Introduction to

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

Introduction
• The global position system (GPS) is a
technology which provides unequalled
accuracy and flexibility of positioning for
navigation, surveying and GIS data capture.
• The GPS NAVSTAR (Navigation Satellite
Timing and Ranging) is a satellite-based
navigation, timing and positioning system.
• GPS provides continuous 3D positioning 24-
hrs a day throughout the world
Introduction
• The technology is beneficiary to the GPS
user community in terms of obtaining
accurate data up to about 100 meters for
navigation, meter-level for mapping, and
down to millimeter level for geodetic
positioning.
• The GPS technology has tremendous
amount of applications in GIS data
collection, surveying and mapping.
 Geo positioning – Basic
Concepts
Positioning relates to the determination of
position of stationary or moving objects.

This can be determined:

1) In relation to a well-defined coordinate
system, usually by three coordinate
values, or
2) In relation to other point, taking one point
as the origin of a local coordinate system.
 Geo positioning – Basic
Concepts
The first mode of positioning is known as point
positioning, while the second mode is known as
relative positioning.

If the object to be positioned is stationary, it is known

as STATIC POSITIONING.
When the object is moving this is known as
KINEMATIC POSITIONING.

Usually, the static positioning is used in surveying,

while kinematic position is used for navigation
purposes.
GPS – Components and Basic
Facts
The GPS uses satellites and computers to
compute positions anywhere on earth and is
based on satellite ranging.

This means that the position on the earth is

determined by measuring the distance from
a group of satellites in space.
GPS – Components and Basic
Facts
The basic principle being GPS is really
simple, even though the system employs
some of the most high-technology based
equipment ever developed.

In order to understand GPS basics, the

system can be categorized into FIVE logical
Steps.
 STEP 1

To compute a position in three dimensions a

minimum of four satellites have to be observed.
 Step 2
(i) To triangulate, the GPS measures the distance using the
travel time of the radio message.
(ii) To measure this travel time, it requires a very accurate
clock.
 STEP 3
Once the distance to the satellite is known,
then the location of the satellite in space is
required.
 STEP 4
As the GPS signal travels through the
ionosphere and the earth’s atmosphere, the
signal is delayed.
 Components of GPS
The GPS is divided into three major
components

• The Space Segment

• The Control Segment
• The User Segment
COMPONENTS OF GPS
 CONTROL SEGMENT
• The control segment consists of five
minoring stations
Colorado Springs
Ascension Island
Diego Garcia
Hawaii, and
Kwajalein Island
 CONTROL SEGMENT

• Ascension, Diego Garcia, and Kwajalein

serve as uplink installations, capable of
transmitting data to the satellites, including
new ephemerides i.e. satellite position as
a function of time, clock corrections, and
other broadcast message data.

• Colorado Springs serves as the Master

Control station.
 CONTROL SEGMENT

• The control segment is the sole responsibility

of the Department of Defense (DoD) who
undertake construction, launching,
maintenance, and virtually constant
performance monitoring of all GPS satellite.

• The DoD monitoring stations track all GPS

signals for use in controlling the satellites and
predicting their orbits.
 CONTROL SEGMENT

• Meteorological data are also collected at the

monitoring stations, thus allowing for an
accurate evaluation of tropospheric delays of
GPS signals.
• Satellite tracking data from the monitoring
stations are transmitted to the master control
stations for processing.
• This processing involves the computation of
satellite ephemerides and satellite clock
corrections.
 SPACE SEGMENT

• The space segment consists of the

Constellation of NAVSTAR earth orbiting
satellites.
• The current Department of Defense plan
calls for a full constellation of 24 Block II
satellites (21 operational and 3 in-orbit
spares).
• The satellites are arrayed
in 6 orbital planes,
Inclined 55 degrees to the
Equator.

• The orbit at altitudes of

about 12000 miles each,
with orbital periods of 12
sidereal hours (i.e.,
determined by or from the
stars), or approximately
one half of the earth’s
period i.e. 12 hours.
 SPACE SEGMENT

• The next block of satellites known as Block IIR.

