Friday, September 4, 2009

General Purpose GPS And Automotive GPS

By Michael D. Torc

Satellite technology has made possible Global Positioning Systems, also known as GPS. They are guided by 24 satellites placed by the U.S. Department of Defense, originally for military operations. In the 1980's, the U.S. government opened up the system for civilian use. Global Positioning Systems have become increasingly popular for numerous applications since that time.

GPS technology works in almost any location, at any time and under all weather conditions. The only exception is areas where signals do not penetrate, such as inside buildings, caves, tunnels or under water. A subscription or setup fee is not required as service is freely available to all users.

Applications

Many automobiles now have built-in GPS. Some auto GPS units by Garmin and other manufacturers contact emergency assistance, while other systems also provide location and direction information. GPS use for consumer applications continues to increase. As the efficiency and accuracy of GPS have increased, the cost of surveying and the setup time have decreased. GPS is heavily used by forest rangers and farmers. The precise locational information is very useful to biologists, geologists, surveyors and other scientists. Commercial fishermen, and professional mariners use GPS.

Drivers and dispatchers use it to improve customer service and fleet tracking. GPS is an essential component of emergency response, disaster relief and public safety. In the air, GPS improves pilot communication, navigation, and hazard avoidance. Even space exploration has been revolutionized by GPS.

Recreational uses of GPS navigation systems continue to expand. Hikers, hunters, snowmobile drivers, fishermen, and boaters use it. GPS is useful for anyone wishing to keep track of where they are or figure out how to get from point A to B. The worldwide activity of geocaching would not be possible without GPS. Even golf has not been left unaffected by GPS as it tells golfers how hard they have to swing for reaching the holes.

Equipment

GPS receivers range from relatively small, portable, and reasonably priced handsets for recreational use to an innovative technology developed by NASA for high Earth orbit missions. Enhanced technology is making GPS more available within heavy foliage environments. Another popularity boost for GPS is its integration into cell phones, which has enhanced emergency response.

The newest auto GPS units are both more sophisticated and more user friendly than earlier systems. Manufacturer support and guarantees cover all the issues that can possibly go wrong.

Vendors and distributors provide guidance on which GPS systems are best for specialized applications. To purchase a new or refurbished receiver, one can turn to the Internet which is a authoritative resource for information on GPS technology. For this growing technology that is fast becoming part of every day life, many scientific websites are dedicated to educate the public.

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