Global Positioning System (GPS) and India

chillibreeze writer — Rajat Banerjee

India has been using different advanced satellite technology based services since the early 90’s. India uses a wide array of satellite technology based services to monitor, manage, control and administer different aspects like weather, irrigation, traffic etc.

What Exactly Is Global Positioning System (GPS)

Global Positioning System (GPS) refers to a structured satellite constellation network comprising of around 24 satellites orbiting the earth’s atmosphere. GPS satellites are used for navigational, surveying, mapping, routing, charting and time distribution purposes. GPS technology is a sophisticated as well as complicated form of satellite technology that uses a complex network of processors and servers to receive and transmit data to and from the earth. GPS technology is mainly integrated with GSM (Global System of Mobile Communications) data network protocol to locate and update data.

Transmission signals from GPS satellites are received at base stations on earth. Base stations use different forms of server technology and associated hardware devices to store, interpret and analyze the data. The processed data can be saved in different formats and can be used in accordance with the needs of the data evaluator. The data stored can also be sorted, edited and filtered with the help of advanced automated sorters, editors and filters.

Apart from all these, GPS technology in India has some advanced utility features. These include: real time functions, complex functions (like generating better search patterns, compressing tracklogs etc), intricate data analysis, datum/grid conversions, exporting and importing data (both raw track data and processed data), etc.

In India, GPS technology equipment are mainly manufactured and marketed by Aerospace Systems Private Ltd. (ASPL), Bangalore, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and Positioning Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (PTPL).

Enhancement of GPS technology in India is mainly supported by the Department of Electronics (DOE), Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO), Department of Space (DOS), Ministry of Civil Aviation and other space research bodies.

Services Rendered By GPS Satellites in India

India has been using GPS technology since the early 90’s. GPS is mainly used in India to identify weather conditions, track vehicular traffic, track irrigation aspects, identify, identify national borders, identify vegetation areas and habitats etc. You can well map the information that you receive from GPS satellites and add map annotations in text and image form. You can interpret map data on a linear moving display. You can digitize things like waypoints, routes etc. The services offered by Global Positioning System (GPS) are plenty.

Uses of GPS in India

In India, GPS services are used to control and manage vehicular flow in many cities. Automatic Vehicle Locater System is a hardware device that uses GPS technology to monitor vehicle movements. Using this, you can well track a fleet of vehicles. Vehicle tracking system is made up of two units. The mobile vehicle unit and the fixed base station units.

GPS technology is also used for harvesting. Tractors provided with GPS guidance systems are used for accurate ploughing, harvesting, spraying insecticides and fertilizers on specified areas, location and tagging of soil samples etc.

GPS can also be used for tourism and adventure sports purposes. With GPS enabled hardware technologies, you can, not only receive route signals on mountain terrains, you can also get information about terrain altitudes and future weather conditions.

GPS together with GLONASS satellite technology has been working together in combination since 1990’s. Integration of both these satellite constellation network resulted in the production of a receiver that monitors satellite signaling more perfectly.

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Rajat writes for chillibreeze.

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