Proximity Alert vs Geofence
Protect a point, or watch an area? A comparison of two location-monitoring features.
Animal Portal's Proximity Alert and Geofence look similar but play different, complementary roles. We break down the differences in mechanism, where detection happens, and use cases so you can choose the right fit.
Just register your home or fields, and get an email when an animal comes within 300m / 600m / 1,000m. No device setup — ready to use right away.
Draw a free-form area on the map; the GPS collar itself detects entries and exits — from home-range analysis to protected-area management.
What's the difference between Proximity Alert and Geofence?
Animal Portal offers two ways to be notified about animal movement. Both use where the animal is, but they start from different concepts and use different detection mechanisms.
Proximity Alert starts from a place you want to protect (a point) and evaluates approaches to it on the cloud side. Geofence starts from an area you want to monitor (a region) and has the GPS collar device itself detect entries and exits. The two don't compete — combined, they cover both crisis detection and behavioral analysis.
Proximity Alert × Geofence comparison
We've organized the differences across mechanism, shape, notification timing, and more.
| Aspect | Proximity Alert | Geofence |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Notify on approach to a protected point | Detect entry/exit of an arbitrary area |
| Where it's evaluated | Portal (cloud) side | GPS collar device itself |
| Shape | Circular, three concentric levels | Free-form polygon (up to 256 vertices) |
| Notification timing | Every 5 minutes at position check | The moment of entry or exit |
| Detectable direction | Approach only | Both entry and exit |
| Registration limit | Effectively unlimited points | Up to 96 areas per device |
| Primary use | Approach monitoring for points (home, fields) | Entry/exit monitoring for regions (settlements, farmland) |
* Proximity Alert is evaluated on the portal every 5 minutes; Geofence is evaluated on the device at each position fix. Distances and area counts are defaults and can be adjusted to your operation.
Proximity Alert
When a GPS collar approaches a point you've registered on the map (home, fields, farmland), this feature notifies you according to three distance levels. Starting from the place you want to monitor, it's the most intuitive approach-monitoring feature.
Evaluated on the cloud
The portal server calculates the distance to registered points. No setup is needed on the GPS collar, and it applies instantly to all existing individuals.
Three distance levels
Concentric circles at 300m / 600m / 1,000m show how close an animal is. Each distance can be adjusted per user.
Automatic check every 5 minutes
The latest position of every individual is retrieved every 5 minutes; you're notified the moment a threshold is crossed. A cooldown setting suppresses repeat notifications.
Manage multiple points together
Register as many places to protect as you need — home, fields, orchards, storage. Wide-area roles can target collars across an entire prefecture.
Three alert levels (defaults, customizable)
A distance requiring immediate action.
An approach is underway.
Presence confirmed in the vicinity.
Geofence
The GPS collar device itself detects, records, and notifies on entries into or exits from a free-form polygon area you draw on the map. Starting from the region you want to monitor, it's a specialist feature for home-range management and ecological surveys.
Geofence is a new feature planned for the new Animal Portal currently in development. Proximity Alert is already available in the current Animal Portal. Contact us for details on availability.
Evaluated on the GPS collar
Settings are sent to the device, which compares its position against areas at each fix. Even if server communication is briefly lost, boundary-crossing events are not missed.
Shapes that follow real terrain
Draw freely along field outlines, settlement boundaries, or rivers. Up to 96 areas and 256 total vertices per device.
Detects both entry and exit
Choose to be notified on entry, on exit, or both — useful for detecting escapes from protected areas, and more.
Grasp home range as a region
Continuously quantify territory size, seasonal change, and appearance frequency in settlements and farmland as a region.
Which should you use?
Choose based on your goal. In most field settings, using both together is the most effective.
When Proximity Alert fits
- You have a defined place to protect (home, farmland, tourist sites)
- You want to start right away with no device setup
- You want graduated alerts based on distance
- Used by a wide range of people — farmers, residents, municipal staff
When Geofence fits
- The area you want to monitor has a complex shape
- You want to capture home range or ecology as a region
- You also want to know about exits (e.g., escapes from a reserve)
- Used by researchers, expert operators, and GIS staff
Using both is best
The two features don't compete. Use Proximity Alert to instantly detect approaches that need immediate action, and Geofence to continuously record behavioral patterns. Together they cover both crisis detection and behavioral analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Proximity Alert and Geofence?+
When will Geofence be available?+
Can I change the notification distances for Proximity Alert?+
Will alerts still arrive if the GPS collar goes out of range?+
How many areas can I set on a single GPS collar?+
Does setup require any action on the device?+
Let's design the right location monitoring with you
Which fits your needs — Proximity Alert, Geofence, or both? We'll recommend an approach based on your field challenges. Feel free to reach out.