Significance of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in Engineering & Surveying (Webinar)

In Significance of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in Engineering & Surveying, you'll learn ...

• The foundational principles and operational mechanisms of GPS and GNSS technologies in engineering and surveying
• The integration of GPS with GIS and other geospatial systems to support infrastructure planning and spatial decision-making
• The range of civil engineering applications enabled by GPS, including urban development, transportation, environmental monitoring, and hazard assessment
• The selection and implementation of GPS surveying methods and equipment to achieve required levels of accuracy and reliability

Overview

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Global Positioning Systems or GPS are used to find the exact location of things. GPS uses satellites that orbit Earth to send information to GPS receivers that are on the ground. The information helps people determine their location. GPS is used to reduce distortions and to improve the positional accuracy of these images.

There are various advantages of GPS. The various applications of GPS technology are for locating positions, getting access to emergency roadside support, mapping and surveying etc. The GPS signal is available worldwide and GPS can be used anywhere on earth; a solid tracking system and a GPS receiver are all you need. In the United States' Navstar GPS, 24 main satellites in 6 orbits circle Earth every 12 hours.

During the presentation, we will discuss cover various topics, including the significance of GPS in Engineering & Surveying, the working mechanisms of GPS technology, different development phases of GPS technology, terminologies relevant to GPS technology, how GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and GPS are related and future goals of GPS technology in engineering & surveying.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

• The historical development of GPS technology and its transition from military origins to widespread civilian and engineering use
• The working mechanism of GPS, including satellite constellations, orbital planes, signal transmission, trilateration principles, and time synchronization
• The distinction between GPS and GNSS, including multi-constellation systems such as GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo, and their impact on accuracy and reliability
• The five primary functions of GPS: positioning, navigation, tracking, mapping, and precise timing
• The application of GPS in engineering contexts such as remote sensing, mineral mapping, watershed analysis, landfill site selection, pollution monitoring, and structural stability assessment
• The use of GPS in land surveying, including static baseline measurements, Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) observations, and Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS)
• The accuracy considerations associated with GPS surveying, including baseline precision, millimeter-per-kilometer performance, and real-time correction methods
• The equipment and instrumentation required for professional GPS surveying, including receivers, antennas, rover rods, tripods, and integrated total stations
• The advantages and limitations of GPS in land surveying, including signal obstruction, environmental interference, system reliability, and cost considerations
• How to evaluate the suitability of GPS technologies for specific engineering and infrastructure projects based on accuracy requirements, site constraints, and operational goals
• Future goals of GPS technology in engineering & surveying