GPS Full Form

Global Positioning System, the satellite-based navigation system that changed how we navigate. Understand the significance of this advanced technology in providing accurate positioning, navigation, and timing information, influencing everything from transportation to outdoor adventures.

GPS provides information regarding location, speed, and time synchronization. GPS is everywhere. You can find GPS systems in your car, smartphone and watch. GPS helps you reach your destination from point A to point B. What is GPS? Read this article to learn the full form of GPS, what is GPS, how it works, its history, applications, and use cases.

GPS Full Form

GPS Full Form is Global Positioning System.

G = Global 

P = Positioning 

S = System

What Are the Elements of GPS?

GPS has three elements:

1. Space Segment: The space segment consists of a constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth. These satellites continuously transmit signals that allow GPS receivers to determine their location. 
2. Control Segment: The control segment includes a network of ground-based control stations responsible for monitoring and managing the GPS satellites. These control stations track the satellites, update their orbits, and ensure their clocks are synchronized with high accuracy. They also upload navigation data to the satellites, which is necessary for precise positioning.
3. User Segment: The user segment refers to the GPS receivers or devices used by individuals, vehicles, or any GPS-enabled equipment. These receivers receive signals from multiple GPS satellites and use the information to calculate the user’s position, velocity, and time. The receivers require line-of-sight access to at least four satellites to provide accurate three-dimensional positioning.

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Origins of GPS

Originally its name was NAVSTAR GPS. Its precision can be up to centimetres if differential GPS is used, although it is generally accurate to a few meters.

GPS was created, installed, and used in 1973 by the United States Department of Defense. In its beginnings, it was for the sole and exclusive use of military operations. Still, in the 1980s, the United States government allowed this navigation system to be used by civil society.

Some crucial milestones in the field of GPS technology include – 

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What Are the Uses of GPS?

GPS is a powerful tool for businesses and many industries. Surveyors, scientists, pilots, skippers, emergency personnel, and mining and agricultural workers are some of the people who use GPS daily in their work. They use GPS information to prepare accurate maps and plans, take accurate time measurements, track position or location, and for navigation. GPS works 24/7 and in almost all weather conditions.

GPS has five main uses:

1. Location: Determination of a position.
2. Navigation: Movement from one location to another.
3. Tracking: Monitoring the movement of objects or people.
4. Cartography: Creating maps of the world.
5. Timing: Allows for accurate time measurements.

Some use cases of GPS include –

Emergency response: Emergency personnel use GPS to map, track, and forecast the weather and keep emergency personnel located. In the EU and Russia, the eCall emergency call regulation relies on GLONASS technology (an alternative to GPS) and telematics to send data to emergency services in case of a vehicle accident, reducing response time.

Entertainment: Companies have incorporated GPS into games and activities like Pokémon Go, Geohashing, Geodashing, Waymarking and Geocaching.

Health and fitness: Wearable technology tracks physical activity (such as running distance) and compares it to a similar demographic.

Construction, mining and off-road trucks: GPS enables to locate equipment, measure and improve asset allocation, helping companies increase their assets’ performance.

Transportation: Logistics companies implement GPS to improve the productivity and safety of drivers. A truck geolocation device can improve route optimization, fuel efficiency, driver safety, and regulatory compliance.

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How Accurate is the GPS?

A GPS device’s accuracy depends on many variables, including but not limited to the number of available satellites, the ionosphere, and the urban environment.

Some factors that can affect GPS accuracy are –

Physical Obstructions: Time-of-arrival measurements can be disturbed by bulky masses such as mountains, buildings, trees, and other structures.

Atmospheric Effects: Ionospheric delays, severe storms, and solar storms can affect GPS devices.

Ephemeris: The internal orbital model of a satellite could be incorrect or outdated, although this is increasingly rare.

Erroneous numerical calculations: This aspect can influence when the device’s hardware is not designed according to the specifications.

Artificial interference: These include GPS jamming or spoofing devices.

Accuracy tends to be higher in open areas without adjacent tall buildings that may block signals. This effect is known as the urban canyon. When a device is surrounded by tall buildings, such as downtown Manhattan or Toronto, the satellite signal is blocked, bounced off a building, and finally received by the device. This can lead to miscalculations of the distance to the satellite.