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GK-12 Sensors!

: GPS

Brad Neumann and Eeva


Hedefine
The University of Maine
What is GPS?
GPS – Global Positioning System
Have you ever been in a shopping
mall and relied on the directory
maps with the “You Are Here”
star?
GPS works the same way,
but on a global scale.
How does GPS work?
Imagine that a GPS unit communicates
with only one of these 24 satellites.
Then, the GPS can only make a large
and general “You Are Here” star.

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But, how does GPS work?
Just as we depend on
satellites for cellular
phones and TV
broadcasts, we also
rely on satellites for
GPS.
In fact, GPS relies on
24 satellites that
orbit the earth in very
precise paths.

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How does GPS work?

With two, and even three


and four satellites to
communicate with, the
GPS unit can make the
“You Are Here” star smaller
and more precise.
How does GPS work?
Communication
with four satellites
is usually enough
to improve location
accuracy to within
about 10 meters.
Some GPS units
can provide
location within a
few centimeters!
Components of a GPS
Three parts of a
GPS:
Space Segment
• satellites
Control Segment
• base stations
User Segment
• fighter jet
• surveyor
www.aero.org/publications/GPSPRIMER/GPSElements.html
• hiker
Space Segment

24 satellites in 6
orbital planes.
Satellites orbit at
11,000 nautical miles
(12,659 statute miles)
Each satellite orbits
the earth in 12 hours.
Each satellite
broadcasts a signal.
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Control Segment
Base station receives
signal and monitors each
satellites exact location in
space.
Base station also
maintains an atomic clock
for precise measurements
of signal travel time.

www.stoller-eser.com
User Segment
To determine location, the
receiver measures the time
it takes for the individual
signals to reach the unit.
distance = travel time X
speed of light
Through communication
with multiple satellites the
receiver location can be
“triangulated”

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How do I know where I am?
The GPS receiver
displays location in
degrees of latitude
and longitude.
Latitude is measured
north and south of the
equator.
Longitude is measured
east and west of the
prime meridian.

www.stoller-eser.com
Global Positioning System
Initially developed by the U.S.
Department of Defense for military use.
Still maintained by DOD today, but can
also be for civilian use.
Navigation in your car.
Finding your favorite fishing hole.
Mapping trails or roads.
GPS Accuracy
For safety reasons the DOD only operated
civilian GPS with selective availability –
scrambling of signal

Selective availability was turned off in May of 2000.


GPS accuracy went from 100 m to 10 m in good
conditions.
The most accurate (and expensive) GPS receivers
now have centimeter accuracy.

Accuracy depends on:


Quality of equipment
Time over which observations are made
GPS Accuracy

www.stoller-eser.com

Accuracy is best when the satellites used are widely


spaced
GPS in the Real World
Navigation
Military, commercial, personal
Locational data collection
Science
• Relate a particular phenomenon to a
place
Mapping
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Global Positioning Systems

Let’s get out there and try one out!

References
www.stoller-eser.com. Environmental Surveillance, Education, and Research
Program. Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

www.aero.org. The Aerospace Corporation.

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