Glossary For Satellite Navigation Systems
May 7, 2009
12-channel : - This refers to the fact that a GPS receiver can track up to 12 satellites at any one particular time.
Accuracy : - It is a measure of how close the computed GPS location is, compared to the actual location.
Active Leg : - This a section either between two waypoints or route, that is currently being travelled.
Active Matrix Display : - It is a type of flat panel display that makes use of thin film transistors at each pixel level. It is also known a TFT display.
Active Sync : - It is a software that is used to synchronise the data on your computer with that of your hand-held navigational unit. This software compares the information on both systems and updates the one with the latest information thus maintaining it up-to-date. ActiveSync is usually done using a USB cable.
Agonic Line : - It is defined as an imaginary line on the earth’s surface that connects two points where the magnetic declination is zero.
Almanac : - It is a data file that contains the approximate orbit information about all the satellites. This is useful when you need to compute the location of a satellite rapidly.
Altimeter : - It is device that is used to measure barometric pressure in order to compute the altitude.
Ambient light Sensor : - A light sensor that is situated at the top of the screen judges the ambient light in the environment and then adjust the screen brightness for optimal viewing. With this light sensor fixed in the screen, you do not need to keep manually adjusting the screen brightness.
Analogue Signal : - These are continuous streams of signals.
Antenna : - It is the section of a GPS unit that receives and at times amplifies the incoming signal.
Anywhere Fix : - This is a feature wherein the receiver can start calculating the position without being provided any location or time details.
ARGOS (Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite) : - It is a satellite that is launched by United States Air Force. It was launched to carry various space and atmospheric experiments.
Ascending Node : - This is the point at which an orbiting object passes through the reference plane from south to north.
Atomic Clock : - It is a precise clock at operates using caesium and rubidium. A caesium clock has the error of one second per million years. A GPS satellite consists of several caesium and rubidium clocks.
Attenuation : - It refers to the reduction in signal strength.
Automatic Re-routing : - This feature, found in most of the navigational units is defined as a process by which the navigational device calculates the best driving path between two locations.
AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) : - It is a system of providing real-time location information for emergency and service vehicles, delivery trucks, etc. using navigational techniques.
AVM (Automatic Vehicle Monitoring) : - It is a process of using navigational systems to track a vehicle and determine its location. The information thus obtained is transmitted to a central monitoring system.
Availability : - The number of hours per day when a particular location will have sufficient number of satellites enabling the determination of an object.
Azimuth : - It is the horizontal direction from one point on earth to the other. It is measured clockwise and in degrees with north or south reference line. It is also called a bearing.
Bandwidth : - The range of frequencies that compose a signal is known as bandwidth. It is expressed in hertz.
Basemap : - It is the map that is pre-loaded in a navigational device.
Base Station : - It is a location on earth which is used to derive differential signal corrections to the GPS signal. It is made up of transmitters and receivers, wherein the receiver has to receive and perform differential signal and the transmitter has to transmit the corrected signal. Thus the accuracy of the signal is improved. It is also known as Reference Station.
Battery : - It is an electrochemical cell that can be charged electronically to provide power to the GPS unit.
Benchmark : - It is a material object that has a known elevation or horizontal location. They can be used as reference points while travelling as well as in determining the elevation of nearby land.
Bias : - It is defined as errors that cause the true measurements to be varying from the observed measurements by a constant and systematic amount.
Bluechart : - It is a dedicated and detailed mapping system by Garmin. It can be installed on compatible navigational units and it consists of detailed marine chart information.
Bluetooth : - It is a type of communication protocol that devices use to wirelessly interact amongst themselves.
Cache : - It is a small waterproof container that is hidden in a particular location by a geocacher. The co-ordinates of the location is recorded.
Carrier : - It is a steadily transmitted radio wave signal whose amplitude, phase and frequency is modulated from a pre known reference source
Carrier-Aided Tracking : - This is a method of improving the accuracy of GPS signal by modulating it with a carrier wave.
Cartography : - The art of making maps and charts. Many GPS receivers come with cartographic capabilities.
Celestial Navigation : - It is the traditional method of navigation that is done by observing the sun, moon and the stars.
Channel : - A channel is the section of GPS receivers that contains the necessary circuitry to receive and transmit signals from a GPS Satellite.
Chart-plotter : - The marine GPS devices require a detailed information about the movement of marine creatures and the tides. This information can be diagrammed in a chart format by using the chart-plotter.
Clinometer : - It is a gadget that is similar to a compass that is used to measure vertical angles like that of as a slope in the hills
CMG (Course Made Good) : - It is the bearing from your starting point to the present position, Mostly used in air and sea navigation.
