GPS (Global Positioning System)
                     GPS (GLOBAL 
POSITIONING 
SYSTEM)
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