Global Positioning System Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 2.1 shows all the principle positioning technologies plotted
graphically. The horizontal axis is time and the vertical axis is approximate range,
with families of technologies placed together horizontally as a series of time lines.
Table 2.1 gives some details of these systems that are explained in more depth in
Chapters 6 and 7.
Table 2.1
Summary of Positioning Technology
Type of System
Name of System
Description of System
Global Navigational
Satellite System
(GNSS)
Global Positioning
System (GPS)
Assisted GPS (AGPS)
U.S. military and civilian (3m
accuracy).
Cellular radio data service
enhances GPS performance
especially for emergency calling
(E911 services).
Ground stations generate
positioning correction to enhance
accuracy (<1m).
Differential GPS
(DGPS)
Global Navigational
Satellite System
(GLONASS)
Beidou/Compass
Galileo
Russian system currently being
upgraded.
Chinese system under development
EU System under development
(<1m accuracy by 2013).
Low Earth Orbit
(LEO) Systems
Possible future disruptive
technology (space tourism spin-
off).
High Altitude Platform
(HAP)
Possible future disruptive
technology based on airships or
solar powered aircraft.
Proprietary Systems
Loran - C
(Long Range
Navigation)
Long-established low-frequency
maritime service (upgrade under
consideration).
Example of vehicle antitheft
system using private mobile radio
(PMR).
Australian PMR system.
“Tracker”
QuikTrak
