Global Positioning System An easy to use technology for everyone By Dr. Badruddin, CCC
Dec 30, 2015
What is GPS ?A very precise positioning system
• Developed and maintained by the US Department of Defense (DOD)
• Satellite Based* 24 satellites* 20,200 km high orbit
BUT!Although it is a very precise geographic positioning system
•It is very easy to get youself into trouble•Why?•Because you (probably) don’t understand how it works•And that leads to garbage
Characteristics of GPS• Free• Precise• Reliable
• Anytime & anywhere• All weather
• Unlimited user capacity
Accurate(precise)
Almost!
Segments of GPS
1. Space SegmentA constellation of 24 satellites
2. Monitor StationA network of earth-based facilities
3. Users & Equipment
Source:Trimble
How GPS Works ………
Uses measurements from 4+ satellitesDistance = travel time x speed of light
Source:Trimble
Determining GPS Position
• Suppose the distance from Satellite A to our position is 11,000 miles• At this point we could be located
anywhere on the specified sphere
Satellite A+
• Next, let us take another measurement from a second satellite, Satellite BSatellite B
+
• Now our position is narrowed down to the intersection of theses two sphere
Satellite C+
Determining GPS Position
Satellite A
Satellite B+
+• Taking another measurement from a 3rd satellite narrows our position down even further, to the two points
• So by ranging from 3 satellites we can narrow our position to just two points in space
• These points are located where the 3rd sphere cuts through the the intersection of first two spheres
Satellite C+
How do we decide which one is our true location?
Satellite A
Satellite B+
+
• We could make a 4th measurement from another satellite to determine the true point
• However, GPS receivers use a 4th satellite to precisely locate our position
• We can eliminate one of the two points that gives a ridiculous answer
• The ridiculous point may be too far from the earth
OR
How accurate is GPS?Depends on some variables
• Design of receiver
• Relative positions of satellites, technically known as PDOP (Position dilution of precision)
• Postprocessing
• Time spent on measurement
Methods of data collectionThree methods of positioning
• Autonomous10-20 meters
• Differential2-5 meters
• Phase Differentialcentimeter
2-5m10-20 mcm
How accurate is GPS?Depends on some variables
• Design of receiver
• Relative positions of satellites, often known as DOP (Dilution of
Precision)
• Postprocessing
• Time spent on measurement
WAAS• Wide Area Augmentation System. • It provides FREE GPS differential correction data for
visible satellites
• Developed & operated by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) for flight navigation but it’s available free to GPS users
• WAAS-enabled receivers can provide sub-meter level accuracy anywhere in most locations of the US and southern Canada.
WAAS• Differential corrections are computed from
ground stations and then uploaded to geostationary satellites for broadcasting
• WAAS-enabled GPS receiver automatically uses such correction data to enhance the
positional accuracy
SNR (signal-to-noise ratio)• SNR determines the signal strength
relative to noise
• GPS position is degraded if the SNR of one or more satellites in the
constellation falls below certain range
Signal StrengthIndicators
Using Garmin12
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