How is GPS used in GIS?
The Global Positioning System (or GPS) is a collection of U.S. Government owned satellites that provides highly accurate, worldwide positioning and navigation information. There are twenty-four NAVSTAR GPS satellites which orbit 12,000 miles above the earth, constantly transmitting the precise time and their position in space. GPS receivers which we use on earth, connect with three to twelve satellites and, from that determine the precise location of the receiver on earth. With the information provided by the GPS we can then store attributed information and visually place it in a database for reference and analysis.
