GPS in the topography

Although it was invented for military and intelligence services applications, GPS has

become a fundamental tool for surveying. The use of GPS in topography has facilitated the

tasks in the topographic field, thanks to its great precision, speed, versatility and

productivity.

The GPS system in topography shows with great precision our position in the horizontal

plane. In addition, it indicates the elevation in which we are by means of the signal from the

satellites. The equipment used with the GPS surveying system has pinpoint accuracy,

although others may vary by almost half a meter.

The system consists of three components:

Spatial Component It consists of 24 satellites located about 20,200 km. of the Earth and

that pass through the same place every 12 hours and its orbital planes are inclined 55

degrees with respect to Ecuador. This ensures global coverage, although the number of

satellites visible from a specific point on the planet varies over time. Each satellite has

several high-precision atomic clocks on board and constantly emits a characteristic signal

from each satellite that contains, among other things, its position.

Control component. They are a series of observation stations near Ecuador responsible for

controlling the orbital position of the satellites and calibrating and synchronizing the

clocks.

GPS receiver Depending on the needs, there are three ways of using a GPS device. For

autonomous navigation, mainly used in marine navigation. With corrected differential

positioning (DGPS), used in GIS, coastal navigation, vehicle positioning, etc. And with

differential phase positioning, the most precise, between 0.5 and 20 mm, and that is the one

that is usually used in machinery and topography control.

The topographic GPS is used with a band (L1) or with two (L1 and L2). The difference is

millimeter accuracy for shorter or longer distances. For distances less than 40 kilometers

between antennas, the GPS is used with a band and two-band for distances of up to 300

kilometers. With greater distances, accuracy to the millimeter is not guaranteed. The L1 is

usually for civil use, while the L2 is intended for military use.

Normally, Differential GPS is used, which eliminates most of the natural and user-caused

errors that infiltrate normal measurements with GPS. These errors are small, but to achieve

the level of precision required by some positioning work it is necessary to minimize all

errors. To perform this task it is necessary to have two antennas operating simultaneously.

The reference receiving antenna remains in its station and continuously monitors the errors,

and then transmits or records the corrections of those errors so that the second roving

receiver that is the one that performs the positioning work, can apply those corrections to

the measurements you are taking, either as you perform them in real time, or later. In this

way we will obtain georeferenced data.

With the help of GPS technology, aerial studies of the most impenetrable areas can be

carried out to assess its flora and fauna, topography and human infrastructure. In Global

Mediterranean and Geomatics we have this technology to offer reliable, accurate and agile

surveying services.
 References Bibliographical

GPS.com Topography and Cartography (2019-10-01) recovered from:

https://www.gps.gov/applications/survey/spanish.php

GPS Topographic Total Station (2019-10-01) recovered from: https://estaciontotal.net/gps-

topografico/

González, C. A. M. (2013). Topography and stakeout lessons (5th ed.). Alicante, ES: ECU.

Recovered from:

http://bibliotecavirtual.unad.edu.co:2077/lib/unadsp/reader.action?ppg=7&docID=1075796

5&tm=1480021568844

Priego, D. L. S. E. (2015). Topography: instrumentation and topographic observations.

Valencia, ES: Editorial of the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Recovered from:

http://bibliotecavirtual.unad.edu.co:2077/lib/unadsp/reader.action?ppg=7&docID=1108783

3&tm=1480022002879