Geofencing
Geofencing creates virtual boundaries around real-world geographic areas, triggering automated actions when mobile devices enter or exit the defined zone. It powers location-based marketing, foot traffic measurement, asset tracking, and security applications.
Geofencing is a location-based technology that defines a virtual perimeter—called a geofence—around a real-world geographic area. When a mobile device or other GPSGPSThe Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system operated by the U.S. Space Force that prov...-enabled asset crosses the boundary, the system triggers a predefined action such as sending a push notification, logging an event, or updating a database record. Geofences can be circular (defined by a center point and radius), polygonal (following a building footprintBuilding FootprintA Building Footprint is the outline of a building as seen from directly above, representing the area of ground it occ... or property boundary), or network-based (defined by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth beacon proximity).
How It Works
Geofencing relies on location-sensing technologies including GPSGPSThe Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system operated by the U.S. Space Force that prov..., cellular triangulation, Wi-Fi positioning, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons. A geofence is configured in software by specifying its geographic boundary and the actions to trigger on entry, exit, or dwell events. The mobile device's operating system continuously monitors its position and evaluates it against registered geofences. When a boundary crossing is detected, the system fires the associated trigger. Cloud-based geofencing platforms can manage millions of geofences simultaneously and process events in near real time.
Applications
In retail marketing, geofences around stores trigger welcome messages, promotional offers, or loyalty point notifications when customers arrive. Competitive geofencing—placing virtual boundaries around rival locations—enables brands to serve targeted ads to consumers visiting competitors. In foot traffic analytics, geofences define the venue boundaries used to count visits and measure dwell timeDwell TimeDwell time measures the duration a visitor spends at a specific location, such as a store, mall, or point of interest.... Fleet managementFleet ManagementFleet Management uses GPS tracking, telematics, and geospatial analytics to monitor, coordinate, and optimize vehicle... and logistics companies use geofences to monitor vehicle arrivals and departures at depots, customer sites, and restricted zones. Law enforcement and corrections agencies use geofencing for electronic monitoring of individuals under supervision.
Advantages
Geofencing enables hyper-local targeting that is impossible with traditional media. It provides real-time awareness of physical presence, enabling immediate and contextually relevant interactions. For analytics, geofences create the spatial definitions that underpin visit counting, dwell timeDwell TimeDwell time measures the duration a visitor spends at a specific location, such as a store, mall, or point of interest... measurement, and cross-shopping analysis.
Challenges
Geofencing accuracy varies by technology: GPSGPSThe Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system operated by the U.S. Space Force that prov... is accurate to 3–10 meters outdoors but degrades indoors; Wi-Fi positioning works well in dense urban areas but is inconsistent in suburban environments; Bluetooth beacons offer room-level precision but require physical hardware installation. Battery consumption is a concern for mobile applications that continuously monitor geofences. Privacy regulations—including GDPR, CCPA, and platform-level controls from Apple and Google—require explicit user consent for location tracking and limit the use of geofencing for advertising purposes. Geofencing is a versatile technology that bridges the digital and physical worlds. By converting geographic boundaries into programmable triggers, it enables businesses to engage customers, track assets, and measure spatial behavior with unprecedented precision and immediacy.
Code-Beispiele
import * as turf from "@turf/turf";
// Define a geofence around a store
const storeFence = turf.circle(
[13.405, 52.52], 0.5,
{ units: "kilometers", steps: 64 }
);
// Check if a user is inside the geofence
const userLocation = turf.point([13.408, 52.519]);
const isInside = turf.booleanPointInPolygon(
userLocation,
storeFence
);
console.log(`User inside geofence: ${isInside}`);
// User inside geofence: trueVerwandte Mapular-Lösungen
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