• These satellites are expected to provide improved
reliability and better capability to range between
satellites in order to increase the orbital accuracy.
• Each satellite contains four precise atomic clocks
(i.e. Rubidium and Cesium standards) and has a
microprocessor on board for limited self-
monitoring and data processing.
• The satellites are equipped with thrusters which
can be used to maintain or modify their orbits.
 USER SEGMENT

• The user segment consists of both civilian

and military users.
• It consists of all earth-based GPS
receivers which can vary greatly in size
and complexity, though the basic design is
rather simple.
 USER SEGMENT
• A typical receiver is
compose of an antenna and
preamplifier, radio signal
based microprocessor
control and display device,
data recording unit, and
power supply.
• The GPS receiver decodes
the timing signals from the
‘visible’ satellites (generally
four or more) and after
having calculated the
distances from each
satellite, computes it own
latitude, longitude,
elevation, and time.
 USER SEGMENT

• This is a continuous process and generally

the position is updated on a second-by-
second basis.
• This is then sent to the receiver display
device and, if the receiver provides for
data capture capabilities, it is then stored
by the receiver's data logging unit.
 SATELLITE RANGING

• GPS positions are based on the

measurement of the distance from the
satellite to the GPS receiver on earth.
• The GPS receiver can determine the
distance to each satellite.
• The basic idea of determination of position
is that of resection or trilateration, which
many surveyors use in their daily work.
 SATELLITE RANGING

• If the distance of the three points relative to

unknown position is know, then the position of
unknown point relative to these pints can be
determined.
• Similarly, if the distance of one satellite is known,
then the position of the receiver must be at some
point on the surface of an imaginary sphere of
radius equal to that distance with origin at the
satellite.
• By intersecting three imaginary spheres the
receiver position can be determined accurately.
 SATELLITE RANGING

• The GPS receiver also calculates the

distance from the receiver to the satellite
using the equation.
Distance = Velocity x Time
where
velocity = the velocity of the radio signal, i.e.
290,000 km per second (speed of light) and

Time = the time taken by the radio signal to

travel from the satellite to the receiver.
 SATELLITE
COMMUNICATION
• All GPS satellites communicates all the
information to the receivers by using codes.
• It broadcasts two carrier waves which are
modulated by the coded information signal.
• The two GPS carrier waves are radio waves
called L1 and l2, in the L-Band (390 MHz to
1550 MHz).
• These are derived from the fundamental
frequency of 10.23 MHz, generated by a very
precise atomic clock.
 SATELLITE
COMMUNICATION
• Those radio waves travel with the speed of
light.
• These high frequency transmissions from the
satellite, travel in straight lines and have very
low power.
• The power of transmission from the satellite
is about 50 watts.
• Hence, it is essential that the antenna of the
GPS receiver have a direct view of the
satellite.
 SATELLITE
COMMUNICATION
• L1 carrier is broadcast at 1575.42 MHz (10.23 x
154).
• L2 carrier is broadcast at 1227.60 MHz (10.23 x
120).
• The L1 carrier has two codes modulated upon it:
– The Coarse/Acquisition code (C/A code) modulated at
1.023 MHz
– The precision code (P-code 10.23 MHz).
• The L2 carrier has only one code modulated upon
it, the L2 P-code, modulated at 10.23 MHz.
 SATELLITE
COMMUNICATION
• The Navigation Message i.e. the information
that the satellite transmit to a receiver
contains :-
– The satellite orbital and clock information,
– General system status messages and
– An ionosphere delay model.
• The navigation code has a low frequency of
50 Hz and is modulated both on the L1 and
L2 carriers.
• It communicates the data in a message
called GPS message or navigation message.
 GPS CODES

• GPS receivers use different codes to

distinguish between satellites.
• These codes can also be used as a basis for
making pseudo-range measurements which
enable the calculation of position.
• GPS codes are binary in nature.
• The three basic codes in GPS are
– The Precise code or the P-code,
– The Coarse/Acquisition code or C/A code,
– The navigation code.
 GPS CODES

• The modulated C/A codes and P-code are referred

to as Pseudo-Random Noise (PRN) code.
• This PRN code is actually a sequence of very
compare and compute the time of transmission
between the satellite and ground station.
• From this transmission time, the range to the
satellite can be derived and is the basis behind
GPS range measurements.
• The C/A code pulse intervals are approximately
300m in range and the more accurate P-code
intervals have a range of 30m.
IMPORTANCE OF PRN CODE

• The PRN code is a complex pattern, thus ensuring

that the receiver does not accidentally synchronize
with some other signal.
• The pattern are so complex that it is highly unlikely
that a stray signal will have exactly the same
shape.
• Each satellite has its own unique PRN code which
ensure that the receiver will not accidentally pick
up a signal from any other satellite.
• Hence, all the satellites can use the same
frequency without signal jamming.
IMPORTANCE OF PRN CODE

• This makes it difficult for any hostile force to jam

the system.
• In face, the PNR code gives the DoD a completer
control to the access of the GPS system
• Also, these codes make it possible to use
information theory to amplify the GPS signal.
• Further, the complexity of the PNR code makes
the whole process of GPS economical.
• That is why GPS receivers do not need big
satellite dishes to receive the GPS signals.
 PSEUDO-RANGE

• It is a measure of the apparent signal

propagation time from GPS satellite to the
GPS receiver antenna, scaled distance by
speed of light.
• The apparent propagation time is the
difference between the time of signal
reception and the time of emission.
• Hence pseudo-range is the time delay
between the satellite clock and the receiver
clock, as determined from C/A code or P-
code pulses.
 PSEUDO-RANGE

• If a satellite is right over the head of an

observer, the travel time of signal would
about 0.06 seconds.

