88
Chapter 4 Finding Your Location with the Global Positioning System
GPS. When field-based data is necessary to create or update utility data, workers equipped with GPS can collect this type of data quickly and accurately.
Transportation
GPS provides a means of continuously tracking travel, whether on the road,
in the water, or in the air. Since GPS receivers can constantly receive signals
from the satellites, your travel progress can be monitored to make sure that
you stay on track. When your GPS-determined position can be plotted in realtime on a map, you can see just where you’ve traveled to and measure your
progress. Delivery and shipping companies can use this type of data to keep
tabs on their fleets of vehicles to see if they deviate from their routes.
Wildlife Management
Similarly to tracking a vehicle, wildlife and endangered species can be
tagged with a GPS receiver which monitors their location and transmits it to
a source capable of tracking those movements. In this way, migration patterns of animals can be determined and patterns of wildlife movements can
be observed.
Beyond its uses in the private and public sectors, GPS has become a tool
to assist in personal recreation. If you’re a runner, GPS can track your position while exercising, along with measuring your speed. If you’re a hiker,
GPS can keep you from getting lost when you’re deep into unfamiliar territory. If you’re into fishing, GPS can help locate places supposed to be well
stocked with fish. If you’re a golfer, you can use GPS to measure your ball’s
location and the distance to the pin. In fact, there’s a whole new form of
recreation that’s grown in popularity along with GPS, called geocaching.
What happens if the Global Positioning System
stops working—or at least working at 100% capability? If the satellites stop operating without being replaced, GPS would essentially stop functioning. If the number of satellites would drop below
the full operational capacity, then GPS would work
some of the time (or could have greatly reduced
accuracy). The scenario of an operational failure
of GPS is explored in this article from GPS World:
http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/news/
gps-risk-doomsday-2010-7092.
If something like this would come to pass, what
would be the effect of a lack of GPS? What industries
would be impacted without having access to GPS?
What would be the effect on navigation of aircraft or
other travel? What are the military implications of a
world without GPS? How would all of these factors
affect your life?
By the same token, is society too reliant on GPS?
Since Selective Availability was turned off in 2000,
there’s been an overwhelming amount of GPS usage in many aspects of everyday life. Is the availability of GPS taken for granted within society? If
the system could fail or be negated, what impacts
would this have on people reliant on this technology
always being available to them?
What Happens if GPS Stops Working?
Thinking Critically with Geospatial Technology 4.1
geocaching using
GPS to find locations of
hidden objects based
on previously obtaining
a set of coordinates.
Chapter 4 Finding Your Location with the Global Positioning System
GPS. When field-based data is necessary to create or update utility data, workers equipped with GPS can collect this type of data quickly and accurately.
Transportation
GPS provides a means of continuously tracking travel, whether on the road,
in the water, or in the air. Since GPS receivers can constantly receive signals
from the satellites, your travel progress can be monitored to make sure that
you stay on track. When your GPS-determined position can be plotted in realtime on a map, you can see just where you’ve traveled to and measure your
progress. Delivery and shipping companies can use this type of data to keep
tabs on their fleets of vehicles to see if they deviate from their routes.
Wildlife Management
Similarly to tracking a vehicle, wildlife and endangered species can be
tagged with a GPS receiver which monitors their location and transmits it to
a source capable of tracking those movements. In this way, migration patterns of animals can be determined and patterns of wildlife movements can
be observed.
Beyond its uses in the private and public sectors, GPS has become a tool
to assist in personal recreation. If you’re a runner, GPS can track your position while exercising, along with measuring your speed. If you’re a hiker,
GPS can keep you from getting lost when you’re deep into unfamiliar territory. If you’re into fishing, GPS can help locate places supposed to be well
stocked with fish. If you’re a golfer, you can use GPS to measure your ball’s
location and the distance to the pin. In fact, there’s a whole new form of
recreation that’s grown in popularity along with GPS, called geocaching.
What happens if the Global Positioning System
stops working—or at least working at 100% capability? If the satellites stop operating without being replaced, GPS would essentially stop functioning. If the number of satellites would drop below
the full operational capacity, then GPS would work
some of the time (or could have greatly reduced
accuracy). The scenario of an operational failure
of GPS is explored in this article from GPS World:
http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/news/
gps-risk-doomsday-2010-7092.
If something like this would come to pass, what
would be the effect of a lack of GPS? What industries
would be impacted without having access to GPS?
What would be the effect on navigation of aircraft or
other travel? What are the military implications of a
world without GPS? How would all of these factors
affect your life?
By the same token, is society too reliant on GPS?
Since Selective Availability was turned off in 2000,
there’s been an overwhelming amount of GPS usage in many aspects of everyday life. Is the availability of GPS taken for granted within society? If
the system could fail or be negated, what impacts
would this have on people reliant on this technology
always being available to them?
What Happens if GPS Stops Working?
Thinking Critically with Geospatial Technology 4.1
geocaching using
GPS to find locations of
hidden objects based
on previously obtaining
a set of coordinates.