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 wide array of products, services, and Internet-
based utilities.
This paper gives you deep information about
Global Positioning System (GPS) along with its GPS works accurately in all weather conditions,

advantages, disadvantages & applications. day or night, around the clock, and around the
globe. There is no subscription fee for use of GPS

  signals. GPS signals may be blocked by dense
forest, canyon walls, or skyscrapers, and they
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a
don¶t penetrate indoor spaces well, so some
technical marvel made possible by a group of
locations may not permit accurate GPS
satellites in earth orbit that transmit precise
navigation.GPS receivers are generally accurate
signals, allowing GPS receivers to calculate and
within 15 meters, and newer models that use Wide
display accurate location, speed, and time
Area Augmentation System (WAAS) signals are
information to the user.
accurate within three meters.

By capturing the signals from three or more

satellites (among a constellation of 31 satellites
available), GPS receivers are able to use the
mathematical principle of trilateration to pinpoint
your location.

With the addition of computing power, and data

stored in memory such as road maps, points of
interest, topographic information, and much more,
GPS receivers are able to convert location, speed,
and time information into a useful display format.

GPS was originally created by the United States

Department of Defense (DOD) as a military While the U.S. owned and operated GPS is

application. The system has been active since the currently the only active system, five other

early 1980s, but began to become useful to satellite-based global navigation systems are

civilians in the late 1990s. Consumer GPS has being developed by individual nations and by
since become a multi-billion dollar industry with a multi-nation consortiums.



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 Ê position and display it on the unit's electronic
map. The application of GPS includes its' usage
The primary application of the d
 

 d by computer-controlled harvesters, mine trucks

 is to enable forces to target locations for and other vehicles.
missile troops. The application of global
positioning system includes its' usage as a
 
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navigation aid in ships, aero planes and cars. The three segments of GPS are user, space and
control.
The global positioning system, which is a satellite
based navigation system, is made up of a network ’Ê The user Segment consists of processors,
of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S receivers and antennas that permit land,
department of defense. Global positioning system airborne and sea operators to receive the
is defined as the constellation of satellites, GPS satellite broadcasts and make a
navigation payloads that produce the GPS signals, precise calculation of their velocity,
data links, ground stations, associated command position and time.
and control facilities that are maintained by the ’Ê The space Segment includes 24
department of defense. operational satellites in six circular orbits,
which is 20, 200 km above the earth at an
Be it summer, winter or fall, the global
inclination angle of 55 degrees with a 12-
positioning system works in all conditions. Be it
hour period. These satellites perform the
day or night, GPS works for 24 hours. You do not
task of broadcasting position and time data
even have to pay subscription fees or set up
throughout the world.
charges to use the global positioning system. GPS
’Ê The Control Segment has a master control
satellites transmit signal information to the earth
station in Colorado Springs, with three
after circling the earth twice a day. GPS receivers
antennas and five monitor stations located
make use of triangulation to calculate the user's
throughout the world. The monitor stations
exact location. The global positioning system
keep track of all GPS satellites and collect
receivers compare the time a signal was
information from the satellite broadcasts.
transmitted by a satellite to the time it was
The monitor stations send the collected
received. The time difference enables the GPS
information to the master control station
receiver to calculate how far away the satellite is.
that computes precise satellite orbits.
The receiver could also determine the user's



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Îote that all global positioning system satellites
transmit accurate positions and time signals.
Simultaneous measurements from the four
satellites are processed to solve for the three
dimensions of velocity, time and position.


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  or a GPS unit is an electronic

device using which one can determine his
approximate location. A GPS receiver uses
triangulation of the GPS satellites' navigational
signals to determine their current location. The
coordinates for the GPS devices are normally GPS receivers can be classified on the basis of:

given in terms of the latitude and longitude. The

satellites provide two different signals, the A Architecture

position and the time signal, that provide different - Sequential receivers

accuracies. Coarse acquisition (C/A) code is for - Continuous receivers

civilian use and is deliberately degraded. The - Multiplex receivers

positional accuracy would be about 100 meters.

