GPS - Global Positioning System
What is GPS and why do we use it?
GPS is a satellite system that was developed by the United States Department of Defense and is currently managed by the United States Air Force. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan made the satellite system available to the public for free and has evolved into the GPS technology that we use today.
The initial GPS hardware was large and heavy. Today, a GPS handheld device can be purchased in the size of a cell phone. These GPS units are great for personal use and to mark locations; however, the accuracy is not the same as some of the larger models that are available.
For surveying, Melden & Hunt, Inc. uses a rover system for its GPS. This involves a rod, an antenna, a radio, external cables and batteries to name a few. The rover is used with a base station that communicates with the satellites in orbit. The rover and base station communicate with radio frequencies. In South Texas, there is a Virtual Reference System (VRS) that is a group of base stations that are continually operating. This allows a rover to dial in via modem to access the network. The rover can then be used without setting up a base station because it communicates with the VRS.
The accuracy of the GPS is less than 2 cm or 0.066 ft. The GPS is useful when doing large surveys because the area can be covered faster than when using a total station. GPS also allows for surveys to be done in locations that previously were inaccessible.
Melden & Hunt, Inc. continues to keep up with advances in technology and strives to stay on the cutting edge. GPS is the wave of the future for surveying and Melden & Hunt, Inc. has the experience and knowledge for GPS surveying.
