Global Positioning System

The Global Positioning System is a U.S.-operated satellite-based navigation system that provides positioning, navigation, and timing information worldwide.

Trilateration: A method of locating a point by measuring its distances from known positions. A receiver estimates its location from signal travel times to satellites at known positions.
Radio navigation: Navigation that determines position or direction using radio signals. GPS belongs to this broader family of navigation systems.
Geographic information system: A system for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying data tied to locations. GPS supplies coordinates that can be attached to mapped features and observations.
GLONASS: Russia’s satellite navigation system, providing global positioning and timing services. It is an independent global constellation that receivers can use instead of or alongside GPS.
Location-based service: A digital service whose functions depend on the geographic location of a device or user. GPS made reliable location data widely available to phones and connected services.
Pseudorange: An estimated distance between a satellite and receiver derived from signal travel time, including clock errors. GPS receivers use pseudoranges as their primary measurements for calculating position.
Orbital mechanics: The application of physical laws to the motion of objects in space. It describes the satellite trajectories GPS uses to provide global coverage.
Precision agriculture: Agricultural management that uses spatial data to tailor decisions and inputs across fields. GPS-guided equipment applies treatments and follows field paths with precise location data.
Galileo: The European Union’s global satellite navigation system. It offers a separate civil-controlled constellation that can complement GPS reception.
Precision timing: The generation and distribution of time measurements with high accuracy and stability. GPS timing underpins synchronization in telecommunications, power systems, and financial networks.

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