ADVANCED SURVEYING

GPS & GIS

Athul Mohan

Kerala PSC Expert

GPS
• Owned by US defense department and is called Navigational system with
Time and Ranging global positioning system (NAVSTAR GPS) or GPS

• To determine the time, position and velocity of any object with the help of
signals from satellites.

• Works anywhere in the world in all weather conditions.

• User need GPS receiver to locate the position of any point on ground.
GPS
• Working Principle :Trilateration

• NAVSAT/NNSS – first satellite navigation to be used by US Navy

• Macrometer V-1000 – first GPS instrument to be used for control

surveying
Components
1) Space segment:
• Comprises of satellites and the transmitted signals
• Consist of 24 satellites orbiting around the earth at an altitude of 20,200
km above the earth’s surface.
• 4 satellites in one orbit and period of each orbit is 12 hours.
• Design life is 7.5 years and weigh 2000 pounds and located at high altitude
to attain stability.
Components
2) Control Segment :
• Decode the data obtained
• Consists of : a) Master Control Station
b) Monitor Station
c) Ground Antennas
• Monitor stations are unmanned remote sensors that passively collect raw
satellite signal data and retransmit it in real time to Master control stations
for evaluation.
Components
3) User Segment :
• The equipment available to user.
• Processes the satellite signals to determine the user position.
Definitions
1) Ephemeri’s data:
Important information about the status of satellite.
2) Almanac data:
Information broadcasted by all GPS satellites
3) WGS 84 : World Geodetic system 1984
Standard datum for GPS system.
Advantages
• High accuracy
• Weather independent
• Full day operation
• 3 dimensional
• Rapid data processing
Applications
• Navigation
• Mapping and surveying
• In marine system
• Agriculture
• Mineral exploration
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
SYSTEMS (GIS)
GIS
• Also known as Geospatial Information System.

• Computerised data management system for capture, storage, retrieval,

analysis and display of spatial data related to positions on earth’s surface

• A computer program that process data linked to certain places or locations

Components
1) Software :
• Provides the functions and tools needed to store, analyse and display
geographical information
• Eg : Arc /Info , Integraph, Maninfo

2) Hardware :
• Computer system in which GIS operates
Components
3) Data :
• Tabular data, Spatial data, geographical data

4) User segment
 Geographic Information

Spatial Non-Spatial Time

Information Information information
Purpose of GIS
• Enabling decision making based on spatial data
• Supporting research and development
• Collecting, manipulating and using spatial data in data base management
• Producing standardized and customized cartographic production
Applications of GIS
• Environmental planning
• Exploring oil and mineral wealth
• Disaster management
• Transport planning
• Bussiness applications
• Socio-economic development
 A GPS system consists of :

A Space segment B user segment

C control segment D all of these

 GPS is a precised system to provide
accurate timing and location launched by :

A India B USA

C Russia D China
 EDMI stands for :

A Electronic Distance B Electrical Distance

Measuring Instrument Measuring Instrument

C Electronic Displacement D Electrical Displacement

Measuring Instrument Measuring Instrument
 The GPS space segment consists of
Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging
whose number is :

A 8 B 32

C 24 D 16
 To uniquely determine the position of the
user using GPS, one needs to receive
signals from atleast :

A 1 satellite B 3 satellites

C 2 satellites D 4 satellites
 Which of the following is NOT a benefit of
using GIS in business applications ?

A To improve decision
B To increase efficiency
making

C To reduce the productivity DTo increase communication