GLOBAL

POSITIONING
SYSTEM

























Objectives of GPS

The global positioning system, more commonly referred to as GPS, is a radio
frequency navigation system operated by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was
originally developed for military purposes, but has since become available to non-
military personnel worldwide as well. According to the National Executive
Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing, the objectives of
GPS are to provide accurate positioning, navigation and atomic timing services on a
continuous and free basis.


Instruments

Trimble GeoXH

It is a handheld all-in-one GPS Geographic Information System device. This GPS
instrument is often used for electric and gas utilities, land reform projects, water
and wastewater services where on-the-spot positioning is very important. The
GeoXH features an internal antenna, but an external antenna can be attached to
the device to achieve decimeter accuracy. With 128 MB RAM, 1GB storage space
and a 530 MHz processor, the device supports working with maps and large data
sets in the field. Industry standard Windows Mobile 6 operating system powers this
handheld device. Bluetooth and LAN network connection is possible with the GeoXH
to transfer data to and from other devices.

The MobileMapper CX

It is another all-in-one handheld GPS receiver for universal Geographic Information
System collection. This device provides real-time sub-meter and sub-foot accuracy
and supports Bluetooth wireless technologies as well as DGPS networking. The
device supports SD storage cards, which are used in digital cameras today, and
works with a replaceable battery. Surveyors use the MobileMapper CX to create or
update maps for analysis and storage.

GMS-2 Pro

This handheld dual constellation tracking GPS receiver consists of an integrated
laser distance meter, digital camera, bar code reader and digital compass.
Surveyors can take digital photographs of structures and upload them directly to
their Geographic Information System. Each photograph can be geo-tagged with the
GPS coordinates. An internal laser distance meter, compass and tilt sensor work
together to map offset points. The GMS-2 Pro supports Bluetooth and other
network connections, as well as USB data transfer.

GPS Pathfinder ProXH

The GPS Pathfinder ProXH features a GPS receiver, antenna and battery. It is a
standalone device, which connects to a field computer via a Bluetooth wireless
connection. The GPS Pathfinder ProXH can be connected to computers, laptops,
tablet PCs and PDAs. The device delivers sub-foot accuracy, which can be enhanced
by connecting an extra antenna to it.

Master Control Station

A master control station and backup control station monitor the condition of the
satellites in orbit and space weather in the vicinity of the satellites. The accuracy of
a satellites orbit is monitored and adjusted from these stations and the on board
clocks are synchronized within nanoseconds of the control clock.


History of GPS

GPS or the Global Positioning System was invented by the U.S. Department
of Defense (D.O.D) and Ivan Getting, at the cost of twelve billion taxpayer dollars.
The Global Positioning System is a satellite navigational system, predominantly
designed for navigation. GPS is now gaining prominence as a timing tool.

Eighteen satellites, six in each of three orbital planes spaced 120 apart, and their
ground stations, formed the original GPS. GPS uses these "man-made stars" or
satellites as reference points to calculate geographical positions, accurate to a
matter of meters. In fact, with advanced forms of GPS, you can make
measurements to better than a centimeter.


How does GPS work?

Global Positioning System satellites transmit 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 often do not perform well within forested areas or near tall buildings. GPS
operations depend on a very accurate time reference, which is provided by atomic
clocks at the U.S. Naval Observatory. Each GPS satellite has atomic clocks on
board.

Each GPS satellite transmits data that indicates its location and the current time. All
GPS satellites synchronize operations so that these repeating signals are
transmitted at the same instant. The signals, moving at the speed of light, arrive at
a GPS receiver at slightly different times because some satellites are farther away
than others. The distance to the GPS satellites can be determined by estimating the
amount of time it takes for their signals to reach the receiver. When the receiver
estimates the distance to at least four GPS satellites, it can calculate its position in
three dimensions.

There are at least 24 operational GPS satellites at all times. The satellites, operated
by the U.S. Air Force, orbit with a period of 12 hours. Ground stations are used to
precisely track each satellite's orbit.

