Exploring GPS Technology: Functionality, Applications, and Limitations

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DATA COMMUNICATION AND
NETWORKS ROUTING

Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................3
What is GPS and how it works:.................................................................................................4
Task 1.........................................................................................................................................5
Task 2.........................................................................................................................................6
Task 3.........................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................8
References:.................................................................................................................................9
List of figures:
Figure 1: GPS.............................................................................................................................4
Figure 2: Working of GPS.........................................................................................................4
Figure 3: GPS system.................................................................................................................5

Introduction:
Data communication and network routing is part of the networking and a network is a
possible route to transfer messages or information from one system to another system. this
information founds in the packet forms and uses a different number of algorithms to find the
shortest path between two points. Conduct research in the current assignment on a technology
that is “Global Positioning System (GPS)”. This research will include understanding and
evaluation of GPS on different criteria like security, regulation, usability and technology.
Explain the fundamental methods that required to operate GPS including different principles
are explain in this assignment. It will include the discussion, evaluation and weakness of GPS
application along with the appropriate examples.

What is GPS and how it works:
Data communication and networks routing have different layers to perform the routing
process that is also known as network layers and these layers are three types, static, default
and dynamic. Select the topic of “Global Positioning System” that is an American satellite
navigation system and operated by United States air force. The GPS satellite system provides
time information with the geolocation to a GPS receiver anywhere on earth. Some kinds of
obstacles like building and mountains block the GPS signals. The network of GPS satellite
system consists of 24 orbiting satellites that include a path of eleven thousand nautical miles
in space in six orbitals (Johnny, 2019).
Figure 1: GPS
Source: (vectorstock, 2019)
The working of GPS system depends on the different segments these are,
 Space segment or the GPS satellite
 Control system that operated by the US military
 User segment that operated by both, the US military and the civilians with using their
GPS systems

Figure 2: Working of GPS
Source: (Kaur, 2019)
Trilateration, a mathematical principle that used by GPS to determine the position from a
distance. Here represented a figure in which four satellite trying to get the position of a
human but the location confirms by fourth satellite. A complete GPS system includes
satellites, control station, receiver and monitor system to get the location.
Figure 3: GPS system
Source: (elprocus, 2019)

Task 1
A method name as intricate signalling use in the GPS devices for tracking purpose. As the
discussion in the previous paragraph, the method of triangulation uses to determine exact
position. The least error in a GPS system is 100 meters horizontally and 300 meters
vertically. Real-time phase is also a similar methodology used in a GPS system. GPS receiver
is a part of a GPS system that has different models and types like, a compass with a map,
downloaded GPS cables and some extra batteries. Here are some advantages and
disadvantages of the GPS system are like,
Advantages:
 This tool is useful for military use along with commercial and civil use.
 It provides a high speed and used in vehicle tracking system with proper navigation
Disadvantages:
 GPS signals are weak compared to phone signals as it doesn’t work underwater,
indoors and others.
 It doesn’t provide the highest accuracy in a system (elprocus, 2019)
Operate GPS system in an Android device with the following steps:
 Download google maps and open it
 Type a name of any place in the search box where you want to go and search it
 Tap on the destination with direction and enter the starting point as it may be your
location
 Select transportation mode and click on Start to start the journey
In the networking principles of GPS as it used to broadcast the signals that contain
information to check the distance of the location with using another satellite. After getting the
location, a circle of radius created at the centre. After confirming the position of an object,
two circles are used to confirm the location and this message receives to GPS receiver. The
common error of in the location is 100 horizontal and 300-meter vertical (Dommety and Jain,
2019).

