Global Positioning System (GPS)

ROLLY DC. MULATO

GIS UNIT, FOREST MANAGEMENT SERVICE
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 3
 What is GPS?
 The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a
satellite-based navigation 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.
The GPS satellite system
 Each of these 3,000- to 4,000-pound solar-
powered satellites circles the globe at about
12,000 miles (19,300 km), making two
complete rotations every day. The orbits are
arranged so that at any time, anywhere on
Earth, there are at least four satellites "visible"
in the sky.
 How GPS works?
 GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a
very precise orbit and transmit signal
information to earth.
 GPS receivers take this information and use
triangulation to calculate the user's exact
location.
 Essentially, the GPS receiver compares the
time a signal was transmitted by a satellite with
the time it was received. The time difference
tells the GPS receiver how far away the satellite
is.
 With distance measurements from a few more
satellites, the receiver can determine the user's
position and display it on the unit's electronic
map.
 How GPS works?
 A GPS receiver must be locked on to the signal
of at least three (3) satellites to calculate a 2D
position (latitude and longitude) and track
movement.
 With four or more satellites in view, the receiver
can determine the user's 3D position (latitude,
longitude and altitude).

 Once the user's position has been determined,

the GPS unit can calculate other information,
such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance,
distance to destination, sunrise and sunset time
and more.
 How accurate is GPS?
 Today's GPS receivers are extremely
accurate, thanks to their parallel multi-
channel design.

 GPS 12 parallel channel receivers are quick

to lock onto satellites when first turned on and
they maintain strong locks, even in dense
foliage or urban settings with tall buildings.

 Certain atmospheric factors and other

sources of error can affect the accuracy of
GPS receivers.
 How accurate is GPS?
 Newer GPS receivers with WAAS (Wide Area
Augmentation System) capability can improve
accuracy to less than three (3) meters on
average.
 No additional equipment or fees are required to
take advantage of WAAS.
 Users can also get better accuracy with
Differential GPS (DGPS), which corrects GPS
signals to within an average of three (3) to five (5)
meters.
 The U.S. Coast Guard operates the most
common DGPS correction service. This system
consists of a network of towers that receive GPS
signals and transmit a corrected signal by beacon
transmitters. In order to get the corrected signal,
users must have a differential beacon receiver
and beacon antenna in addition to their GPS.
 GPS Satellite system
 The 24 satellites that make up the GPS space
segment are orbiting the earth about 12,000
miles above us.

 They are constantly moving, making two

complete orbits in less than 24 hours.

 These satellites are travelling at speeds of

roughly 7,000 miles an hour

 GPS satellites are powered by solar energy.

They have backup batteries onboard to keep
them running in the event of a solar eclipse,
when there's no solar power.

 Small rocket boosters on each satellite keep

them flying in the correct path.
 GPS Satellite system
Here are some other interesting facts about the GPS
satellites (also called NAVSTAR, the official U.S.
Department of Defense name for GPS):

 The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.

 A full constellation of 24 satellites was achieved

in 1994.

 Each satellite is built to last about 10 years.

Replacements are constantly being built and
launched into orbit.

 A GPS satellite weighs approximately 2,000

pounds and is about 17 feet across with the solar
panels extended.

 Transmitter power is only 50 watts or less.

 What’s the signal?
 GPS satellites transmit two low power radio
signals, designated L1 and L2.

 Civilian GPS uses the L1 frequency of 1575.42

MHz in the UHF band.

 The signals travel by line of sight, meaning

they will pass through clouds, glass and plastic
but will not go through most solid objects such
as buildings and mountains.

 A GPS signal contains three different bits of

information - a pseudorandom code, ephemeris
data and almanac data.
 What’s the signal?
 The pseudorandom code is simply an I.D. code
that identifies which satellite is transmitting
information. You can view this number on your
GPS unit's satellite page, as it identifies which
satellites it's receiving.

 Ephemeris data, which is constantly transmitted

by each satellite, contains important information
about the status of the satellite (healthy or
unhealthy), current date and time. This part of the
signal is essential for determining a position.

 The almanac data tells the GPS receiver where

each GPS satellite should be at any time
throughout the day. Each satellite transmits
almanac data showing the orbital information for
that satellite and for every other satellite in the
system.
 Sources of GPS errors
Factors that can degrade the GPS signal and thus
affect accuracy include the following:

 Ionosphere and troposphere delays - The satellite signal slows

as it passes through the atmosphere. The GPS system uses a
built-in model that calculates an average amount of delay to
partially correct for this type of error.

