GPS Systems Make Life Easier For All of Us

GPS - Global Positioning System is a satelliteimpaired people use this GPS equipment to guide
navigation system. First conceived as navigationtheir way.
aid by the military now number of GPS satellitesSurveying
broadcasts accurate timing signals by radio toConstruction workers also use GPS receivers for
GPS receivers.GPS provides a set of coordinatessurveying the land to locate boundaries,
which represent the location of the GPS unit withstructures, and survey markers, and for
respect to its latitude, longitude and elevation onconstruction of roads.
planet Earth thus allowing them to accuratelyGeocaching
determine their location anywhere on the earth atGPS receivers are also used in recreational
anytime. It has become an important tool foractivities like geocaching where a hand held GPS
map making and land surveying and is also usedreceiver is used. Geocachers use this to travel to
for very precise time reference needed forspecific longitude and latitude walking or hiking to
scientific research like the study of earthquakes.natural locations, searching for particular objects
GPS receivers come in various formats, fromhidden by the other geocachers.
devices integrated into cars, to phones toAircraft passengers
watches.Airline passengers can use GPS units in some
The GPS satellites broadcast accurate clockairlines inside the aircraft except while landing and
information in two forms:taking off as they have very little risk of
Coarse Acquisition code/C/A-This is used mainlyinterference. These airlines integrate aircraft
for civilian navigation which broadcast at 1,023tracking into the seat-back television
MHz repeating every millisecond. Each satelliteentertainment system, available to all passengers
sends a distinct C/A code, which allows them toeven during takeoff and landing.
be identified.Precise time reference
Precise code/ P-code- The P-code broadcast atFor accurate time GPS is used. In time code
10.23 MHz, but it repeats only once per week.generators GPS is used as a reference clock and
The P code is first encrypted into the Y-code, oralso when sensors are deployed they are used to
P(Y), which can only be decrypted by units with aprovide accurate time for each recording
valid decryption key.apparatus. Even atomic clocks are set to GPS
Applications of GPS:time.GPS time is counted in days, hours, minutes,
There are number of fields where GPS has beenand seconds, in the manner that is conventional
used such as:for most time standards.
MilitaryLocation-based services
It plays an important role in the military by helpingLocation based services also use GPS to locate all
to find precise targeting of military weapons suchmobile phones. It provides a location solution is
as missiles and precision guided munitions. It alsodependent more on mobile phones and less on
provides good location awareness thus helping intelecommunications network topology. This also
controlling of forces and command.GPS satelliteshelps to provide specific location information to
also carry nuclear detonation detectors.the mobile phone.
NavigationThe biggest problem faced in GPS is that the
If you are someone who are likely to always getatmospheric conditions can change the speed of
lost while driving then GPS is what you need inthe GPS signals while passing through the
your car. It is used as navigation aid in cars, shipsionosphere. This effect gets minimized when the
and planes. Hikers and trekkers use hand heldsatellite is directly overhead and becomes greater
GPS receivers to find their way. Even visuallytoward the horizon.