GPS is an acronym for Global Positioning Satellite. GPS is a radio navigation system based in space. This system is designed to provide world wide position, velocity, and time data in all weather conditions twenty four hrs a day. It originally was deployed for military use. President Ronald Reagan declared the system useful to all citizens and made the data available to anyone with the equipment to utilize it. Since that declaration new uses for GPS have steadily grown.
The GPS system consists of at least twenty four satellites in orbit around the earth at an altitude of twelve thousand miles above the earth and inclined at a 55 degree angle transmitting their position, timing signal and other information continuously. By receiving signals from four satellites a GPS receiver can calculate the receiver’s position, speed and time of day. It can do this for any location on earth. Data received by civilian receivers will give your location with an accuracy of three feet. Military receivers are more precise and the reason for this is obvious.
GPS provides a (SPS) Standard Positioning Service to the general civilian use throughout the world. The military and government agencies have access to the (PPS) Precise Positioning Service that offers more precise computations and jamming services that are not available to the public. This data is more precise and is needed for the military and other government operations such as the space program for example. Most sensitive government areas and all military locations are jammed to civilian users for apparent reasons.
The GPS satellite system is currently undergoing upgrades. More and more GPS needs require more precise data and the upgrades will meet many of those needs. The USA has been the innovator in GPS technology. Other nations such as China and Russia are currently working on launching their own GPS systems. Each country has a specific reason for needing their system they can control.
Many industries have been transformed using GPS. All transportation systems now use GPS technology to more efficiently route freight and to keep up with each transport containers location at all times. All civilian air traffic is made more efficient and safer using GPS. All sea transportation and most of the cargo containers on each ship use GPS technology for more efficient routing. Surveying has been transformed and made more efficient, accurate and economical with GPS technology. Train traffic can be safely controlled while increasing the number of trains using the same tracks using GPS. Wildlife conservation has been enhanced using GPS tracking devices. This list is by no means complete. It gives just a few examples.
|
