GENERAL APPLICATIONS OF GPS |
GPS applications can be classified as follows:
|
We can provide further details on these applications:
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Surveying and mapping, including cadastral and urban networks,
data capture surveys for Geographic Information Systems (GIS), engineering
surveys, photogrammetrical control (airborne and terrestrial), and geophysical
resource surveys.
Geodetic applications, including the establishment of
control networks over regional and continental extent, height and geoid
determination, precise engineering and subsidence monitoring surveys.
Geodynamic applications, for measuring the relative position
of a regional network at regular intervals in order to infer horizontal
and vertical crustal motion.
Land navigation, to support emergency vehicles (police,
search & rescue, etc.) and for the monitoring of cars, taxis, dangerous
and valuable cargoes, trucks and railways.
Transportation and communication, to support aids for
navigation for land, sea and air users, land operations taking advantage
of permanent GPS stations, time transfer operations, etc.
Recreational uses, for hiking, orienteering, etc.
Airport approach and landing, as an aid for all categories
of landing including full instrument landings.
Domestic and intercontinental enroute navigation, including
helicopter operations.
Air Traffic Control operations, dynamic routing, new airport
approaches.
Search and rescue operations, including coordinated search
operations, collision avoidance, and rendezvous.
Aerial photogrammetry, including laser profiling and radar
imaging.
Airborne geophysical surveys, including position and attitude
determination for gravimeter, magnetometer and remote sensing operations.
Recreational applications, glider, ballooning, light aircraft,
and parachuting operations.
Open ocean and coastal navigation, with or without aid
of electronic charts.
Harbour and inland waterway navigation, including when
visibility is low.
Search and rescue operations, including coordinated search
operations and rendezvous.
Ship Monitoring Systems for collision avoidance, remote
piloting, and tracking of fishing fleets and dangerous cargoes.
Offshore geophysical surveys, including seismic and gravity
surveys.
Engineering applications such as drill rig, pipeline and
other offshore structure positioning.
Hydrographic surveys, including surveys to support oceanographic
research.
Recreational applications, such as fishing, snorkelling,
sailing.
Spacecraft launch and landing.
Navigation, inflight, re-entry and rendezvous, for earth-orbiting
and interplanetary missions.
Orbit determination, for many earth resource and scientific
missions.
Sounding the atmosphere, including GPS "meteorology",
and ionospheric studies.
Enroute and low-level navigation for tactical and strategic
operations.
Target acquisition, including forward observation, covert
operations.
Photo reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
Remotely operated vehicles, for reconnaissance and targeting.
Weapon guidance and control, "smart" bombs,
cruise missiles, etc.
Command and control, the C3 applications, tracking
of battle elements.
Updating inertial navigation systems, at sea, in the air
and on land.
Fleet, air and land operations, the "electronic battlefield",
battle element manoeuvring.
Some speculation on future application trends can be found in section 12.3.3.
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© Chris Rizos, SNAP-UNSW, 1999
Surveying and Mapping, on
land, at sea and from the air. The applications are of relatively high accuracy,
for positioning in both the stationary and moving mode. Includes geophysical
and resource surveys, GIS data capture surveys, etc.