# Intent to Adopt Location Sharing for Logging Safety Applications
## 1 Introduction  
Location-sharing (LS) devices enable individuals to send geographic positioning information to others. Using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), devices can triangulate user locations anywhere on Earth, including in remote environments. Known coordinates can then be shared via cellular infrastructure, satellites, or radio frequency (RF) transmissions. Communication may be one-way or two-way. For example, SPOT receivers (SPOT LLC, Covington, LA, USA) and Garmin InReach devices (Garmin Ltd., Olathe, KS, USA) designed for emergency situations allow users to send text messages to members of a contact list, or to signal an alert with coordinate specifications to the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) [1, 2]. Alternatively, radio-based devices from manufacturers like Garmin, Raveon (Raveon Technologies Corp., San Diego, CA, USA), or TrellisWare (TrellisWare Technologies Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) enable local exchanges of user coordinates between two or more devices [3, 4, 5]. Smartphone-based RF receivers, such as Bearttooth (Bearttooth Radio Inc., Bozeman, MT, USA) and goTenna (goTenna, New York, NY, USA), also enable two-way LS using a Bluetooth-connected smartphone as the user interface for LS and communicationoutside of cellular networks [6; 7]. These devices use the GNSS chip in the smartphone to determine user locations, and then transmit that data to other phones through RF. LS range and features vary by device. Some units may incorporate help alerts, either to emergency response services (SPOT, Garmin inReach) or to other, local users (goTenna, Raveon Atlas PT). Automatic position updates (Raveon Atlas PT, TrellisWare Ghost, inReach, SPOT) share an individual's location at regular intervals, and devices with programmable virtual boundaries, known as geofences, can notify users when someone has moved into a pre-defined area. Many devices also have messaging and data capabilities, such as text, voice, images, or videos, depending on their bandwidth. The radius of communication depends on the signal type and receiver quality. Devices with satellite-based signal transmission (e.g., SPOT, Garmin inReach) can send positioning data anywhere on the globe covered by available satellite networks; whereas, RF-based communications are limited to local networks, with distances of 2-16 km (1-10 miles) typical for consumer devices [7; 8] and ranges greater than 32 km (20 miles) possible with professional-grade units [5]. Some LS devices (Beartooth, goTenna, TrellisWare Ghost) increase RF range with mesh networking, in which each unit can serve as an intermediate relay node, similar to a conventional radio repeater, for data delivery. With its off-the-grid capabilities, LS technology could be used on logging operations to improve workplace safety in remote areas [9]. Logging regularly ranks among the most dangerous professions in the United States, according to both the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities Surveillance System [10; 11]. According to the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries annual report, loggers faced the highest civilian fatality rate of any occupation in 2015, with 132.7 deaths per 100,000 full-time employees [12], a 20% increase from the previous year, when loggers also had the highest rate [13]. Many logging fatalities have occurred in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, which includes the states of Idaho (three deaths from 2011-2015), Oregon (33 deaths from 2011-2015), and Washington (20 deaths from 2011-2015) [14]. In 2014, one-third of US logger fatalities occurred in these three states [13; 14]. Incident details cataloguing the primary causes of injury have been reported by the BLS as well as studies analyzing Worker's Compensation claims [15; 16; 17; 18]. Loggers are often fatally injured when struck by other objects, primarily trees, logs, and limbs, followed by machinery [12; 15; 16].