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Application of Global Positioning System (GPS) in Earth Sciences teaching

Article · January 2007

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Proceedings of the 6th WSEAS International Conference on Applied Computer Science, Hangzhou, China, April 15-17, 2007 267

Application of Global Positioning System (GPS) in Earth Sciences

1 2
teaching 4 5
Rong-Jyue Fang , Ken-I Su , Hsin-Chang Lu3, Cheng-Chung Wang , Chin-Chih Lin
1
Senior Professor, Department of Information Management, Southern Taiwan University of Technology,
Taiwan
2,3,4,5
Graduate student, Department of Industrial Technology Education, National Kaohsiung Normal
University, Taiwan
7F., No.8, Lane 288, Sinkang St., Fongshan City, Kaohsiung County 830, Taiwan
*[email protected]

Abstract: The purpose of this article is use GPS(Global Positioning System) equipment to applying in GIS
teaching. To find the best way on using GPS. GPS device combine the software Google Earth , it will provide
the whole world map for us. People can use GPS relation device for science explorer, recording objection on
earth move track. The Global position system applying on everywhere become more and more popular.
The price of GPS relation equipment. Using GPS equipment was impossible on the early time, but now it
became a convenient equipment that every can use it in every field. It became more che aper and useful.
Teachers can use GPS equipment on their teaching activity, and make study with it. There are 4 paragraph in
this article: preface, the theory of GPS, GPS apply, the future of GPS, and conc lusion.
Keyword: global positioning system, GPS, google earth

1 Introduction the position information of satellites for 24 hours.

GPS(Global Positioning System) equipments have The second part is to control some on the gr ound:
been used more and more general in the society Because need of satellite manage and control, set
now. In the past, it was a kind of expensive up ground is it is it is it responsible for whole
equipment, Just few people used it, like operation of system to come to stand to control
professional researcher, or person of special job . with place in the whole world. The third part is
Now, the GPS equipments price is become more some of users: The user needs a special GPS
cheaper. The application in life is more and more receiver to receive several satellite signals,
general. It’s a kind of new scientific and calculate out position information through the
technological equipment, can help people solve microcomputer, because the signal passes the
problems and make life to be convenient . This satellite transmission, so has no limited about the
text apply on GPS to geo -science make restrictions of the area, topography and number of
application. To explorer the function of GPS people.
equipments and apply in the other field.
2.2 How does GPS work?
2 GPS There are 24 satellites in GPS system are
distributed six tracks equally . By moving round
2.1 about GPS the speeds of two circles of the earth each day .
GPS (Global Positioning System) Started in it in
So, any place, any time on the earth, all have 4
the global space navigation system coming out in
satellites exist, holds the work that the signal
development of American Ministry of National
launches at least in the sky of its site. Each
Defence of 1980s , as military use originally, satellite, through accurate instrument and ground
navigate like fighter plane, application, guided control the revision standing have a very perfect
missile of remote contro l, etc.,: transfer to the time-recorder, each satellite sends out the signal at
commercial use of all kinds gradually in recent the same moment, but because the user is different
years. No matter the user can measure the from distance between each satellite, it is different
position longitude and latitude and height where too that the signal of each satellite produces the
one stays accurately through GPS in the land, sea degree postponed. And the user searches these
or sky. It must include three major parts to fi nish signals through the receiver, utilize postponement
the satellite fix of GPS, the first is a space part: degree of different signals to try to get the
Made a detour on the earth by 24 satellites, serve distance between each satellite of distance, and
as the role who conveys the signal, is conveying
Proceedings of the 6th WSEAS International Conference on Applied Computer Science, Hangzhou, China, April 15-17, 2007 268

