What Is GPS?

GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It is a satellite-based navigation system developed and introduced by the U.S. military in the 1990s. At least 24 satellites orbit the planet continuously in order to provide the navigation data. The Master Control Station for the whole GPS system is located in Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado, USA.

Two levels of service are provided : one for the general public known as the Standard Positioning Service (SPS), and one for the military themselves, known as the Precise Positioning Service (PPS). The SPS service, which is accessible to anyone with readily-available GPS equipment, provides guaranteed accuracy up to about the level of 100 metres; the PPS system, which uses a highly encrypted signal, and can be read only by people with special equipment, provides a much higher level of accuracy of up to about 20 metres. In rare instances, the PPS level of service is extended to private sector groups. Requests for this must be made to the U.S. military and are considered on a case-by-case basis.

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The term GPS stands for 'Global Positioning System' and it is a navigation system that is based on radio and is developed the Department of Defence of the United States. The radio navigation is satellite based and provides a three dimensional position through out the day and night. It also provides velocity and the information of time that suits equipped users who can be anywhere on the surface of the earth; sometimes he can be off the earth too.

These days you can find numerous equipments that are being used by various people and are based on the GPS system and the equipments used for the purpose of surveying are the prime among them. You can also find some equipments that you use in your daily life and are based on the GPS system.

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