Global Positioning System : For Real Time Geo-location

Herojit Nongmaithem *

As a human being surviving on the mother earth, all should have a specific geographic location. Nowadays with the advancing technology, not only the humans, all motile living creatures can be geo tagged for monitoring their real time moments. These are possible through the SATNAV system of which the most popular and advanced is the Global Positioning System (GPS).

A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning. It allows small electronic receivers to determine their location (longitude, latitude, and altitude/elevation) to high precision (within a few centimeters to metres).

The system can be used for providing position, navigation or for tracking the position of something fitted with a receiver (satellite tracking).

The signals also allow the electronic receiver to calculate the current local time to high precision, which allows time synchronisation. These uses are collectively known as Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT). These systems operate independently of any telephonic or internet reception.

A satellite navigation system with global coverage may be termed a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). The United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS) and Russia’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) are fully operational GNSSs, with China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and the European Union’s Galileo scheduled to be fully operational by 2020.

India has the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as Navigation with Indian Constellation (NAVIC), an autonomous regional satellite navigation system that provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services, with plans to expand to a global version in long term.

The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally NAVSTAR GPS, is a satellite-based radio navigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that provides geo-location and time information to a GPS receiver anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.

The uses of the GPS are primarily developed for military purposes during the 1960’s by the Americans. However, the utilities are now opened to the civilians as well though the interfaces are restricted. The uses can be grouped into civilian and military purposes.

Many civilian applications use one or more of GPS’s three basic components: absolute location, relative movement, and time transfer.

Some of the civilian uses include:
Astronomy for positional,
Automated vehicle for applying location and routes for cars and trucks to function without a human driver,
Cartography,
Cellular telephony for clock synchronization,
Radio occultation for weather and atmospheric science applications.

Geofencing in vehicle tracking systems, person tracking systems and pet tracking systems use GPS to locate devices that are attached to or carried by a person, vehicle, or pet. Telematics where GPS technology integrated with computers and mobile communications technology in automotive navigation systems are also becoming popular. The military uses include: Navigation, Target tracking, Missile and Projectile guidance, Search and Rescue and real time patrol movement monitoring.

In our society, public consider that GPS are used only by few scientists, students and military personals. However its a misnomer, which one should realise. The present day smart phones, automated vehicles, (artificial intelligence) AI operated robotics all have GPS interface which record, save and memorise even the tiniest movements.

Sharing a personal experience, the Google Company memorise all the personal moments. It even classify all the moments, whether on flight, vehicle, on foot. So to unquote, each one of us using the smart phones, automated vehicles are being constantly spied by Google.

This is applicable even for the chief minister, military chief, or the insurgent party. Its high time that our government should frame a legal procedure to monitor these encroachment to one’s personal space. Otherwise, these data may at any time be landed to unwanted social elements. Once that happens everybody might lose social and political integrity. While in the present context, please do be careful using these smart phones and automated vehicles. Be safe for a better future.