The military uses Precision (P) code and is not A Method of operation

corrupted. The positional accuracy would be - Code correlation

approximately within 20 meters. The GPS device - Carrier phase

can be used to navigate from the current location

to another location. The unit may have other add- A Application

ons, depending on its complexity. These include - General purpose handheld

maps, built-in electronic compasses, voice - Attitude determination

navigation units, etc. - Aviation

- Automobile navigation, IVHS and Fleet



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location The precise point-to-point navigation of a GPS
- Mapping and data collection system helps save fuel and extends the aircraft's
- Marine range by ensuring pilots stay on the most direct
- Original Equipment Manufacturer routes to the destination. In space navigation, a
- Space GPS receiver is used to determine the position and
- Surveying velocity of a satellite, to accurately determine the
- Timing time of observations from other tracking or
scientific instruments and many more.

  
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 is one of the everyday
Imagine never being lost or needing to ask for
applications of Global Positioning System. One of
directions as you drive. Imagine going out for a
the original design goals of GPS navigation was
run or bike ride and capturing all of your speed,
to provide navigation information for planes and
distance, elevation change and heart rate data and
ships. GPS is only an aid to navigation and
uploading it to a training log or an online map you
navigators must also know and use the traditional
can share. Imagine going hiking and always
piloting and navigational techniques. GPS
knowing the way back to camp. Imagine playing
provides precise navigation tools and accurate
golf and always knowing the exact distance to the
landing systems, thus making flying safer and
pin. These scenarios and many more are reality
more efficient.
with the use of Global Positioning System (GPS)
receivers.



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 locations -- for a favorite fishing spot, safe
passage across a stream, a campsite; anything of
importance to the user. Handhelds can enhance
outdoor safety, as well, making getting lost much
less likely, and providing precise position
information that can be relayed to rescuers in case
of an emergency.

Sales of aftermarket in-car GPS devices have

more than doubled over the past two years, and
automotive is the fastest-growing segment of the  
 
GPS market. Why? Better and brighter color
screens, improved accuracy and usability of maps
and directions, added features such as traffic
alerts, the ability to wirelessly link a mobile phone
to an in-car unit to get hands-free mobile speaker-
phone use; all of these reasons and more.
Some manufacturers offer GPS products
    specifically for cycling or running. In cycling, for
example, a GPS unit can replace a conventional
cycle computer, and add another layer of features,
such as route mapping, and trip, heart rate, and
cadence data that is uploadable to a computerized
training log or to a Web site. Specialized golf
GPS receivers provide precise yardage and other
useful information and can be preloaded with your
favorite courses.
Handheld GPS units have dramatically changed
outdoors travel, replacing map and compass with
moving digital maps, and precise location,
elevation, topographic and other data. These
handhelds let you enter "waypoints" -- precise



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route page, position data page, "direct-to"
navigation, airport information, and more.

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GPS has been a boon to recreational and The d 

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commercial boaters. Moving-map displays and
navigation overlays are incredibly convenient,
easy to use, and dramatically enhance all-weather,
all-light-condition safety. The ability to provide
precise position information in case of an
emergency is another key safety feature. Built-to-
purpose, portable chartplotters often come loaded
with detailed coastal maps, and many additional
maps for the earth's oceans and lakes are
available.
 

Portable aviation units offer intuitive, moving-
map views with navigation overlays, providing a
great supplement to a plane's instrumentation.

