LIVESENS vs Geotab: Real-Time Sensor Data for Smarter Cities

Cities across Canada are increasingly looking for real-time data to manage infrastructure, traffic, environmental conditions, and urban mobility. Two major players in this space are LIVESENS and Geotab. While both provide sensor-based data solutions, they approach the market with very different philosophies and strengths.

This post compares LIVESENS and Geotab across several key dimensions: sensor strategy, infrastructure focus, data types, and ideal use cases.

Quick Comparison: LIVESENS vs Geotab

Sensor Strategy: Outside-in vs Inside-out

LIVESENS uses external sensor kits mounted on the exterior of existing vehicles like buses, garbage trucks, or taxis. These kits include cameras, LIDAR, air quality sensors, and thermal imaging to gather urban data without accessing internal vehicle systems. It’s a plug-and-play model that cities can deploy instantly on fleets they already operate.

Geotab, in contrast, uses telematics devices that plug into a vehicle’s onboard diagnostics (OBD-II) port. This gives deep access to performance data, fuel usage, engine health, and location, making it ideal for fleet efficiency and logistics tracking.

Infrastructure Monitoring vs Fleet Optimization

LIVESENS is designed from the ground up for infrastructure stakeholders. It gives cities a real-time pulse on:

• Road surface degradation

• Pedestrian movement patterns

• Environmental hazards and air quality

• Safety and lighting zones

Geotab focuses on optimizing fleet operations. Its platform is rich in driver behavior analytics, routing data, and maintenance tracking. While it does include GPS data, it does not provide infrastructure condition insights such as surface cracks, potholes, or pedestrian heatmaps.

Use Case Spotlight

Final Take

LIVESENS is ideal for municipalities and urban planners that want real-time visibility into infrastructure health and public movement—without modifying vehicles or building out new sensor infrastructure.

Geotab excels as a fleet management and telematics platform, helping logistics-heavy organizations reduce costs, improve safety, and manage vehicle performance.

If your goal is to understand how your city is functioning on the ground—pavement to pedestrians—go with LIVESENS. If your focus is running a more efficient fleet, Geotab is a strong choice.

FAQ

Can I use LIVESENS and Geotab together?

Yes. Many organizations may benefit from both: LIVESENS for external infrastructure monitoring and Geotab for internal vehicle analytics.

Which company is based in Canada?

LIVESENS is a Canadian company focused on enabling smart cities and real-time urban data collection across the country.

What kind of hardware does each require?

LIVESENS installs external sensors on vehicles. Geotab requires an OBD-II port connection inside the vehicle.

Does LIVESENS require a city-wide rollout?

No. Even a small subset of fleet vehicles can generate wide coverage for infrastructure insights. The system scales flexibly.