then with the triangulation theory, calculate out extent too to the accomplishment of geo -science;
the user's position coordinate. Because GPS The man, women still call unanimity on the view
satellite launches these and orients information to geo-science knowledge; Teach in junior middle
constantly, so long as the receiver can be received school or high school, roughly the same on some
continuously, can calculate, upgrade materials of views of the accomplishment knowledge of
it at any time, can offer the latest information to geo-science; Teach age and service seniority to be
users one every other second, because of so quick different, in geo-science part, accomplishment of
newer speed, we can calculate orienting knowledge, difference, teach teacher view of one
information, to get the user's other space year such as age and service seniority and teach
movement information, for instance mov e the the age and service seniority while being other
speed, move the direction. especially (4-10 years; 11-20; More than 21 years)
Teacher obviously different. It is obvious in lack
3 Teaching in geo-science subject the scientific instrument and limited local
According to Ministry of Education in Taiwan experience of life cases, the understanding of
studying the goal and defining to geo -science of geo-science will be different to the others.[1]
course standard of basic geo -science of Taiwan
high school issued for enforcement is as follows: 4 Application
3.1 Total goal 4.1 General use of GPS:
1. Excite will and consciousness of treasuring Use of GPS very extensive, every need to do the
the earth environment concernedly to study work oriented in region, make use of GPS to reach,
geosciences. main application is like:
2. Realize the relevant geology of geo -science, 1. The land is surveyed, resources are
important basic conception of ocean, investigated. The forest district, hillside
meteorological phenomena, astronomy, in violate legal provisions and develop and
order to is it probe into the excitement of check the work of the newspaper. Can use
discipline and learn foundation to promote. GPS can is it a bit, inquire to suspicious
3. Understand geo-science about observing, variation person who transfer and read book
analysis, inference, summing up and dealing picture, etc. relevant materials in order to
with the method to judge problem, in order study and judge directly to navigate
to promote the ability that students solve the smoothly.
problem. 2. The navigation makes a reservation: The
vehicle, aviation, the navigation . Plane,
3.2 Sub goal ship use satellite navigation systems to be
1. Promote interest and will to study already competent for many years; But
geo-science, train and care about, treasure general in automobile, automobile satellite
the correct attitude of the earth environment. navigation systems, In the advanced country,
2. Understand about such basic conception as for instance: U.S.A., Japan have already
the earth shape, making up, constructing, quite prevailed, in Taiwan has prevailed
activity, history and position in the univ erse, gradually too.
etc.. 3. Earth measurement. Traditional
3. Train and study and live it with basic measurement is a very arduous thing, when
conception of geo-science and the method the land mark is not obvious, it becomes
and ability to solve problem. very difficult that measurement works. Use
the GPS's positioning to become easy,
Use GPS equipment to learn to know the relevant needn't rely on control point on the ground,
topics on the earth, contribute to understanding so long as can use GPS as the tool measured
Taiwan, finding out about the releva nt knowledge in case of not covering, have improved the
of every geography of every world continent inconvenience of traditional measurement.
further. Research points out Taiwan teaches the Measurement work of the accuracy with the
north, middle part, southern teacher some views of higher demand.
accomplishment knowledge have nothing in 4. Making of the electronic map and making of
common with each other to geo -science, it is the rough topographic map. Finish making
obvious the teacher is limited to living electronic map fast and conveniently through
environment is different and different to some GPS.
Proceedings of the 6th WSEAS International Conference on Applied Computer Science, Hangzhou, China, April 15-17, 2007 269

5. Sending task: Freight transportation, give GATES SMART2GO Mobile Navigator provides
first aid, fire control, alert policy . reviews from W Cities on venues like hotels
Cooperate with radio transmit GPS, is it -------------------------------------------------------------
accuse of every vehicle position to in charge
of, is it send in the center to pass the
coordinate back.
6. Mountaineering makes a reservation, the
difficult association of mountain seeks .
Use the GPS's positioning in the open place,
cooperate with the position at present of MAPQUEST FIND ME, installed here on
understanding that the topographic map can Motorola's i830, delivers maps, listings, and a
be very accurate, but will not be lost because way for people to find your location
of judging the mistake artificially. We can -------------------------------------------------------------
cooperate with GPS the radio is transmitted,
will climb the mountain in personnel's They have different innovative function each, first
position and convey to the difficult navigate the PDA cell-phone standard automobile,
association of mountain and seek the centre, the necessary equipment has been set up, it is
in order to help rescuing the difficult search. more convenient to use; The second is a
7. Accurate timing. GPS can convey each navigation system of automobiles too, but need
GPS satellite have accurate atom time of more complicated establishment, includes the
clock too, so can recei ve the accurate time outer blue bud GPS to set up, the map software
message through GPS receiver. was installed and installed the memory card
8. Military affairs. The development of GPS, additional; The third can be conveyed one's own
it is a military use to be early, so and attack coordinate for other cell-phones.
the accurate localization of the target thing to 4.3.2 Gps can monitor personnel's whereabouts
fighter plane, warship, combat tank, guided out in the office at the home, offer and drive a
missile, relevant military personnel, rely on vehicle to the system of the best route, the main
GPS to finish. system is divided into three parts: server system,
mobile system and monitor sys tem. This system
4.3 Relevant research about GPS can be calculated and reached the best route of the
4.3.1 Once use GPS as a kind of tool on destination. In order to shorten the time of
teaching with Junior high school and senior high driving a vehicle, and match GPS receiver [4].
school student. To apply to, probe into and make 4.3.3 In traditional measurement teaching,
up the increasing to four geographical info rmation because the weather is not good, such factors as
systems into a result of intension, find or outdoor the instrument is limited of regular meeting, it is
GPS equipment is an educational aid that has low to result in asking the scholar's study interest,
helping hand very much no matter indoors. [2] the results of learning is not good. Use the
Assess three kinds of GPS cell -phones to the computer multimedia to combine, have high
method of innovation that the navigation featur e independence, inter-dynamic, feedback with it
offer, the following detailed. Comparison of Wait for the characteristic, to assist tradition type
different PDA cell-phones[3] teaching, can excite the study interest of asking
------------------------------------------------------------- the scholar even more, improve teaching quality
[5].
4.3.4 In recent years with electronic fast
development of industry, communication and
orient relevant ripe day b y day even technology,
and in the acquisition cost of relevant equipment
TELENAV is the first GPS navigational service is dropping year by year, use GPS to be applied to
on the BlackBerry platform people's car resource management, can reduce the
------------------------------------------------------ ------- expenditure of much cost, can improve the
efficiency of management at the same time [6]
4.3.5 GPS is monitored and monitored in the
geological calamity speciality in reservoir area of
Three Gorges of the continent to have an effect
Proceedings of the 6th WSEAS International Conference on Applied Computer Science, Hangzhou, China, April 15-17, 2007 270

