entry, exit, dwell time or after-hours movement: alert a manager, log time on site, update status or prepare a report.

  • 4

    Report from the asset record

    Geofence and utilisation events sit alongside maintenance, reservations, inspections and custody so teams can report from one operational record.

Geofence workflows that connect to the asset register

GPS tracking

Live location, movement history and site boundaries for plant, vehicles and high-value equipment.

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Alerts and automation

Entry, exit, overdue-service and after-hours movement alerts tied to the asset record.

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Equipment utilisation

Use time on site, engine hours and reservations to identify idle assets and improve allocation.

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Construction equipment tracking software

Compare platforms for GPS plant, QR tools, OEM telematics, utilisation and maintenance.

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Equipment theft prevention

Use GPS and geofence alerts as part of a wider theft-prevention and recovery workflow.

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Geofence glossary

A shorter definition of geofence terminology, related terms and common questions.

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Turn GPS geofences into asset workflows

See how MapTrack connects geofence alerts, time on site, GPS tracking, utilisation and maintenance history on the same asset record.

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Frequently asked questions

A geofence is an invisible boundary around a real place, such as a depot, job site, customer yard or restricted zone. A GPS tracker or telematics unit reports where an asset is. The software checks whether that location is inside or outside the boundary and can then log an arrival, trigger an exit alert, start a time-on-site timer or update the asset status automatically.

Where GPS devices are fitted and integrations are configured, MapTrack can use geofence data to report time on site, such as the time a machine spends inside a job boundary, depot or customer yard. This supports utilisation reporting and can help with billing, hire reconciliation or compliance. Geofence behaviour depends on the telematics or OEM integration, so confirm support 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.

Common triggers include an asset entering a job site, leaving a depot, crossing a restricted-zone boundary, staying inside a zone longer than expected, moving outside business hours or returning to a yard with an overdue service. Alerts can be useful for theft prevention, job costing, maintenance planning, site safety and hire-equipment utilisation.

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.

Size the geofence slightly larger than the physical boundary you care about. For a depot, yard or construction site, allow enough margin for normal GPS drift, entry roads and loading areas so you avoid false entry or exit alerts. Very small zones can work in open areas, but indoor or dense urban sites may need QR, Bluetooth or manual check-in support for 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.

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Related use cases

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GPS tracking · Alerts and automation · Geofence definition · Geofencing practice · Equipment utilisation tracking · Construction equipment tracking software · Integrations · Pricing

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