Managing The Land - GPS: A New Constellation

Surveyors and map makers use GPS for precision positioning. GPS is often used to map the location of such facilities as telephone poles, sewer lines, and fire hydrants. Surveyors use GPS to map construction sites and property lines. Forestry, mineral exploration, and wildlife habitat management all use GPS to precisely define positions of important assets and to identify changes.

During data collection, GPS points can be assigned codes to identify them as roads, streams, or other objects. These data can then be compared and analyzed in computer programs called Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Surveying With GPS
Surveying that previously required hours or even days using conventional methods can be done in minutes with GPS.

Set Your Watch!
Because GPS includes a very accurate time reference, the system is also widely used for timekeeping. GPS receivers can display time accurate to within 150 billionths of a second.