LECTURE 6
INTRODUCTION TO
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS
WHAT IS GPS ??
GPS is a NAVIGATIONAL SATELLITE SYSTEM
Global network of satellites that transmit radio
signals from medium earth.
Stands For
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
WHY DID THEY INVENT GPS??
TO SUPPORT THE US & ALLIED
FORCES IN TIMES OF WAR
BRIEF HISTORY OF GPS
GPS is a Navigation Satellite System
Maintained and Funded by US Government
Feasibility studies begun in 1960’s.
Pentagon appropriates funding in 1973.
First satellite launched in 1978.
System declared fully operational in April, 1995.
Latest in 2012 USA has 31 Satellites up in Space
OTHER GLOBAL NAVIGATIONAL
SATELLITE SYSTEMS (GNSS)
GLONASS
Russian Global Navigation
24 Satellites in Space
16 Operational
BEIDOU
Chines Government
16 satellites for BeiDou.
2 Satellites above PNG.
Planned to Launch 35
GALILEO
European Nations
Launched 24 Satellites
6 Spare
QUASI-ZENITH
Owned by Japanese.
Planned 7 Satellites.
5 Operational.
Orbiting mainly above Japan only on a special orbit
coverage over Japan.
TO DATE;
Only GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia)
&GALILEO (Europeans) are free to Civilian
Users.
GPS CONSISTS OF
THE THREE GPS SEGMENTS
1. Space Segment
3.User Segment
2.Control Segment
Ground
Antennas
Master Station Monitor Stations
CONTROL SEGMENT
US Space Command
Cape Canaveral
Hawaii
Kwajalein A
Diego Garcia
Ascension
Is.
CORRECTIONS ARE MADE BY THE CONTROL STATIONS AND
TRANSMITTED BACK TO THE SATELLITES
Master Control Station Monitor Station Ground Antenna
SPACE SEGMENT
CONSISTS OF 31 SATELLITES IN SPACE
AGAIN….
Corrections are done by the Ground
Control Stations.
Sent back to the Satellites.
Satellites transmit to the User Segment.
USER SEGMENT
Military.
Search and rescue.
Disaster relief.
Surveying/Engineers/GIS & Mapping/Exploration
Marine, aeronautical and terrestrial navigation.
Remote controlled vehicle and robot guidance.
Satellite positioning and tracking.
Shipping/ Navigation
Automatic Time Monitoring (Street Lights)
Land & Asset Management
Recreation.
SYSTEM IS,
Free of Charge to Civilians
Available 24 Hours a Day
No restrictions by the weather (operates in
the rain and at nights)
BUT;
In clear Visibility to the Satellites
GPS WILL NOT WORK
Under Buildings
Under thick bushes
Under water
WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GPS?
Position / Location on the earth.
Your position is referenced from the Equator,
Prime Meridian, Mean Sea Level in general.
Navigation Direction and Time.
HOW DOES THE GPS GIVE YOU THE
LOCATION?
X - measured from the Prime Meridian.
(Longitude, Easting)
Y – Measured from the Equator (Latitude,
Northing)
Z – Measured from the Mean Sea Level
(MSL) or other referenced height datum.
(Elevation, Altitude, Height,)
Remember: To get the X and Y values of
your position, GPS must be connected to
at least 3 satellites and 4 satellites if you
require the Z value as well.
DERIVING COORDINATES (X, Y, Z) OF YOUR LOCATION
• Satellites sending signals to GPS Receiver (User Segment). In order to know
your location one must calculate the distance from the satellite to the GPS (User
Segment)
• User segment (GPS) upon receiving signals from the satellites now knows three
things:
• The Time (T2) the User Segment receives the signal sent by satellites.
• The Time (T1) the satellite sends the signal to the user segment.
• Speed of Light 299,792,458 m/s (Speed of Signal)
• (Time Signal is received by GPS – Time signal leaves Satellite) x Speed of
Signal. (T2 – T1) x Speed of Light
ANY QUESTIONS ??