 Signal multipath - This occurs when the GPS signal is

reflected off objects such as tall buildings or large rock
surfaces before it reaches the receiver. This increases the
travel time of the signal, thereby causing errors.

 Receiver clock errors - A receiver's built-in clock is not as

accurate as the atomic clocks onboard the GPS satellites.
Therefore, it may have very slight timing errors.

 Orbital errors - Also known as ephemeris errors, these are

inaccuracies of the satellite's reported location.
 Sources of GPS errors
Factors that can degrade the GPS signal and thus
affect accuracy include the following:

 Number of satellites visible - The more satellites a GPS receiver can

"see," the better the accuracy. Buildings, terrain, electronic
interference, or sometimes even dense foliage can block signal
reception, causing position errors or possibly no position reading at
all. GPS units typically will not work indoors, underwater or
underground.

 Satellite geometry/shading - This refers to the relative position of the

satellites at any given time. Ideal satellite geometry exists when the
satellites are located at wide angles relative to each other. Poor
geometry results when the satellites are located in a line or in a tight
grouping.

 Intentional degradation of the satellite signal - Selective Availability

(SA) is an intentional degradation of the signal once imposed by the
U.S. Department of Defense. SA was intended to prevent military
adversaries from using the highly accurate GPS signals. The
government turned off SA in May 2000, which significantly
improved the accuracy of civilian GPS receivers.
 Application
 GPS has a variety of applications on land, at sea and in the air. Basically, GPS
is usable everywhere except where it's impossible to receive the signal such as
inside most buildings, in caves and other subterranean locations, and
underwater.

 The most common airborne applications are for navigation by general

aviation and commercial aircraft.
 At sea, GPS is also typically used for navigation by recreational
boaters, commercial fishermen, and professional mariners.
 Land-based applications are more diverse.
 The scientific community uses GPS for its precision timing capability
and position information.

 Surveyors use GPS for an increasing portion of their work. GPS offers cost
savings by drastically reducing setup time at the survey site and providing
incredible accuracy.
 Application
 Recreational uses of GPS are almost as varied as the number of recreational
sports available. GPS is popular among hikers, hunters, snowmobilers,
mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers, just to name a few. Anyone who
needs to keep track of where he or she is, to find his or her way to a specified
location, or know what direction and how fast he or she is going can utilize the
benefits of the global positioning system.

 GPS is now commonplace in automobiles as well. Some basic systems are in

place and provide emergency roadside assistance at the push of a button (by
transmitting your current position to a dispatch center). More sophisticated
systems that show your position on a street map are also available. Currently
these systems allow a driver to keep track of where he or she is and suggest the
best route to follow to reach a designated location.
 What is WAAS?
 WAAS stands for Wide Area Augmentation System
 Basically, it's a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal
corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. A WAAS-capable
receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three (3) meters 95
percent of the time.

 You don't have to purchase additional receiving equipment or pay service fees to
utilize WAAS.
 Origin of WAAS
 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of
Transportation (DOT) are developing the WAAS program for use in precision
flight approaches.

 Recently, GPS alone does not meet the FAA's navigation requirements for
accuracy, integrity, and availability.

 WAAS corrects for GPS signal errors caused by ionospheric disturbances,

timing, and satellite orbit errors, and it provides vital integrity information
regarding the health of each GPS satellite.
 How WAAS Works
 WAAS consists of approximately 25 ground
reference stations positioned across the United States
that monitor GPS satellite data.

 Two master stations, located on either coast, collect

data from the reference stations and create a GPS
correction message. This correction accounts for GPS
satellite orbit and clock drift plus signal delays
caused by the atmosphere and ionosphere.

 The corrected differential message is then broadcast

through one of two geostationary satellites, or
satellites with a fixed position over the equator.

 The information is compatible with the basic GPS

signal structure, which means any WAAS-enabled
GPS receiver can read the signal.
 100 meters: Accuracy of the original GPS system, which was subject to accuracy
degradation under the government-imposed Selective Availability (SA) program.

 15 meters: Typical GPS position accuracy without SA.

 3-5 meters: Typical differential GPS (DGPS) position accuracy.

 < 3 meters: Typical WAAS position accuracy.

 WAAS Benefits
 WAAS will allow GPS to be used as a primary means of navigation from takeoff
through Category I precision approach.

 Other modes of transportation also benefit from the increased accuracy, availability,
and integrity that WAAS will deliver.

 WAAS broadcast message improves GPS signal accuracy from 100 meters to
approximately 3 meters.

