CHAPTER 14 14.1.

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM The GPS system can be broadly divided into three segments: the space
segment, the control segment and the user segment.
The concept of satellite position fixing commenced with the launch of the
first Sputnik satellite by the USSR in October 1957. This was rapidly followed by The space segment is composed of satellites. The constellation consists at
the development of the Navy Navigation Satellite System (NNSS) by the US the time of writing of 29 satellites including spares. The satellites are in almost
Navy. This system, commonly referred to as the Transit system, was created to circular orbits, at a height of 20,200 km above the Earth or about three times the
provide a worldwide navigation capability for the US Polaris submarine fleet. radius of the Earth and with orbit times of just under 12 hours. The six orbital
planes are equally spaced, and are inclined at 55° to the equator. Individual
In 1973, the US Department of Defense (DoD) commenced the satellites may appear for up to five hours above the horizon. The system has been
development of NAVSTAR (Navigation System with Time and Ranging) Global designed so that at least four satellites will always be in view at least 15° above
Position System (GPS), and the first satellite were launched in 1978. the horizon.
The GPS navigation system relies on satellites that continuously broadcast The control segment consists of global network of ground facilities that
their own position in space and in this the satellites may be bought of as no more track the GPS satellites, monitor their transmission, perform analyses, and send
than control stations in space. Theoretically, a user who has a clock, perfectly commands and data to the constellation. The current Operation Control Segment
synchronized to the GPS time system, is able to observe the time delay of a GPS (OCS) includes a master control station, an alternate master control station, 11
signal from its own time of transmission at the satellite, to its time of detection at command and control antennas, and 16 monitoring sites. The locations of these
the user’s equipment. The time delay, multiplied by the mean speed of light, along facilities are shown in the map below.
the path of the transmission from the satellite to the user equipment, will give the
range from the satellite at its known position, to the user.

Figure 14.1. Global Positioning System Figure 14.2. GPS Control Segment
 The User Segment consists of the GPS receiver equipment, which receives Mobile GPS technology has equipped today’s smartphones with
the signals from the GPS satellites and uses the transmitted information to convenient and highly efficient means for end users to receive navigating
calculate the user’s three-dimensional position and time. instructions via a global positioning system process called “trilateration”. A
phone’s built-in GPS receiver also communicates with an array of satellites, which
Like the Internet, GPS is an essential element of the global information
provides navigation instructions for those in an automobile or on foor. More
infrastructure. The free, open, and dependable nature of GPS has led to the
technologically advanced phones can identify individual streets and attractions on
development of hundreds of applications affecting every aspect of modern life.
maps and provide narrated tracking capability.
GPS technology is now in everything from cellphones and wristwatches to
bulldozers, shipping containers, and ATM’s.

