ActiveTrack joins ATRA and also becomes one of its Event Standards Program partners, which showcases brands and companies who can help race directors achieve safe and successful events.
We came across the ActiveTrack system at the 2023 US Trail Conference in Mukilteo, WA. Arash Kia, the owner of ActiveTrack discussed the system’s abilities to cover a wide range of services from timing, runner tracking, personalized videos and livestreaming, while maintaining a small and mobile foot print which is one of the many reasons we are excited for its use in trail races. The part that ActiveTrack is most happy with is their ability to deploy a quick and reliable network in places where there is no cell reception and to transmit runner data for tracking and timing.
The technology
The timing technology utilizes a recyclable tag on a light weight slap band with a small battery that could last for years of operation without the need for maintenance. The tag readers that transmit the data to the cloud have a small footprint and the power sources could all be charged with solar energy. Their readers are small and light weight, and can be hand carried to hilltops and challenging locations that are prohibitive for large timing equipment. The ActiveTrack readers utilize small power sources that keep the system going for 30+hours of operation. The timing / tracking tags are recyclable and use low voltages for operation. What this means is that AT doesn’t need to use larger generators that burn fuel for electricity.
What’s new this year
For 2024, ActiveTrack will be offering a custom solution for tracking (in 2023 they used cell phone tracking). This custom solution can be expanded to provide coverage in areas where there is no cell reception. ActiveTrack can create an interconnected network on a race course, track the progression of the runners in real time, and plot the participant’s position on a map. When participants are tracked, their friends and family could locate them easier on the livestream.
With ActiveTrack, you can track your runner’s progression by typing in their bib in a search box and see the times they checked into each checkpoint on the map. This technology shows the participant’s location changing on a map in real time and allows the viewer to choose a livestream camera that their runner is approaching. There is no guess work on the tracking. The information is not produced by an app that guesses the runner’s pace for each mile, but rather, by real time information from the race course that provides a runner’s location.
Stationary ant x.
Light and mobile
One of the livestream technology platforms offered by ActiveTrack is light and mobile enough that could be used while hiking or riding a bike. Numerous trail events such as the Chuckanut 50K in Washington have successfully implemented this technology on their remote and challenging courses. ActiveTrack has tabulated the viewership and engagement analytics for their livestream which show a tremendous opportunity for a marketing message with the livestream.
How it works
ActiveTrack tags are on slap-bands which could be put on and taken off in a second. This tag is used for both timing and tracking the participants. The timing solution could publish the data onsite, or the data could be sent to the cloud where tracking and livestreaming could be added to the services (for mapping, tracking, and livestream, cloud services are required). When there is no cell service, ActiveTrack drops in a mesh network and provides coverage so the tags continue to send their data to the cloud.
Their “Eyes on the Course” safety program keeps track of where everyone is scattered on the course. Their tags are all reusable. The tag batteries last for over 2 years and are re-used over and over again. Given all the features of the system, its low power, small foot print, versatility, and ease of use, we are endorsing the ActiveTrack system for trail races.
What it costs
An ActiveTrack startup system with 2 readers and 1,000 reusable tags would cost under $5,000 – not tens of thousands of dollars. There are no thousand-dollar antennas to buy, and the tags are intended for permanent use. Tags cost $3 per quarter for year 1 and $2 per quarter thereafter. ActiveTrack says when you run the numbers on paying $8-$12 per tag annually vs buying 30,000 or100,000 RFID tags per year, you will see the enormous cost savings. For those who only have a few races each year, tags could be leased at $0.40 per use.
Fits into a backpack.
In summary
We have a partner who has the platform to time, track, and livestream a race with a technology that fits into a backpack. They can reduce the operational cost of timers and races while creating race engagement with their videos, tracking, mapping and livestream.
“The next generation wireless technologies will provide a decent degree of independence from today’s service providers. We are tapping to some of this availability right now and lowering our overhead cost,” says Arash Kia. He promises that ActiveTrack will be pursuing these technologies to make sure our industry benefits from the lowest cost possible.
What you can do as a race director is get engaged and continue building this system up to tap into its full potential. For more information about ActiveTrack please reach out to [email protected] or call him at 503-880-8983.
