GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)

APPLICATION

GPS is considered a dual-use technology, meaning it has significant military and civilian applications

Current Applications of GPS• Public Safety• Environmental

resource agents• Aviation• Military• Local planning• Surveying• Recreation• Business

Tracking Devices

One of the easiest applications to consider is the simple GPS tracking device

Using the ‘GOTO’ function, the GPS will guide you to a predefined Waypoint using a compass and “pointer”

You can program the GPS to “beep” when you are within a certain distance of the defined Waypoint

NavigationNavigation• Speed GPS’s calculate your ground speed as you walk, run,

drive or fly

• Elevation In addition to providing you with your latitude and

longitude, GPS provides you with altitude information.

GPS has become a widely deployed and useful tool for commerce, scientific uses, tracking, and surveillance.

GPS's accurate time facilitates everyday activities such as banking, mobile phone operations, and even the control of power grids by allowing well synchronized hand-off switching

GPS watches, for example, tend to use radio waves to transmit their location to a tracking center, while GPS phones use existing cell phone technology.

Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS)

IVHS will combine GPS technology with communications, controls, navigation and information systems to improve highway safety, ease trace congestion, and reduce harmful environmental effects.

Car Navigation Systems

A car navigation system uses a specialized computer that use the signals from GPS satellites to track the driver's progress on a digital map. It may provides services like the shortest route, etc.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

GPS technology is used extensively in geographic information systems. These systems combine cellular data networks for communication,

Aviation

GPS technology is being applied in aircraft safety systems, air traffic control system, and zero visibility landing.

GPS technology can be used to plot aircraft altitude to a pitch ofone-tenth of one degree. In future, it is expected to reduce the number of people required in the control tower and cockpit.

Emergency Systems

GPS technology is being used to develop emergency messaging products. With the aid of a wireless communication link, the emergency system communicates the GPS derived position information and the specifies the situation to the base station. GPS based car alarms with GPS to locate stolen cars are being considered by the automobile industry.

Atmospheric Sounding using GPS Signals

During Voyager missions, spacecraft trajectories were planned so that radio signals from the spacecraft would transect a planets atmosphere. Earth-based receivers were able to detect phase changes in the radio signals based on the refractivity of the atmosphere.

Information obtained in this fashion could include atmospheric refractivity, density, pressure temperature and humidity.

GPS Aides for the Blind

Real time GPS along with digitized maps and possibly audio capability can provide useful navigational capabilities to the blind.

Tracking of Wild Animals

Animals are equipped with GPS receivers and with wireless transmitters. The GPS determined position is transmitted to the control station. This information is used to track animals and for studying their nomadic patterns.

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