Introduction:
Sub geozones allow you to define specific areas of interest within a larger worksite, such as a staging area or a specific paving lane. By nesting these zones, FleetWatcher can provide more granular data on equipment movement and time spent in high-priority sections of a project.
Navigation:
To access this feature:
Go to: Map
How to Create a Sub Geo-zone
To successfully create a sub geo-zone, you must draw the new polygon entirely within the boundaries of an existing project geo-zone.
1. Draw the Sub Geo-zone
To begin the drawing process: Right-click on an area of the map outside the existing project geo-zone.
To activate the drawing tool: Select Create Geozone from the options menu.
To define the sub-area: Left-click and release points on the map to outline the desired shape inside the larger, existing geo-zone.
Note: If you make a mistake while drawing, press the Escape key at any time to restart your polygon.
2. Assign the Sub Geo-zone to a Project
To open project options: Click once inside your newly drawn sub geo-zone.
To create the association: Select Add to New Project from the popup window.
3. Configure Sub Geo-zone Details
In the "Add New Project" form, fill in the following required fields to ensure the sub geo-zone is tracked correctly:
Project Name: Enter a name that identifies the specific sub-area.
Project Number: Enter the unique identifier for the project.
Project Type: Select SUB-GEOZONE from the dropdown menu.
Time Zone: Confirm the local time zone for the job site.
Display Status: Set the status to Active.
4. Save and Finalize
To complete the process: Click Save Project at the bottom of the form.
To verify the setup: The new sub geo-zone will appear on the map with its specific project name displayed in the center.
Troubleshooting
Sub geo-zone not appearing: Ensure the Display Status was set to "Active" during setup. Inactive projects hide their geo-zones from the map view.
Incorrect boundaries: If the sub geo-zone was drawn incorrectly or the physical job site has moved, right-click the zone on the Map page and select Delete Geozone, then redraw the area.
What are Sub Geo‑Zones Used For?
Sub geo‑zones give you fine‑grained visibility into what’s happening inside your main locations. Instead of only knowing that a truck was “at the plant,” you can see exactly where at the plant and how long it spent there.
Sub geo‑zones are used in several key areas:
Load Cycle Analysis (LCA)
Track the time an asset spends in each specific area within a plant or yard.
Show time at the main geozone (e.g., plant) and each sub geo‑zone (e.g., load rack, scales) on LCA graphs and timelines.
Help identify bottlenecks in the cycle, such as excessive time at a particular sub geo‑zone.
Reporting & Analytics
Sub geo‑zones are in several reports, including:
Equipment Wait Time by SUB GeoZone
Shows time spent and wait time at each configured sub geo‑zone.
Commonly used to analyze queues and bottlenecks inside plants or yards.
Some customers use auto‑reports that list each individual time a truck was in a sub geo‑zone (not just rolled‑up totals).
LCA CSV / Automated Reports
Sub geo‑zones can appear as separate columns, showing time spent in each sub geo‑zone for a load cycle.
System Controls & Thresholds
There are configuration settings that control how time in geo‑zones and sub geo‑zones is treated (for example, minimum time thresholds).
The “Time in Geo-zone/Sub Geo-zone” controls in MMS define valid ranges (e.g., 1–10 minutes).
These settings affect when time in a sub geo‑zone is counted in analytics and reports.
When Should I Create a Sub Geo‑Zone?
Create a sub geo‑zone when you need to:
See where time is being spent within a plant, pit, or yard (not just that the asset was on‑site).
Measure wait times at specific internal locations (e.g., “time at load rack” vs. “time at scales”).
Support detailed bottleneck analysis and operational improvements inside a facility.