Smt. A.

Mamatha, Assistant Professor (VSGC)

Lecture - 02
INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)

Introduction and Overview of GPS :

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system that was
developed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in the early 1970s. Initially, GPS was
developed as a military system to fulfill U.S. military needs. However, it was later made
available to civilians, and is now a dual-use system that can be accessed by both military and
civilian users and now it is available to various sectors including transportation, agriculture and
communications. GPS provides continuous positioning and timing information, anywhere in
the world under any weather conditions. Because it serves an unlimited number of users as well
as being used for security reasons, GPS is a one-way-ranging (passive) system, that is, users
can only receive the satellite signals.
GPS consists, nominally, of a of 24 operational satellites. This constellation, known as the
initial operational capability (IOC), was completed in July 1993. The official IOC
announcement, however, was made on December 8, 1993. To ensure continuous
worldwide coverage, GPS satellites are arranged so that four satellites are placed in each of six
orbital planes (Figure 1). With this constellation geometry, four to ten GPS satellites will be
visible anywhere in the world.
GPS satellite orbits are nearly circular (an elliptical shape with a maximum eccentricity is
about 0.01), with an inclination of about 55° to the equator. The semi major axis of a GPS orbit
is about 26,560 km i.e., the satellite altitude of about 20,200 km above the Earth’s surface. The
corresponding GPS orbital period is about 12 sidereal hours (~11 hours, 58 minutes). The GPS
system was officially declared to have achieved full operational capability (FOC) on July 17,
1995, ensuring the availability of at least 24 operational, non-experimental, GPS satellites.
Since GPS achieved its FOC, the number of satellites in the GPS constellation has always been
more than 24 operational satellites.

Smt. A. Mamatha, Assistant Professor (VSGC)

GPS Segments
GPS consists of three segments: (Figure 3)
(i) Space segment,
(ii) Control segment, and
(iii) User segment

1. Space Segment :
The space segment consists of the 24-satellite constellation introduced in the previous section.
Each GPS satellite transmits a signal, which has a number of components: two sine waves (also known
as carrier frequencies), two digital codes, and a navigation message. The codes and the navigation
message are added to the carriers as binary bi-phase modulations. The carriers and the codes are used
mainly to determine the distance from the user’s receiver to the GPS satellites. The navigation message
contains, along with other information, the coordinates (the location) of the satellites as a function of
time. The transmitted signals are controlled by highly accurate atomic clocks onboard the satellites.

2. Control Segment :
The control segment of the GPS system consists of a worldwide network of tracking stations,
with a master control station (MCS) located in the United States at Colorado Springs, Colorado. The
primary task of the operational control segment is tracking the GPS satellites in order to determine and
predict satellite locations, system integrity, and behavior of the satellite atomic clocks, atmospheric
data. The control segment is responsible for maintaining the accuracy and reliability of the entire GPS
system.

Smt. A. Mamatha, Assistant Professor (VSGC)

3. User Segment :

The user segment includes all the devices and receivers that utilize GPS signals to
determine their precise location. This segment encompasses a wide range of devices, from
smartphones and navigation systems to specialized equipment used in aviation, agriculture,
surveying and other applications. GPS receivers in the user segment receive signals from
multiple satellites, calculate their distance from each satellite and use this information to
triangulate their position on Earth.

Types of GPS: Navigation GPS, Surveying GPS, Tracking GPS, GIS Mapping GPS and
Military GPS

1. Navigation GPS : Used in vehicles, smartphones, and aviation for real-time location tracking
and navigation.
2. Surveying GPS: Provides high-precision location data for land surveying and geolocation
mapping.
3. Tracking GPS: Utilized for monitoring the movement of vehicles, assets, and individuals.
4. GIS Mapping GPS: Used to collect geographic data for environmental, urban, and
agricultural mapping.
5. Military GPS: Provides encrypted, highly accurate location services for defense and military
applications.

How GPS Works

1. Satellite Network: GPS consists of a constellation of at least 24 satellites orbiting the Earth.

2. Signal Transmission: Satellites transmit radio signals containing their location and time
information.

3. Receiver Calculation: A GPS receiver picks up signals from multiple satellites and
calculates its exact position using trilateration.

4. Position Determination: The receiver computes latitude, longitude, altitude, and time based
on signal travel time.

Smt. A. Mamatha, Assistant Professor (VSGC)

Benefits of GPS

1. Accurate Navigation: Provides real-time, precise location tracking for personal and
commercial use.
2. Time Synchronization: Synchronizes time across global communication networks.
3. Increased Efficiency: Enhances logistics, fleet management, and route optimization.
4. Safety and Security: Facilitates emergency response, search and rescue operations, and asset
tracking.

Disadvantages in GPS

1. Signal Interference: GPS signals can be disrupted by tall buildings, dense forests, or
adverse weather conditions.
2. Privacy Concerns: Tracking capabilities may raise privacy and data security issues.
3. Dependency on Satellites: GPS relies on satellite infrastructure, which can be affected by
technical failures.
4. Battery Consumption: Continuous GPS use drains device batteries quickly.

Conclusion : GPS is a powerful technology that has transformed navigation and location-
based services across various industries. While it offers unparalleled accuracy and efficiency,
challenges such as signal interference and privacy concerns remain. As technology advances,
future improvements in GPS are expected to enhance precision, reliability and security.

Smt. A. Mamatha, Assistant Professor (VSGC)