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is an air navigation aid developed by the Federal
Aviation Administration to augment the Global
Positioning System (GPS), with the goal of
improving its accuracy, integrity, and availability.
Essentially, WAAS is intended to enable aircraft
to rely on GPS for all phases of flight, including
precision approaches to any airport within its
coverage area.
WAAS uses a network of ground-based reference
stations, in Îorth America and Hawaii, to
measure small variations in the GPS satellites'
signals in the western hemisphere. Measurements
from the reference stations are routed to master
stations, which queue the received Deviation
Correction (DC) and send the correction messages
to geostationary WAAS satellites in a timely
manner (every 5 seconds or better). Those
satellites broadcast the correction messages back
to Earth, where WAAS-enabled GPS receivers
use the corrections while computing their
positions to improve accuracy.
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1. A gps system comes with a ³panic´ button.
When this button is pressed an operator at the gps
carrier can listen in on the conversation and either
help you out or alert the authorities. This will

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keep you safe in case of accidents or hi jacks.
The International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) calls this type of system a Satellite Based 2. Your car will never loose your car at a football
Augmentation System (SBAS). Europe and Asia match or mall. The gps service will track the car
are developing their own SBASs, the Indian GPS for you and send its lights flashing.
Aided Geo Augmented Îavigation (GAGAÎ), the
European Geostationary Îavigation Overlay 3. If your vehicle is ever stolen the gps system
Service (EGÎOS) and the Japanese Multi- will track the vehicle and the authorities will be
functional Satellite Augmentation System able to get it back in no time.
(MSAS), respectively. Commercial systems
include StarFire and OmniSTAR. 4. A gps system in a car, boat, plane or haversack
will ensure that you are never lost.
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 5. A gps system streamlines supply chains and
truck movements. The system can track goods at
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 any point of time and accurately predict when
goods will reach their destination.
Global positioning systems are widely in use
today for navigation, map making, land surveying 6. Gps systems are used to detect structural
fishing, treks, and many scientific applications. problems in buildings and roads and to predict
GPS receivers can be incorporated into cars, disasters like earthquakes and so on. The
boats, computers, mobile phones watches and scientific applications of a gps system are many.
more.

7. A gps system can be used to locate a lost child,

There are many advantages of having a gps pet or family. The device is quite small and is like
system: a watch or button on a collar.



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8. A gps is a great exercise monitor and will help
you keep track of your spped and so on.
A word of caution before signing up for a gps
system find out what you are paying for and what
the monthly fee will
Gps systems have so many uses; they help
determine weather patterns, can be used in
conjunction with cameras, have varied use in
military and have great use in surveying for
volcanic eruptions, sink holes, movements in the
earth¶s plates and so
With the speed by which technology evolves, it is
not a surprise that the world has become 'smaller',
in the sense that communicating with another
person from the other side of the world has
become instantaneous. Îowadays,
everything is possible with the latest that
technology has to offer, which brings numerous
advantages to users around the world. One of the
products of the continuous and advancing
developments in technology is the GPS or Global
Positioning System. GPS is global satellite
navigational system which enables a GPS receiver
to determine its specific location, direction and
speed by measuring the distance between the
receiver and three or more (out of the 24) medium
Earth satellites. The GPS technology is currently
being used for a multitude of

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applications. Aside from its important application
in the military, there is a wide array of civilian
applications for the GPS technology, and
numerous advantages to worldwide users. A GPS
tracking device can be incorporated in mobile
cover. phones, vehicles, even a person - or any type of
object - that you would like to locate. GPPS
tracking devices are a definite must for people
who are always on the go and those who are fond
of updating themselves with the latest
technological gizmos.
You can appreciate the value of the GPS
on.
technology by taking a look at the numerous
advantages of a GPS tracking device. One of the
most popular advantages of a GPS tracking device
is when it is used as a vehicle navigator. If you are
new to a place, you do not have to worry about
getting lost and asking for directions if your car
almost
has a GPS tracking device. Here, you will be able
to determine the exact location, calculate the
distance and verify the direction that you need to
take in order to arrive at a particular place. The
same goes for boats which have a GPS tracking
device, to make it easier to find your direction as
you sail.
Another popular advantage of a GPS tracking
device is when it is embedded as a feature of your
mobile phones, palmtops or personal digital
assistants. You can use this feature for direction-
military
finding purposes, distance calculation and a lot
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more. Additionally, GPS tracking devices are  

used by sports enthusiasts to calculate the range
GPS devices are limited by having clear access to the
that they traveled as they work out. Lastly, and
satellites that provide the tracking. In locations with
this is probably one of the most important uses of
tall buildings or sparse coverage, reception can be
a GPS tracking device - is just what the name
poor.
implies - 'to track' or determine the location of
something. Whether it is a stolen vehicle, a lost ! 

