Handheld GPS

Global positioning System (GPS) has come to play an important role in day-to-day life and is finding variety of applications both in civil and strategic areas. It holds high promise for development into affordable, compact and reliable aid for precise and speedy determination of position, velocity and time for diverse applications. The present paper highlights the brief historical development, GPs technology, applications, and status.

GPS receivers are used for navigation, positioning, time dissemination, and other research. Navigation receivers are made for aircraft, ships, ground vehicles, and for hand carrying by individuals.Precise positioning is possible using GPS receivers at reference locations providing corrections and relative positioning data for remote receivers. Surveying, geodetic control, and plate tectonic studies are examples. Monitoring of ground movements by repeated or continuous measurements can be done.GPS can be economically employed for all types of survey mapping and tracking work in conjunction with other uses.It is a powerful means to support Land Information System (LIS) and Geographical Information System (GIS).

They have the following advantages over conventional methods of navigation or surveying:

• Inter-visibility between points is not required.
• All-weather operation.
• Day and Night operation
• Distances up to thousands of kilometers can be measured.
• Fast and economical method.

Few Areas of Applications

1. Mining Application
2. Personal navigation
3. Tracking
4. Land survey
5. Forest survey
6. Telecom network planning etc.
7. Power line network planning.