What is Global Positioning System (GPS) and How does it work.
                     WHAT IS GLOBAL 
POSITIONING 
SYSTEM (GPS) 
AND HOW DOES 
IT WORK?
What is GPS?
GPS, or the Global Positioning 
System, is a global navigation 
satellite system that provides 
location, velocity and time 
synchronization.
Source: www.geotab.com
How does it 
work?
The satellite system consists of 
a constellation of 24 satellites in 
six Earth-centered orbital 
planes, each with four satellites, 
orbiting at 13,000 miles above 
Earth and traveling at a speed of 
8,700 mph.
Source: www.geotab.com
Elements of 
GPS
The three segments of GPS are:
• Space: The satellites circling 
the Earth, transmitting 
signals to users on 
geographical position and 
time of day.
• Ground control: The Control 
Segment is made up of Earth-
based monitor stations, 
master control stations and 
ground antenna. 
• User equipment: GPS 
receivers and transmitters 
including items like watches, 
smartphones and telematic 
devices.
Source: www.geotab.com
Trilateration
• GPS works through a 
technique called trilateration. 
• Used to calculate location, 
velocity and elevation, 
trilateration collects signals 
from satellites to output 
location information. 
Source: www.geotab.com
How GPS calculate 
location?
• Satellites orbiting the earth 
send signals to be read and 
interpreted by a GPS device, 
situated on or near the 
earth’s surface. 
• To calculate location, a GPS 
device must be able to read 
the signal from at least four 
satellites.
Source: www.geotab.com
How satellites 
work determining 
location?
• When a satellite sends a 
signal, it creates a circle with 
a radius measured from the 
GPS device to the satellite.
• When we add a second 
satellite, it creates a second 
circle, and the location is 
narrowed down to one of two 
points where the circles 
intersect.
• With a third satellite, the 
device’s location can finally 
be determined, as the device 
is at the intersection of all 
three circles.
Source: www.geotab.com
Uses of GPS
• There are five main uses of 
GPS:
• Location — Determining a 
position.
• Navigation — Getting from one 
location to another.
• Tracking — Monitoring object 
or personal movement.
• Mapping — Creating maps of 
the world.
• Timing — Making it possible to 
take precise time 
measurements.
Source: www.geotab.com
Emergency 
Response
• During an emergency or 
natural disaster, first 
responders use GPS for 
mapping, following and 
predicting weather, and 
keeping track of emergency 
personnel. 
Source: www.geotab.com
Transportation
• Logistics companies 
implement telematics 
systems to improve driver 
productivity and safety. 
• A truck tracker can be used 
to support route optimization, 
fuel efficiency, driver safety 
and compliance.
Source: www.geotab.com
Health and fitness
• Smartwatches and wearable 
technology can track fitness 
activity (such as running 
distance) and benchmark it 
against a similar 
demographic.
Source: www.geotab.com