Aviation
GPS technology is now very prevalent in commercial aviation. Most commercial aircraft now increasingly employ GPS navigation for initial and non-precision approach to specific airfields. Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADB-B) is the futuristic primary guidance and navigation GPS technology for which a substantial amount of research, development and investment is being invested. ADB-B technology also involves direct communication between aircraft within a predefined radial proximity in which it allows aircraft to communicate their speeds, distances, flight paths and relative locations to each other. The development of this technology is not limited to a single country, but is being developed globally through strategic multilateral technology alliances. In addition to its use in commercial aviation, ADB-B GPS technology is also being used in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation. UAVs are primarily used for resource mapping and aerial surveillance imagery creation, a task previously entrusted to Earth-orbiting satellites like NASA’s Landsat.
Maritime and Rail Transport
The all-encompassing and advancing GPS technology has further underlined its presence in the field of maritime technology. Since then, digital GPS technology has replaced conventional electronic maritime technology and is now being employed to include vital operational parameters such as ocean and coastal navigation, dredging, port access and port entrance navigation and berthing, of vessel traffic (VTS), the Automatic Identification System (AIS), hydrographic data collection and cargo logistics.
With regard to rail navigation, GPS technology is widely used today to simplify essential navigation elements including rolling stock management, passenger information, prevention of door openings contingent on platform alignment of the wagon, the signaling of cargo tracking, the integrity of the train and the approach to the level crossing.
Sciences
The applications of GPS technologies in various scientific fields are quite wide and impressive; these include areas such as environmental and atmospheric monitoring, animal behavior studies, botanical specimen locations, meteorology and climate research, agriculture, fishing and fisheries, land area mapping, yield monitoring, precision crop planting, fumigation monitoring and harvesting, autonomous vehicle control.
Security
Security is another very broad field that employs GOS technologies. GPS security applications include tracking of all types of vehicles: light and heavy vehicles, 20 and 40 feet. integrated containers for general cargo, special air-conditioned containers for perishable foods, security surveillance of vehicles for the transfer of criminals and suspects, etc.
It is obvious that GPS technology is indeed very applicable and suitable for a very wide spectrum of scientific and technological applications that demand constant monitoring and tracking data, especially if the target objects are important, urgent, sensitive and valuable. This includes people, animals, machinery, precious metals, bills, etc.