• This time difference give the range

measurements but is called a pseudo-
range, since the time of the measurement
the receiver clock in not synchronized to
the satellite clock.
 PSEUDO-RANGE

• In most cases, an absolute 3D real time

navigation position can be obtained by
observer at least four simultaneous
pseudo-ranges.
• Pseudo-ranges differs from the actual
range due to
– The influence of satellite orbital errors,
– User clock error, and
– Ionosphere delays.
 GPS
Application
• One of the most significant and unique features of
the Global Positioning System is the fact that the
positioning signal is available to users any where
worldwide and at any time.
• With a fully operational GPS system, a range
community of users is likely to grow as there are
multiple applicants, ranging from surveying,
mapping, and navigation to GIS data capture.
• The GPS has become a part of the overall utility of
technology.
 SURVEYING AND MAPPING

• The high precision of GPS carrier phase

measurements, together with appropriate
adjustment algorithms, provide an adequate
tool for a variety of tasks for surveying and
mapping.
• Using the GPS methods, accurate and timely
mapping of almost anything can be carried
out.
• The GPS is used to map cut blocks, road
alignments and environmental hazards such
as landslides, forest fires and oil spills.
 SURVEYING AND MAPPING

• Applications, such as cadastral mapping,

needing a high degree of accuracy also
can be carried out using high grade GPS
receivers.

• Continuous kinematics techniques can be

used for topographic surveys and accurate
linear mapping.
SURVEYING AND MAPPING
ENGINEER APPLICATIONS
 NAVIGATION

• Navigation using GPS can be save countless

hours as the field.
• Any feature, even if it is under water, can be
located up to one hundred meters simply by
scaling coordinates from a map, entering
waypoints, and going directly to the site.
• Examples include road intersections, corner posts,
accident sites, geological formations, and so on.
• GPS navigation in helicopters, in vehicles, or in a
ship can provide as easy means of navigation with
substantial savings
NAVIGATION ON FOOT
 BOATING AND HIKING
• Provides navigation to
recreation boaters,
commercial fishermen,
and professional
mariners.
• Hikers, hunters, snow
mobiles, mountain
bikers, and cross-
country skiers, use
them to find out they
are in the woods.
• They also use GPS to
backtrack.
SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS
 AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY
• Major automobile manufactures now offer optional
navigation systems
– General motors
– BMW
• GPS guides and locates boats and automobiles etc.
• GPS receivers can be found in car or boat, as hand
held devices similar to cellular phones.
• In vehicle navigation systems:
– GPS increases driving efficiency
– Drivers may not as much attention to the road
– In cars they help assist drivers in maneuvering around a
city or when lost out in the country.
GPS IN CARS
NAVIGATIONAL USE
 FLEET TRACKING AND
MANAGEMENT
• This involves scheduling and
planning of routes and at the
same time ensuring that the
busses run as per the
schedule.
• Can determine the exact
track of each journey and
identify exact position and
time of specific events such
as deliveries, extended stops
etc.
• City cab, on of Singapore’s
primary taxi companies, has
deployed innovative satellite
technology to provide a
solution to the city’s
transportation problem.
 AIRPLANES
• Most common
airborne applications
are for navigation by
general aviation and
commercial aircraft.
 AGRICULTURE

• Farmers use them to

track the pitch of their
land when prepping
for crops.
• GPS assists farmers
in harvest of land
tracking of cattle.
 MOBILE PHONES INDUSTRY
• The world’s two
largest digital cellular
phone companies
(Nokia of Finland and
Ericsson of Sweden)
and a Japanese
microelectronics giant
plant announced to
produce GPS chips to
be installed in cellular
telephones.
MILITARY APPLICATIONS
 EMERGENCY SERVICES
• PIC 19
 REMORT SENSING AND GIS

• The GIS user community benefits from the

use of GPS for locational data capture in
various GIS applications.
• The GPS can easily be linked to a laptop
computer in the field, and, with appropriate
software, users can also have all their data
on a common base with every little
distortion.
 OTHER APPLICATIONS

• Environmental – Study coastal erosion other changes

in land.
• Geographers – Use them to track differences in sea
levels.
• Geological Mapping – create accurate world maps.
• Mining and construction – assist workers in guiding
equipment.
• Natural Disasters – Assesses damage to structures
after earthquake, tornado etc…
• Weather – assist in forecasting weather accurately
• Other – aircraft precision approach, robotics,
intelligent traffic systems, resource extraction.