Telematiikka

Telematiikka, Finnish term for telematics, is the interdisciplinary field that combines telecommunications and informatics to collect, transmit, store, and analyze data from remote assets. It enables monitoring and control of devices such as vehicles, machinery, and sensors, supporting decision making, automation, and services delivered over networks.

A typical telematic system includes an onboard unit or module, a position sensor such as GPS, a wireless communication modem, and a set of sensors and actuators connected to the asset’s data buses (for example CAN). Data is collected by the onboard unit, transmitted via cellular networks, satellite links, or other wireless technologies, and stored and processed in back-end servers or cloud platforms. Analytics software then provides dashboards, alerts, and automated actions.

Common applications are fleet management, which covers vehicle tracking, routing optimization, fuel efficiency monitoring, and utilization reporting; remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance; driver behavior and safety analytics; and insurance telematics, which uses driving data for risk assessment. In logistics and asset management, telematic data supports inventory visibility and condition monitoring. Smart-city projects use telematics for public transport, road usage analysis, and environmental sensing.

Benefits include improved efficiency, safety, and service quality, along with reduced operating costs. Challenges involve data privacy and cybersecurity, data interoperability across vendors, and the cost of devices and connectivity. Standards and regulations cover data formats, vehicle interfaces like OBD-II and CAN, and communications protocols for mobile networks and satellite links.