too, design and structure tertiary GPS monitoring Build-in GPS Symbin system
net of reservoir area of Three Gorges, has
responded to the request that the country monitors 5.3 Application example with Google
prewarning to the body of geological calamity of
reservoir area [7] Combine the characteristic Earth
that GPS measures, the comparatively detailed Through Google Earth software, combine GPS
discussion GPS static behavior makes a hardware and relevant software, can apply to the
reservation relatively and RTK (make a understanding of geo -science, the common
reservation real-timely dynamically) Application application way, in compliance :
of technology in the measurement of the 1. A single geographical position is had a look
expressway, and prove through the instance it is around: Own environment, Geography of
totally feasible that GPS is used in the Taiwan, World-famous environment
measurement of the expressway, it can improve 2. Measurement of distance between 2
the working efficiency measur ed and save the point-to-point straight lines: Long
expenses to a great extent [8] measurement by the large-scale building,
4.3.6 GPS is applied to the air pollution of Range of district of school measurement ,
controlling the city too, uses the low -priced global Distance measurement between two beauty
positioning system (GPS) The recipient follows spots, Transnational rooms of two city from
the sensor and in a good geographical position, measurement
can be engaged in making a reservation and 3. Measurement of distance between
chasing in very perfect air pollution? [9] point-to-point routes: Beauty spot reach
4.3.7 Use guests to make the software of beauty spot from route to measurement ,
melting and combine GPS receiver and a Route distance measurement of the city that
hand-held computer equipment, the family that the the city reach
persons who are used for helping the pulmonary 4. travel earth seat marks recording: Book the
tuberculosis to accuse of controlling found the land mark by oneself
patient fast, carry on essential treatment. 5. 3D Buildings: Taipei 101 building, Shanghai
Studying in Johannesburg, South Africa goes on Oriental Pearl tower, Tian-An-men of
in two communities. In the course of this Beijing, Statue of Liberty of New York .
research it show use by pieces of PDA that is
simple and orient satellite not g lobal there aren't 6 Conclusion
system equipment [10] It has been already very extensive that GPS is
used at present, its discipline related to space, area,
5 Combining GPS with Google Earth for instance geography, natural resources, forest,
animals and plants, etc. have already used the
5.1Google Earth global positioning system too on research (GPS) It
Google Earth is one software running on personal is engaged in the investigation and collection of
computer that we can see all over the world from the materials to come. It is believed that the GPS
it with satellite photo, we can download to free will come application will be more extensive, not
Google earth software in the network, it has a only in scientific research and project will be used,
clear image and can be watched to every large city, various types of activities of even daily life, the
every big civilization historic site on the earth . deep one is influenced, like current computer
network science and technolo gy. Do not use more
5.2 GPS relevant equipment at present in education, believe that there is very
Reach the function of defending the location, must large application space, for example: GPS city
select GPS receiver for use, GPS receiver used for leads and recommends the system, several and
and receives the satellite signal mainly, up to the takes pictures and combines the GPS's positioning
result orientateds, most occasions must cooperat e automatically, makes a reservation in Goog le
with PDA to use, or the note -book computer Earth again, with share can wait for, the earth
comes to use. The common one can be divided edition change note down, navigate, defend things
into an outer type, receiving type inside, etc. like: of losing etc. Near future, the equipment cost of
Bluetooth GPS Ｗindows mobile GPS will be cheaper, will become everybody to
CF interface GPS Windows mobile afford, the scientific and technological equipment
Build-in GPS Windows mobile which everybody will use, no matter in teaching
Proceedings of the 6th WSEAS International Conference on Applied Computer Science, Hangzhou, China, April 15-17, 2007 271

or in life, will be very practical scientific and

technological products.

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