2. 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
3. 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
4. Characteristics of GPS
• Free
• Precise
• Reliable
• Anytime & anywhere
• All weather
• Unlimited user capacity
Almost!
5. Segments of GPS
1. Space Segment
A constellation of 24 satellites
2. Monitor Station
A network of earth-based facilities
3. Users & Equipment
Source:Trimble
8. How GPS Works ………
Uses measurements from 4+ satellites
Distance = travel time x speed of light
Source:Trimble
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
13. 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
16. Methods of data collection
Three methods of positioning
• Autonomous
10-20 meters
• Differential
2-5 meters
• Phase Differential
centimeter
2-5m10-20 m
cm
17. 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
18. 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.
19. 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
21. Multipath
• When GPS signals arrive at the receiver
having traveled different paths
22. What is a PDOP?
• Position Dilution of Precision
Good PDOP Poor PDOP
23. 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 Strength
Indicators
32. Future GPS
A. GPS in USA
B. GLONASS program from Russia
C. GALILEO from European countries
Editor's Notes
At the cost of 15 billion dollar of your tax money
At the cost of 15 billion dollar of your tax money
Speed of the light: 186,000 mile/sec
300,000 km/sec
3x10^8 meter/sec
SNR is also known as signal strength
When SA was on, the position could be anywhere on 1st, 2nd, Alpine, or Spruce street. With SA removed, the position is located with in the road width of +/- 15 feet. (road = 35’, the circle is of 20’ radius). Before the location was within 100 meters, that is the point is about a football field away. Now it’s within the 10 meters. Removal of SA made GPS more useful and handy for our day to day use in cell phone, car, watch etc.
Farm equipment capable of producing yield map during harvesting shows how crop yield varies across the field. Allowing farmers to plan fertilizer application for future crops.