Why does the iTAG X-Range use varied tracking tag types instead of one universal device?

Because industrial sites have very different:

• Safety risks
• Layouts
• Infrastructure constraints.

One tag cannot efficiently cover them all.

A Practical RTLS Design Approach for Hazardous and Industrial Areas

Designing an effective Real-Time Location System (RTLS) for hazardous and industrial environments is not a single “best” technology. It is about finding the right balance between functionality, connectivity, and infrastructure demands for each use case. The monitoring of personnel movements and safety is then kept consistent within a user-friendly platform, ensuring reliable location information across the site.

Our iTAG X-Range portfolio is intentionally designed as a progressive hybrid technology range for RTLS deployments in hazardous areas. It is built around different site conditions and use cases.

It allows sites to choose:

1. The appropriate level of personnel visibility
2. The right worker safety capabilities
3. Coverage suited to the environment whether:
   • Indoors
   • Outdoors
   • Underground

See how the Extronics Location Engine (ELE) functions as the central RTLS software layer, unifying hybrid RTLS data for consistent visibility.

iTAG X10 – Clear Location Visibility for Hazardous Areas

The iTAG X10 is designed to provide dependable, real-time visibility of personnel location using Wi-Fi (local wireless network connectivity) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). Its value lies in its simplicity. It provides location data alongside a straightforward deployment.

For many customers, this level of visibility is exactly what is needed to support:

• Safety procedures
• Operational awareness
• Early-stage digitalization initiatives.

The iTAG X10 enables sites to understand movement and presence without adding complexity or infrastructure beyond what is already required.

Learn more about the iTAG X10

iTAG X20 – Adding Proactive Safety Where Risk Increases in Hazardous Environments

The iTAG X20 builds on location visibility by adding automatic fall detection and man-down alerting. This makes it a widely adopted choice for sites with higher safety requirements.

These capabilities make the iTAG X20 well suited to mustering (accounting for all personnel at designated safety locations) and electronic POB (Personnel on Board) applications. In these situations it’s important to know not just where people are but whether they are safe or in a potential man-down situation. A man-down situation occurs when a worker falls or becomes immobile for a defined period. The iTAG X20 responds by automatically raising an alert without requiring manual intervention.

Automatic alerts help improve site safety by:

1. Reducing reliance on manual intervention during incidents
2. Helping ensure potential issues are identified quickly
3. Supporting faster and more effective response when it matters.

For many sites the iTAG X20 is chosen as a practical worker safety tag. It brings together reliable location visibility and automatic safety alerts. This solution is easy to deploy and operate within the existing RTLS platform.

Learn more about the iTAG X20

iTAG X30 – Supporting Mixed Indoor and Outdoor Operations

The iTAG X30 builds on the worker safety and location capabilities of the iTAG X20. It is designed for sites that operate across both indoor and outdoor environments. In addition to Wi-Fi and BLE it incorporates a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). Allowing for accurate positioning in open areas where indoor location technologies are less effective.

This hybrid approach enables consistent tracking as personnel move between:

• Buildings
• Process areas
• External zones

GNSS coverage outdoors reduces reliance on dense Wi-Fi infrastructure. This keeps deployment and operation consistent.

Learn more about the iTAG X30

iTAG X40 – Efficient Wide-Area Coverage with LoRaWAN for Large Hazardous Sites

Engineered for wide area coverage, the iTAG X40 builds on GNSS capabilities to support sites with large operational footprints. It also uses LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) connectivity to extend its communication range. This allows location and safety data to be communicated far beyond the practical limits of Wi-Fi– or BLE–based solutions. The wider design approach is explored in more detail in the design philosophy behind the iTAG X40 LoRaWAN Tag.

Location and safety data are transmitted from the tag to a nearby LoRaWAN gateway (long-range wireless receivers). Fewer gateways are needed because LoRaWAN is designed to carry small packets of data over long distances. That data can then be delivered over a 5G cellular connection directly to the Extronics Location Engine. This LoRa-to-5G approach removes the need for local network infrastructure and provides several practical benefits:

• Faster installation and commissioning
• Reduced overall infrastructure complexity and cost.

Such advantages make the iTAG X40 a good fit for large or geographically dispersed sites. It provides the same worker safety and hybrid location capabilities as the previous models. RTLS coverage can therefore be extended across the site in a more efficient way.

Learn more about the iTAG X40

iTAG XM – Extending RTLS to Smartphones

In some environments worker safety is best supported through a flexible mix of devices rather than dedicated tags alone. Our iTAG XM is designed for these situations. It provides a software-based alternative to a tag that extends RTLS functionality to Android smartphones already in use on site.

Running as a “soft tag”, the iTAG XM uses the phone’s available connectivity; Wi-Fi and BLE are used for indoor positioning with GNSS and cellular where required. Location and safety events are fed into the same RTLS platform as the iTAG X-Range hardware range.

This approach is particularly well suited to the following applications, where flexibility and speed of rollout are important:

• Contractor-heavy environments
• Temporary work
• Phased deployment

Within contractor-heavy environments, the tracking system can be extended quickly without issuing dedicated hardware to every individual. Moreover, because iTAG XM leverages the smartphone’s available connectivity, it allows customers to adapt to varying site connectivity while keeping data workflows and visibility consistent.

Looking ahead, automatic man-down detection is planned as a future update. This will further extend the safety capabilities of iTAG XM whilst keeping the same deployment model.

Learn more about the iTAG XM

A Flexible RTLS Strategy Built Around Real Sites

Every site is different. A successful RTLS solution works best when it is designed around real operating conditions. Personnel visibility may be a priority. Worker safety may be the focus. Wide area tracking may also be required. If guidance is needed on which of our products would be practical for a specific environment, we are happy to talk it through.

Our team can help assess site layout connectivity options and use cases. This helps identify which RTLS technologies and iTAG solutions are best for either now or the future. Support is available at an early planning stage or when building on an existing deployment. Practical guidance is provided based on real-world installations. Contact us to find out more.

About the Author

JP

Julian Poyner

Head of Engineering

From a highly technical background, Julian delivers strategic leadership to our Engineering and R&D departments. With a significant patent portfolio, Julian brings a pedigree of innovation to the development of our market leading products.

Last updated on February 17, 2026

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