What is GPS? Now we may ask the question- What is GPS? A small and easy looking question, but not that easy to answer.

To understand the concept we must know that GPS or the Global Positioning System is a worldwide radio-navigation system comprised of a constellation of 24 satellites and their ground stations. GPS uses these “man-made” stars as reference points to calculate positions accurate to a matter of meters (and sometimes centimeters with advanced GPS devices). Nowadays GPS devices are miniaturized to just few integrated circuits and so are very economical. This makes the technology accessible to virtually everyone. GPS is also finding its way into cars, boats, planes, machines, construction equipments, laptops and even cell phones!

Why we need it? GPS technology has matured into a resource that goes far beyond its original goal.

Nowadays GPS is not only used as a tool for military operations, but as an important commodity for modern day living. These days scientists, farmers, soldiers, pilots, surveyors, hikers, delivery drivers,sailors, policemen and fire-fighters, viz. people from every profession use GPS in ways that make their work more productive, safer, and sometimes even easier. Though the uses of GPS are virtually unlimited, the applications of the technology can be narrowed down to four categories.

Location

GPS is the first positioning system to offer highly precise location data from any point on the planet, in any weather.

Navigation

Tracking

Mapping

Using GPS to survey and map precisely helps in saving both time and money. Mapping is the art and science of using GPS to locate items, then create maps and models of everything. GPS makes it possible for a single surveyor to accomplish in a day what would otherwise take weeks for an entire team. Mapping anything anywhere has become an easy job with the help of GPS technology.