14.3.TYPES OF GPS
14.2. HOW DOES GPS WORK? The global positioning system has a widely varied application. It has also
undergone several modifications giving rise to the different types of GPS. While
The following steps describe the basics of how GPS works:
they all work using the same fundamental principle, each class specializes in
 Twenty-One GPS satellites and three spare satellites are in orbit at 10,600 meeting specific demands. These types of GPS systems include.
miles above the Earth. The satellites are spaced so that four satellites will 1. A-GPS – Assisted GPS (A-GPS) is a type of GPS that allows
be above the horizon from any point on Earth. receivers to get information from local network sources, which helps
 Each satellite contains a computer, an atomic clock and a radio. With an in the location of satellites. Assisted GPS is usually used in areas
understanding of its orbit and the clock, it continually broadcasts its where satellite signals cannot easily reach, probably due to trees or
changing position and time. Once a day, each satellite checks its sense of tall buildings. However, there must be cellular network for A-GPS to
time and position with a ground station and makes any minor corrections. work.
 On the ground, any GPS receiver contains a computer that “triangulates” 2. S-GPS – Simultaneous GPS (S-GPS) is a modification of GPS that
its position by getting bearings from three satellites. The result is a allows both voice data and GPS signaling to be transmitted from a
geographic position – longitude and latitude – to, for most receivers, phone simultaneously. Both data types are sent simultaneously rather
within 100 meters. than alternating the SPS signal and the reception for the telephone
 If the receiver is also equipped with a display screen and a map, the call, and there is better sensitivity. This is particularly useful in
position can be shown as well. emergencies to allow service providers such as ambulances, fire
 If it can receive the fourth satellite, the computer can figure out the stations, etc., to locate the source of a call even as the call is ongoing.
altitude as well as the geographic position. 3. D-GPS – Differential GPS (D-GPS) is a correction technique used to
 If a person is moving, their receiver can also calculate their speed and increase the accuracy of location data obtained from a traditional
direction of travel and give them estimated arrival times to specified GPS receiver. D-GPS is an enhancement to GPS, providing a better
destination. sense of the actual location of an object or person.
4. Non-differential GPS – Non-differential GPS, as opposed to
The GPS has been useful tool in science to provide data that has never
differential GPS, uses direct satellite signal to reduce positioning. It
been available in this quantity and degree of accuracy before. Scientists are using
is less accurate than D-GPS, but has a significantly more
the GPS to measure the movement of the arctic ice sheets, the Earth’s tectonic
comprehensive range of use.
plates and volcanic activity.
 5. Mapping and Non-Mapping GPS – Mapping GPSa type of GPS operations of a fleet. It aims at improving driver safety and productivity and
unit that comes with in-built maps. It is also possible to download helps you stay abreast of any need for repairs and maintenance. They offer a
maps to add to the mapping GPS. This is the type of GPS unit often variety of GPS solutions that you can choose from to track driver behavior,
found in mobile devices and other handheld devices. Non-mapping improve asset tracking and delivery, locate the beast routes, and ensure
GPS is a type of GPS unit that comes without maps. It shows your customer satisfaction.
location and the direction to get to another point without seeing roads
NAVSTAR GPS – the United States Global Navigation Satellite System is more
or landmarks. It uses breadcrumb-like trails to mark your progress
commonly known as NAVSTAR GPS. It is utilized by the U.S. Department
and direction.
of defense for military tracking, carrying out specialized opertation, etc.
GPS solutions have been put across several use cases. Several companies
Top Applications of GPS
have developed software that takes advantage of GPS technology for commercial
and government purposes. Examples of the top GPS software are: 1. Road Transportation
2. Quick Access to Emergency Roadside Services
Google Maps Navigation – is a commercial web mapping platform powered by
3. Applications in the Aviation Industry
the Google Cloud Platform and marketed as an application to people
4. Law Enforcement
worldwide. As of 2020, it was recorded to be used by over one billion
5. Banking and Finance
individuals every month. The original version of Google Maps, released in
6. Car Theft Prevention and Security
2005, was a combination of web-based mapping software, geospatial data
7. Health and Fitness Trackers
visualization, and real-time traffic analysis. Using a global positioning
8. Applications in Agriculture
system, Google Maps provides many features such as: Navigation, Street
9. Child Monitoring
View, Real-time Traffic Updates and Landmarks and Business Listings.
NASA’s GIPSY OASIS – is a navigation software used primarily for geophysical
and global positioning system research. The whole meaning of GIPSY 14.4.GPS ERRORS
OASIS is GNSS-inferred positioning system and orbit analysis simulation
software. It is owned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration It has been assumed that the position derived from GPS is very accurate
(NASA). It measures navigation, timing, and positioning using three and free of error but there are several sources of error that degrade the GPS
geodetic techniques: GNSS, SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging), and DORIS position from a theoretical few meters to ten of meters. These error sources are:
(Doppler Orbitography and Radio Positioning Integrated by Satellite).
1. Ionospheric and Atmospheric Delays - as the satellite signal passes through
Amazon Location Service – is an Amazon Web Services (AWS) product that the ionosphere, it can be slowed down, the effect being similar to light
allows developers to add location data and functionality to their applications. refracted through a glass block. These atmospheric delays can introduce an
Amazon Location Services is further divided into different specific features, error in the range calculation as the velocity of the signal is affected.
which are: Amazon Location Service Maps, Amazon Location Service
2. Satellite and Receiver Clock Errors - even though the clocks in the satellite
Places, Amazon Location Service Routes, and Amazon Location Service
are very accurate (to about 3 nanoseconds), they do sometimes drift
Geofences.
slightly and cause small errors, affecting the accuracy of the position. The
Verizon Connect – offers an exact GPS tracking solution to meet the needs of all US Department of Defense monitors the satellite clocks using the Control
fleets sizes, stimulating a nearly 360-degree view of the day-to-day Segment and can correct any drift that is found.
3. Multi Path Errors - when the receiver antenna is positioned close to a large
reflecting surface such as a lake or building. The satellite signal does not
travel directly to the antenna but huts the nearby object first and is
reflected into the antenna creating a false measurement.
4. Dilution of Precision - the Dilution of Precision (DOP) is a measure of the
strength of satellite geometry and is related to the spacing and position of
the satellites in the sky. The DOP can magnify the effect of satellite
ranging errors. When the satellites are well spaced, the position can be
determined as being within the shaded area. Different types of Dilution of
Precision (DOP) can be calculated depending on the dimension.
a) Vertical Dilution of Precision (VDOP) - gives accuracy degradation in
vertical direction.
b) Horizontal Dilution of Precision (HDOP) - gives accuracy degradation
in horizontal direction.
c) Positional Dilution of Precision (PDOP) - gives accuracy degradation
in 3D position.
d) Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) - gives accuracy degradtion
in 3D position and time.
5. Selective Availability (S/A) - is a process applied by the US Department of
Defense to the GPS signal. This is intended to deny civilian and hostile
foreign powers the full accuracy of GPS by subjecting the satellite clocks to a
process known as dithering which alters their time slightly. Currently, it is
planned that S/A will be switched off by 2006 at the latest.