How GPS works?
GPS is widely used in every aspect of an individual’s daily life. Further, even every phone is already embedded with GPS to take advantage of the location services benefits like tracking and transportation systems. Phones are able to receive the accuracy of results until 10 cm or smaller scale depending on the smartphone technology features and mobile data capacity (ex.5G network) in our internet-centric world.
Now, let‘s start with understanding how GPS identifies the location.
Here are the basic questions regarding satellite/Here are basic satellite questions to answer.
- Where is each Satellite location? The answer for this is the Geocoordinate point (Latitude/Longitude)
- How far is each satellite from the INDIVIDUAL to be able to calculate the lighting speed?
Ex. SATA info is on X, Y at T o’clock, the GPS chip in mobile phone processes to receive the information within S second where this comes from distance calculation from SATA to the place, or getting the answer using the expression-Distance = speed x time.
3. Next is, drawing the radius of the Satellite distance from the center for each of them.
4. In sum, the Intersection of 3 circles will be the location of the INDIVIDUAL as the principle of Trilateration Measurement.
Given that the earth is an oblate spheroid so there are some limits of area accessibility. However, the said principle can be applied. To get the accurate answer, it is necessary to have enough number of Satellites covering the area of interest. Now there are 30 GPS satellites operational in space from the high technology Leading world countries like the USA, Russia, Japan, and China.
Moreover, the most exciting part is ensuring that the Atomic Clock in the satellite and our devices(phone) are at the same time and compatible or we have to add one more satellite point to calibrate the calculation from 3 to 4 satellites.
The mystery about GPS and Internet signals on our phone is that they are different and independent technologies, but they can be combined to make use of and rely on each other. GPS signal is emitting in a radio frequency; Thus, every phone can receive GPS location without an Internet connection. But they make use of internet connection to find the nearest Satellites, to calculate the location of the INDIVIDUAL rapidly. However, without internet connection, although the GPS will still work, it will take a long time to search and calibrate the location of satellites evidently.
Well, you may have questions about how to get a position where GPS is not possible such as inside buildings, underground, or tunnels. There are many technologies to support and solve the problem which I will share about this in the next chapter. Stay tuned!
To learn more about HERE Location Services you may visit: https://developer.here.com/
Try HERE Maps and Signup to receive update information: https://t.her.is/2ZNBWV7
