Global Navigation Satellite Systems

(GPS)

By: Eng. Nehal Mostafa Mohammed

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 Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................. 3
What Is GNSS?............................................................................................. 3
GPS ................................................................................................................ 3
Definition ................................................................................................... 3
Concept ...................................................................................................... 3
Characteristics........................................................................................... 4
Types .......................................................................................................... 5
Conclusion..................................................................................................... 6
References ..................................................................................................... 7

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Introduction
In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, accurate positioning and reliable navigation
have become essential for a multitude of applications, ranging from personal devices to
complex global systems. At the heart of this technological revolution lies the Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), with the Global Positioning System (GPS) serving as its
most prominent and widely recognized component. GNSS has transformed the way we
navigate, enabling precise positioning, efficient transportation, and seamless integration
across various industries. This report delves into GNSS technology, with a primary focus on
the GPS system that helps in understanding GPS concept, characteristics and types.

What Is GNSS?
A constellation of satellites known as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
transmits signals from space that GNSS receivers can use to determine their precise position
and time such as:

• USA’s NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS)

• Europe’s Galileo
• Russia’s Global'naya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS)
• China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System

GPS
Definition
Global Positioning System is a space-based navigation and positioning system that was
designed by the U.S. Military to allow a single soldier or group of soldiers to autonomously
determine their position to within 10 to 20 meters of truth. The concept of autonomy was
crucial because it was vital to develop a system that would enable the soldier to accurately
determine their position in the absence of any other radio (or other) communications. AGPS
is part of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which means that it is a satellite
navigation system with global coverage.

Concept
GPS works through a technique called trilateration. Trilateration collects signals from
satellites and outputs information about location by calculating location, velocity, and
elevation. It is frequently confused with triangulation, which measures angles rather than
distances. A GPS device placed on or near the earth's surface receives signals from satellites
orbiting the earth that are read and decoded by the device. A GPS device needs to be able to
read the signal from at least four satellites in order to determine its location. Every satellite in
the network completes two daily orbits around the earth and transmits an individual signal
with its own orbital parameters and time. A GPS device may read the signals from six or
more satellites at any given time. When a satellite sends a signal, it creates a circle with a
radius measured from the GPS device to the satellite. When we add a second satellite, it
creates a second circle, and the location is narrowed down to one of two points where the
circles intersect. With a third satellite, the device’s location can finally be determined, as the

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device is at the intersection of all three circles as shown in Figure (1). However, because the
earth is three-dimensional, each satellite generates a sphere rather than a circle. Two points of
intersection result from the intersection of the three spheres, thus the one closest to Earth is
selected.

Figure 1: Possible Positions with 3 GPS Satellites

Characteristics
Following Figure (2) are some of the characteristics of GPS constellation:

Figure 2: Characteristics of GPS Constellation

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Types
Applications for the global positioning system are extremely varied. Additionally, it
underwent several modifications that resulted in various GPS types. Each class specializes in
fulfilling requirements, even though they all operate according to the same basic concept. The
various GPS system types include:

• Assisted GPS:
A specific type of GPS called assisted GPS (A-GPS) enables receivers to get data from
local network sources to help with satellite location. A-GPS is typically utilized in places
where satellite signals are difficult to receive, likely because of trees or towering
structures. A-GPS cannot operate without cellular networks, though. Since GPS was
made available for commercial usage, assisted GPS has become important. A-GPS is
widely utilized in smartphones, enabling emergency call dispatch to access the phone's
position data. The technology extends startup times while enabling cell phones to lock
onto the navigation system even when the signal is poor or just two satellites can see their
device.

• Simultaneous GPS:
A GPS modification known as simultaneous GPS (S-GPS) enables speech data and GPS
signaling to be broadcast simultaneously from a phone. Better sensitivity is achieved by
sending both data kinds simultaneously as opposed to simultaneously sending the SPS
signal which stands for Standard Positioning Service and provides the lowest accuracy
GPS position measurements and receiving the telephone call. This is especially helpful
in an emergency since it enables service providers, such as ambulances and fire stations,
to find the call's origin even while the call is still in progress.

• Differential GPS:
A modification method called differential GPS (D-GPS) is used to improve the precision
of location information collected from a conventional GPS receiver. The addition of D-
GPS to GPS improves our understanding of an object or person's precise location. GPS
typically has an accuracy range of no more than 15 meters. The position error limit can
be reduced to 1 inch (2.5 cm) by using D-GPS. It operates by broadcasting the estimated
difference between the known fixed locations and the satellite location over a network of
fixed ground stations.

• Non-differential GPS:
Non-differential GPS, as opposed to differential GPS, uses direct satellite signals to
deduce positioning. It is less accurate than D-GPS but has a significantly more
comprehensive range of use.

• Mapping GPS:
Mapping GPS is a type of GPS unit that comes with in-built maps. It is also possible to
download maps to add to the mapping GPS. This is the type of GPS unit often found in
mobile devices and other handheld devices.

• Non-mapping GPS:
Non-mapping GPS is a type of GPS unit that comes without maps. It shows you your
location and the direction to get to another point without seeing roads or landmarks. It
uses breadcrumb-like trails to mark your progress and direction.

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Conclusion
GPS technology has altered navigation, positioning, and more in our everyday lives. In order
to advance GPS technology and realize its full potential for the good of humanity, it is
essential that we keep making investments in research, innovation, and cooperation.

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 References

1. Bernhard Hofmann, Wellenhof Herbert Lichtenegger, Elmar

Wasle. (2008). GNSS Global Navigation Satellite Systems: GPS,
GLONASS, Galileo & More. Published by
SpringerWienNewYork.

2. Geotab Team. “What Is GPS and how do global positioning

systems work?”, Geotab, 22 May 2020,
https://www.geotab.com/blog/what-is-gps/, Accessed 30 August
2023.

3. Chiradeep BasuMallick. “What Is GPS (Global Positioning

System)? Meaning, Types, Working, Examples, and Applications”,
Spiceworks, 3 June 2022,
https://www.spiceworks.com/tech/iot/articles/what-is-gps/#_003,
Accessed 30 August 2023.