 WAAS to civil aviation will be substantial and will improve the efficiency of aviation
operations due to:
• Greater runway capability
• Reduced separation standards which allow increased capacity in a given airspace without
increased risk.
• More direct en-route flight paths.
• New precision approach services
• Reduced and simplified equipment on board aircraft
• Significant government cost savings due to the elimination of maintenance costs associated
with older, more expensive ground-based navigation aids (to include NDBs, VORs, DMEs,
and most Category 1 ILSs)
 Limitations of WAAS
• The signal coverage with WAAS is not global like GPS satellites.
• In some locations, receiving WAAS signals can be difficult and intermittent.
• There are two satellites transmitting WAAS for corrections in the Americas and two
more over Africa and India providing similar coverage for Europe.
• These satellites are geostationary, i.e., they stay in the same spot over the Earth
equator. The two satellites for the Americas are over the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Chances are then, they will probably be near the horizon from where you are using
your GPS receiver. This increases the chance that buildings, foliage, terrain and other
obstacles could block the WAAS signal.
• Also WAAS is a relatively new system and is still in its developmental stage. So on
occasion you may experience service outages.
• Even during these outages, your GPS receiver will still be working, computing
position fixes and helping you get to where you want to go using the GPS signals. The
only difference is you will not be getting the precision that WAAS was providing.
SURVEY GRADE GPS
versus
HANDHELD NAVIGATION GPS
 Survey Grade GPS

 Application:
› Control Survey
› Topographic Survey
› Boundary Survey
› Cadastral Survey
› Hydrographic Survey
› Monitoring of Plate Tectonic Movements
 Handheld Navigation GPS

 Application:
› Outdoor Activities (Hiking, Biking,..etc.)
› Mapping
› GIS Application
› Navigation
 Accuracy

 Handheld Navigation GPS Receiver

› GPS only = <10m
› With WAAS/EGNOSS = <3m

 Survey Grade GPS Receiver

› Typical = ±5mm + 1ppm (Horizontal)
= ±10mm + 2ppm (Vertical)
Typical = 10 t0 100mm
Survey Grade GPS
Handheld Navigation GPS

Typical = <20m
 Survey Grade GPS

 Survey Grade GPS is use for precise positioning

application such as Land Survey, Construction
Survey, Seismic Monitoring Activity and other
special application which requires accuracy.
 Survey Grade GPS

 Survey Grade GPS requires at least two GPS

receivers which simultaneously tracks &
logs common satellites and using differential
technique the raw data being logged is being
processed and corrected.
 Handheld Navigation GPS

 Handheld Navigation GPS only receive

position information from the satellites, it
does not log raw data. It will only compute
for autonomous position which is good for
<10m.
 Price

 Handheld Navigation GPS Receiver

› P 10,000 to P 30,000 per unit

 Survey Grade GPS Receiver

› P 110,000 to P 800,000 per unit
 Summary

Handheld GPS Survey Grade GPS

Accuracy (Typical) <10m (GPS only)±5mm + 1ppm (H)

±10mm + 2ppm (V)

Application Navigation Land Survey

Outdoor Engineering Survey
Mapping/GIS Seismic Monitoring

Differential Correction No Yes

Price per unit (Typical) P 10T – P 30T P 110T – P 800T

Garmin GPS Receivers
 Magellan GPS Receivers
Meridian Sportrak Triton

Explorist
Roadmate
NAV 5000
Trimble GPS Receivers
 Main menu
• Satellites status information
• Trip computer settings
• Save current location as waypoint
• Find waypoints, favorites, cities and exits (extended)
• search functions with MapSource)
• Manage travelled pathes (tracks)
• Manage routes
• Graphical representation "highway”
• System setup
• Proximity alarms
• Calendar
• Alarm clock
• Calculator
• Stop watch
• Constellation Earth/Sun/Moon
• Time information for hunting and fishing
• Games
 Satellites
• Accuracy of current position information
• Current position (coordinates)
• Constellation of the satellites
• Strength of satellites' signals
Navigation
• Current speed
• Distance to next turn
• Estimated arrival time at final destination
• Estimated remaining travel time to next turn
• Compass ring with bearing to next turn
Map
• Current speed
• Current heading
• Navigation directions
• Map with current position
Trip Computer
• Travelled trip distance
• Maximum speed
• Moving time
• Average speed (moving time only)
• Stopped time
• Average speed (total time)
• Current elevation
• Accumulated travelled distance (Odometer)
Thank You!