Global Positioning System

(GPS)

By. Tekalign ketema

MADA WALABU UNIVERSITY

GIS DEPARTMENT
 Concept & Definition of GPS
 The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite
based navigation
 The system made up of a network of 24 satellites
placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense.
 GPS was originally intended for military applications,
but in the 1980s, the government made the system
available for civilian use.
 GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in
the world, 24 hours a day.
 There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use
GPS.
 Concept & Def…

 A GPS receiver must be locked on to the signal of at

least 4 satellites to calculate a 3D position (latitude,
longitude and altitude ) and track movement.
 Each satellite contains a computer, an atomic clock,
and a radio.
 With an understanding of its own orbit and the clock,
it continually broadcasts its changing position and
time.
 If you are moving, your receiver may also be able to
calculate your speed and direction of travel and give
you estimated times of arrival to specified
destinations.
 Concept & Def…
 Each GPS satellite transmits signals to equipment on
the ground.
 GPS receivers passively receive satellite signals; they
do not transmit.
 GPS receivers require an unobstructed view of the
sky, so they are used only outdoors and they might
perform less well within forested areas or near tall
buildings.
 The GPS uses a network of satellites which let people
with GPS receivers pinpoint their location anywhere
in the world.
 Satellite based Positioning
 Satellites are very important these days for spatial
referencing.
 They increase the level of spatial accuracy.
 Satellite based positioning is famous these days
because of their:
Suitability for all kinds of military use (ground troops,
vehicles, aircraft, missiles, ships),
Low cost equipment with low energy consumption at
the receiver end,
Unlimited number of user concurrently,
Support d/t levels of accuracy (military vs. civilian),
Weather proof availability,.
 Cont…
Satellite based positioning system set up involves
implementation of 3 hardware segments:
1) Space segment,
2) Control segment,
3) User segment.

Space segment:
• The satellites that orbit the earth & radio wave that they
emit.
Control segment:
• The ground stations that monitor and maintain the space
segment components.
User segment:
• The user with their hard and software to conduct positioning.
 Space segment
 Each GPS satellite has several
very accurate atomic clock.
 The clock operate at a
fundamental frequency of
10.23MHz.
 This is used to generate the
signals that are broadcast
from the satellite.
 The control segment
 Master control station is Falcon Air Force Base, near Colorado
Springs, Colorado. Supported by monitoring stations and uplink
antennas.
 Control stations enable information on Earth to be transmitted to
the
satellites
 Control stations continuously track satellites, and update the
positions of each satellite.
 Without control stations, the accuracy of the system would degrade
in a matter of days.
 The control segments are distributed in five location around
equator.
 The control segments:
 Tracks the GPS satellites,
 Updates their orbiting position,
 Calibrate their clocks.
Control Segment
The user segment
 The user segment
 The user segment comprises of any one using a GPS
receiver to receive a GPS signal.
o Land navigation,
o Marine navigation,
o Aerial navigation,
o Surveying, etc…
 Dual Use System Since 1985 (civil & military)
 Civilian community was quick to take advantage of
the system
 Hundreds of receivers on the market.
 3 billion in sales, double in 2 years.
How the system works
 Types of GPS services

 GPS service divided into 2 classes.

1. Precise Positioning Service (PPS) -
military and authorized service.
2. Standard Positioning Service (SPS) -
civilian, nonmilitary service.
 Precise Positioning System (PPS):
(P-code)

 Authorized users ONLY

 U. S. and Allied military
 Requires cryptographic equipment, specially
equipped receivers
 Accurate to 21 meters 95% of time
 Very precise, not degraded.
 Standard Positioning Service
(SPS)
 Less precise
 Available to all users
 Accuracy degraded by Selective Availability until
2 May 2000
 Horizontal Accuracy: 100m
 SA was intentionally degraded the SPS service to
limit the accuracy for nonmilitary users.
 Now has roughly same accuracy as PPS
 Major Application

 Environmental resource management

 Aviation
 Military
 Local planning
 Surveying
 Recreation
 Business
 Advantages of GPS

 GPS has numerous advantages over traditional

surveying methods:
o Inter visibility between points is not
required.
o Can be used at any time of the day or night
and in any weather.
o Produces results with very high geodetic
accuracy.
o More work can be accomplished in less time
with fewer people.
 Limitations of GPS

 In order to operate with GPS it is important that

the GPS Antenna has a clear view to at least 4
satellites.
 Sometimes, the satellite signals can be blocked by
tall buildings, trees etc.
 Hence, GPS cannot be used indoors.
 It is also difficult to use GPS in town centers or
woodland.
Have you Question?