Friday, August 10, 2012

Limitation of Global Positioning System(GPS)


  • GPS is extremely versatile in the earthmoving industry but it does have its limitations.
  • GPS satellite signals can only be received in a non obstructed view of the sky with the exception of clouds.
  • If a contractor wanted to perform grade work in preparation for a concrete floor within a building for example, the roof would block the view to the GPS satellites preventing the system from working. Working too close to a structure can also obstruct the machine's view of the sky creating dead zones.
  • High-voltage power-lines can also create dead zones when working underneath them.
  • GPS satellite coverage can also be weaker during certain parts of the day lowering the amount of satellites the machine's system can use.
  • This all depends on the geographical location and time of day. Improvements in GPS technology and the addition of GLONASS (Russian GNSS Satellites) satellites have reduced this issue.
  • As mentioned earlier, in order to increase the overall accuracy of GPS you have to purchase and use a base station which adds additional cost.

No comments:

Post a Comment