Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is satellite system used to point out the location of the user’s receiver on the globe. While GNSS receivers are the suboptimal implementation of the estimator of the propagation signal delay.
How it Works
When the communication signals of all satellites are received by a single antenna, the signal is split by the receiver which creates various identical copies. From each of copies, a navigation message, and its propagation delay, from a different satellite is extracted.
Applications of GNSS
Here are the applications of the GNSS:
1. Auto, Air & Water Navigation
GNSS receivers help in displaying moving maps and information about location, direction, speed, and nearby areas in the automobile navigation system. These are usually integrated within the automobiles in the factory or as aftermarket equipment.
On the other hand, air navigation systems are integrated with a moving map display and often connected to the autopilot for en-route navigation. Similarly, boats and ships use the GNSS for navigation the lakes, seas, and oceans of the world.
Spacecraft have also adopted GNSS for navigation, while its integration helps in precise determination of the orbit without the need for ground tracking.
2. GPS Mapping and conducting surveys
In order to position the infrastructure related construction, the GNSS receivers for surveys are used. These components receive signals from L1 and L2 GPS frequencies and transmit information through the GPS equipment.
3. Mapping and GIS data transmission
GNSS receivers meant for mapping, transfer wave data from only the L1 frequency and reduces clock jitter errors. This reduces the positioning errors upto one meter or less in real-time using a different radio receiver though a separate GNSS signal.
4. Geophysics, geology, and archaeology
Usually, the measurements requiring high precision can be made by computing the relative displacement between GNSS sensors. While multiple sites located around a volcano or fault is used to detect the ground movement. Similarly, in an archeological site excavation, a three-dimensional map of the site is made to detail the location of an artifact’s discovery.
Conclusion
While these are only a few applications that we have listed, there are others including military munitions, mobile satellite communication, marketing, etc. GNSS acts as a strategic solution for carrying out successful location based missions.
