Nunavut government upgrading 500 SPOT devices

The Nunavut government is set to replace 500 SPOT devices over the next two years.

The territory distributes the GPS-tracking devices to hamlets or hunters and trappers organizations, which lend the SPOT devicesto people heading out on the land. With the device, which uses satellitetechnology,users can send a pre-programmed messageor activate an emergency response by pushing theS.O.S. button.

The new devices will have extra safety features, such as latches to prevent accidental activation, and will be more convenient for search and rescue parties, according to Ed Zebedee, the director of protection services for Community and Government Services.

"Now they'll be able to track for more than 24 hours, so you can set them up so that once they're activated, they'll send a signal every 15 to 60 minutes while that person is moving," he said.

"We'll know exactly where they are for 24 hours."

SPOT trackers can also be activated at the start of a trip, so people going out on the land or water can be tracked.

"Families are travelling between communities a lot in the spring," saidZebedee.

"It will allow family members to track the progress of those travelling, or the hunters when they're going out."

He saidit will give "a little added comfort."

Zebedee saidthe only drawback is that the old devices would work up to -40 C, whereas the new ones are only rated to -30 C.

Hesaidthere were 251 searches in Nunavut last year. At least 40 per cent of emergency searches were SPOT activation calls, and all of those people were rescued.

The new SPOT devices will be distributed to communities as the older ones need to be replaced. They will include activation instructions translated into Inuktitut.