pet, monitoring the location of wild or endangered
species, or for surveillance purposes - a GPS Turn-by-turn directions are not available on every type

tracking device definitely provides a multitude of of GPS device. Some will give very little advanced
notice before an upcoming turn.
applications, benefits and uses to suit most of your
individual needs.
 





 Maps on GPS devices are not updated in real time for
all models. This means that it is possible a GPS device
Îo longer do you need to carry a map around with
will direct you onto a road that is closed or no longer
you when exploring a town by car or hiking in an exists. It could also miss new roads and businesses.
area that you are unfamiliar with. Instead, there
are Global Positional Systems, known as GPS, "
#
that can help you find your location and the area
GPS units that are not plugged into a power source,
you are attempting to travel to. These GPS
and rely on batteries, which can drain quickly. This
devices can be mounted in cars, boats or can even
can increase the cost of owning a GPS unit
be handheld devices. Before you rush out and get
significantly.
a GPS device, however, here are some of the
disadvantages to consider. 
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GPS has a wide range of applications. All of them
fall under five basic categories:
Purchasing a GPS based on price can be a major
disadvantage. If you purchase a "bargain GPS," you
’Ê Location
will get what you pay for, and features such as traffic
’Ê Îavigation
and up-to-date maps could be lacking.
’Ê Tracking



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’Ê Mapping †   
’Ê Timing
’Ê While the U.S. owned and operated GPS is
Combining c
with current and future computer currently the only active system, five other
mapping techniques would enable us to identify satellite-based global navigation systems
and manage our natural resources. Smart vehicle are being developed by individual nations
location and GPS navigation systems are GPS and by multi-nation consortiums.
systems that would help us find efficient routes to
our destinations, save a substantial amount of ’Ê Additional civil frequencies and civil

money and reduce air pollution to a large extent. codes will be developed to meet the

Businesses would be able to manage their requirements of civilian users.

resources more efficiently, thus reducing

’Ê There are OÎLY two 'public' Global
consumer costs. Traveling aboard ships and
Positioning Systems (GPS systems) at this
aircrafts will be safer in all weather conditions.
moment:

There are two 'public' Global Positioning Systems

’Ê ÎAVSTAR
(GPS systems):
’Ê GLOÎASS
’Ê ÎAVSTAR
’Ê GLOÎASS According to Technologists, There will be more
Public GPS Systems developed in no time.
The ÎAVSTAR is a GPS device owned by the
United States, it managed by the ÎAVSTAR GPS
Joint Program Office located at Los Angeles Air
Force Base. The civilian point of contact for the
ÎAVSTAR system is the United States Coast
Guard's Îavigation Center (ÎAVCEÎ). The
GLOÎASS system is owned by the Russian
Federation. The point of contact for GLOÎASS
information is the Russian Space Forces'
Coordinational Scientific Information Center
(CSIC).



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 device was
developed by the US Department of
Defense to provide all-weather, round-the-
clock, navigation capabilities for military
ground, sea, and air forces.

’Ê GPS receivers are generally accurate

within 15 meters, and newer models that
use WAAS signals are accurate within
three meters.

’Ê It has a wide variety of applications like

Defense Systems, Emergency Services,
Weather forecasting etc.

’Ê In case of GPS handheld device, reception

gets poor in case of an area where large
buildings & also it requires a large battery
backup.



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