Determining Position: A GPS receiver "knows" the location of the satellites, because
that information is included in satellite transmissions. By estimating how far away a
satellite is, the receiver also "knows" it is located somewhere on the surface of an
imaginary sphere centered at the satellite. It then determines the sizes of several
spheres, one for each satellite. The receiver is located where these spheres
intersect.

*GPS in more detail

Because GPS receivers do not have atomic clocks,
there is a great deal of uncertainty when measuring
the size of the spheres. In the figure at left, the
dashed lines show the actual intersection point, and
the gray bands indicate the area of uncertainty.

Although the distance to the satellites can only be
roughly estimated at first, a GPS receiver can
precisely calculate these distances relative to each
other. Because the relative size of the spheres is
known, there is only one possible point where they
can intersect.




In this diagram, the solid lines indicate
where the GPS receiver "thinks" the spheres
are located. Because of errors in the receiver's
internal clock, these spheres do not intersect at one
point.






The GPS receiver must change the size of the
spheres until the intersection point is determined.
The relative size of each sphere has already been
calculated, so if the size of one sphere is changed,
the other spheres must be adjusted by exactly the
same amount.



GPS Accuracy: The accuracy of a position determined with GPS depends on the type
of receiver. Most hand-held GPS units have about 10-20 meter accuracy. Other
types of receivers use a method called Differential GPS (DGPS) to obtain much
higher accuracy. DGPS requires an additional receiver fixed at a known location
nearby. Observations made by the stationary receiver are used to correct positions
recorded by the roving units, producing an accuracy greater than 1 meter.

*Geographic Positioning System (GPS) applications are widely used in engineering
surveys such as in site surveying setting out, check and compliance surveys. The
application of GPS become very complex and demanding, when it is used in
engineering projects such as bridges, dams, tunnels, high rise buildings which
require precise deformation measurements. In essence, GPS has been a popular
tool for long term monitoring of civil engineering structures. Hence, GPS application
on engineering survey implies accuracy and reliability.

As we know in engineering surveying, emphasis on error correction and accuracy is
taken seriously. In other words, an engineering surveyor should know the accuracy
and reliability limits of the surveying technique or method he uses. Hence, he has
to use the most reliable, economical, technically appropriate measuring technology
for the intended purpose.

It is important to know about the real accuracy limits of surveying methods. Thus
when using GPS, one should be aware of its applicability and limitations in
engineering surveys.

GPS applications use a satellite technology (which has comprehensive error
correction procedures or large error budgets) which allows reliability and accuracy.
The accuracy of GPS application in engineering survey depends on many factors
that depend on optimal observation parameters and procedures using various
standards and software systems. The accuracy and reliability of GPS in engineering
surveying greatly influenced by the factors:

1) the satellite constellation system used,
2) the atmospheric condition,
3) actual measuring condition of the observed site,
4) the quality of GPS instruments used and
5) the procedures used for testing, processing and optimization of GPS data
obtained from site. Hence, similar to traditional engineering surveying, accuracy
management is essential when applying GPS engineering Application to surveying.
Presently the GPS applications are popularly used when developing local special
geodetic networks for engineering projects. Such networks are small compared to
large regionally and globally available networks. To ensure reliability accuracy of
these testing models, it is essential to acquire large amount of experimental data
for a considerable period. Then the data is subject to various investigation and
analyses with a view to improve and optimize the observation and processing
procedures.

When GPS is used for measuring heights, it may encounter constraints or
limitations owing to lack of exact knowledge and the condition of the local geoid,
particularly in mountain areas or proximity to tall building. In such situation, it may
have to depend on observations made from different directions using multiple
satellite and receivers.

Similarly, measurement of deformation needs high accuracy and requires longer
time and costs. In the recent past, terrestrial methods were employed in many
scenarios but now these have been substituted by GPS engineering survey
applications.

In the case of long term monitoring of structures, static GPS applications are widely
used. It can give relative position accuracy up to few millimeters based upon the
time of observation and distance of the reference station. By establishing
permanent GPS stations can help you to maintain a reliable and consistent
reference coordinate system in the interested location.