Task 2
As per the above discussion, GPS is used to determine the location, direction with an average
total time to travel and it’s a fast-growing application that used in almost every device. Price
of GPS technology falling rapidly as there are various solutions available in the market. after
conducting a survey, it was found that the GPS formed in the new version and less with more
secure technology by different companies like IBM, Sony, Apple and others. Current GPS
used in each area of human life like aviation, marine, farming, science, survey and others.
Here we discuss some of the common examples as below:
 In the aviation field, aircraft use a GPS system to track the real-time location of the
aircraft and provide a map to passengers to get the destination details.
 The marine industry also used the GPS to get the destination map as well as to know
the details about the rivers, sandbars and others. Here GPS is also useful to get the
depth of some natural resources.
 Military use the GPS system makes strong navigation of the networks that are
required to get the location of their vehicles.
 Telecommunicator like mobile phones uses the GPS technology to provide users
stability, accuracy and reliability of different operations.
The other application areas of the GPS are like, road transportation, social activities, locate
animals or pets, in travel, hunting and fishing, intelligence vehicle, robotic fields and other
more areas (grindgis, 2018).
GPS technology has different positive features, but it also has some downsides that are as
below:
 Inaccuracy: a GPS device get signals from four satellites to provide the location or
information or we can say it is required to connect minimum four satellite with a GPS
device for proper working. If three satellites are connected to the GPS than the result
is not completely accurate. It could also happen when some obstacles like buildings,
walls and big trees obstruct the signals.
 Lack of experience and knowledge: During travelling to other places. A person
mostly depends on the GPS system to know the local area and at that time, due to the
lack of local experience missed the correct information.

 Failure of battery or signal: GPS technology can’t work when suffering a signal
failure. At the other side, batter failure could have a backup plan or paper map.
 Privacy issues: most people use GPS without any knowledge and fix a device in their
car or any vehicle, to track the vehicle in some cases. Same these methods can be used
to track stolen vehicles or in criminal purpose.
Some other downsides of GPS are included like, commercial exploitation and its usages in
restrict areas (Goodman, 2019).

Task 3
Use different websites with the journal articles to complete this research and proper source to
get the information. A credible source of information is required to get better results that
include trusted information. Same as the quality references are used in the research paper that
is helpful to develop the skills. Perform the CRAAP test that includes different factors
(Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose) to test the research paper. Define
different factors of the information that used to complete this assignment as below:
 Accuracy: the used information is accurate with proper references and includes the
author's options about the research on GPS. Different areas of GPS are defined with
different sources. The content of the research paper is not repeated.
 Authority: evaluate the information that is the part of different sources, is also reliable
and true. This information access from a different internet source or print journals and
check on different points like objectivity, currency and others. Provide authors name
in the research papers.
 Objectivity: improve the understanding of objectivity with the evaluation of
information in this research paper. Objectivity is a philosophical concept that used
independently by different sources.
 Currency: some current paper journal or website literature are also taken from
different sources.
 Coverage: coverage in the information includes contents, journals, science
broadcasting and others (libguides, 2019).

Conclusion:
Successfully conduct the research on GPS system with using different journals and articles.
Define the fundamental methods of the GPS system with networking principles. Define the
advantages and disadvantages of the GPS system with examples of different applications.
The last section includes the discussion on research papers on different factors like accuracy,
authority, objectivity, currency and coverage.

References:
Dommety, G. and Jain, R. (2019). Potential Networking Applications of Global Positioning
Systems. [online] Cse.wustl. Available at: https://www.cse.wustl.edu/~jain/papers/ftp/gps.pdf
[Accessed 5 Apr. 2019].
elprocus (2019). How Does a Global Positioning System (GPS) Tracking System Works?.
[online] ElProCus - Electronic Projects for Engineering Students. Available at:
https://www.elprocus.com/how-gps-system-works/ [Accessed 5 Apr. 2019].
Goodman, P. (2019). 7 Disadvantages of GPS Technology. [online] AxleAddict. Available at:
https://axleaddict.com/safety/Disadvantages-of-GPS [Accessed 5 Apr. 2019].
grindgis (2018). 50 Uses or Applications of GPS. [online] Grind GIS-GIS and Remote
Sensing Blogs, Articles, Tutorials. Available at: https://grindgis.com/gps/50-uses-or-
applications-of-gps [Accessed 5 Apr. 2019].
Johnny (2019). What is GPS? An explanation into Global Positioning Systems. [online] Ja-
gps. Available at: https://www.ja-gps.com.au/what-is-gps.aspx [Accessed 5 Apr. 2019].
Kaur, K. (2019). Understanding the Global Positioning System. [online] AZoSensors.
Available at: https://www.azosensors.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=29 [Accessed 5 Apr. 2019].
libguides (2019). Search Smart: Evaluating your sources: Evaluating your sources. [online]
Flinders.libguides. Available at: http://flinders.libguides.com/evaluate [Accessed 5 Apr.
2019].
vectorstock (2019). GPS global positioning system satellite phone vector image on
VectorStock. [online] VectorStock. Available at: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-
vector/gps-global-positioning-system-satellite-phone-vector-10877719 [Accessed 5 Apr.
2019].