Coarse/Acquisition Code : - It is the standard positioning signal that is transmitted to a user. It contains the information the GPS receiver uses to fix its position and timing for better accuracy.
COG (Course Over Ground) : - The direction of movement relative to ground.
Cold Start : - It is used to describe the state while the GPS receiver is powered on and does not have valid almanac data available . Thus it takes longer time to track and lock onto the satellites and determine the position.
Control Point : - It is a location on earth’s surface that is used for mapping purposes, can be horizontal as well as vertical.
Control Segment : - A chain of control points form a control segment.
Contour Interval : - It is the difference in elevation between two adjacent contour lines.
Cradle : - This is similar to a stand where your navigational unit can be fixed or mounted.
Cut-off Angle : - This is the minimum acceptable satellite angle to avoid blockage of line of sight.
Dead Reckoning : - It is technique of ascertaining the position by calculating the distance travelled on a given course.
Demodulation : - It is the process of separating the coded data from the carrier signal.
Device Driver : - It is a software that links a peripheral device to the operating system.
Degree : - It is a unit of measurement.
DGPS : - It is a process of improving the accuracy of GPS positions by using differential signals.
Dithering : - This is a process of introducing digital noise to add inaccuracy to GPS signals in order to induce selective availability.
DOD (Department of Defence) : - The United States Department of Defence, who manages the Global Positioning System.
Doppler Shift : - Refers to the apparent change in frequency of a signal caused by the relative motion of transmitter or receiver.
ECDIS (Electronic Charting Display Information Systems) : - It is a system that comes with sufficient precision for commercial navigation to be accomplished without the help of paper charts.
EGNOS (European GeoStationary Navigation Overlay Service) : - A European System of satellite navigation.
Electronic Compass : - It is a type of compass that delivers a digital reading. It can be used while venturing out in the woods where it is difficult to get a GPS signal.
Elevation : - It refers to the height above sea level.
EPE (Estimated Position Error) : - It is the distance the GPS receiver may be off target.
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) : - It is the estimated time at which you will arrive at your destination.
ETE (Estimated Time Enroute) : - This is the time you will take to reach your destination. It is computed using the present position, distance and speed.
Etrex : - Etrex is a series of adventurous sat navs manufactured by Garmin. It is small, portable yet highly efficient navigational unit.
Fast Switching Channel : - It refers to a single channel that rapidly samples a number of satellite ranges.
FDGC (Federal Geographic Data Committee) : - It is an agency established by the United States Federal Office of Management and Budget. It is responsible for the co-ordination of development, sharing, use and dispersion of surveying and mapping related data.
Fishfinder : - It is a type of device that uses sonar technology to locate the position of fishes.
Fixed Mount : - It is a type of GPS receiver that is semi-permanently or permanently assembled on a car or boat.
Frequency : - It can be defined as the rate at which a cycle is repeated. It can also be defined as the total number of occurrences of any repeating event per unit time.
Frequency Modulation : - It is a method of encoding information about a carrier signal by maintaining the amplitude constant and altering the frequency.
FRP (Federal Radio navigation Plan) : - It is an official US government document that is published biennially. It outlines the policy and planning of radio navigation.
Galileo : - It is Europe’s satellite navigation system.
GDOP (Geometric Dilution of Precision) : - When the GPS satellites get too clustered the receiving signals may get distorted, thus diluting the positional accuracy. In this case the angle between the satellites in widened for precise positioning information.
Geocaching : - It is a type of outdoor treasure hunt game, in which GPS receivers and navigational techniques are used to locate the caches anywhere across the world.
Geographic co-ordinates : - Geographic co-ordinate system enables the any location on earth to be specified on a spherical co-ordinate system. They are determined in terms of latitudes and longitudes.
Geofence : - It is an imaginary boundary set by a GPS unit wherein if the unit is taken out of the boundary an alarm gets activated.
GIS (Geographic Information System) : - It is a system consisting of hardware and software that is used for storage, and retrieval of mapping and analysis data.
Geomatics : - It is the science and technology of collection, analyses, conclusion, distribution and use of geographic information.
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) : - It is a technology that enables high speed wireless internet and other data communication for use in mobile phones and computers.
GPS : - It is the abbreviation for Global Positioning System that can be defined as a global navigational satellite system.
GPS Engine : - It is an algorithm that can calculate the geographic co-ordinates from the information obtained from satellites.
GPS Receiver : - It is an electronic gadget that is used to gets the information from satellites and computes the position or location of an object.
Graffiti : - It is a character recognition software that allows users to input data into a touch screen device. It is related to the ASCII code and helps users learn quickly.
Ground Wave : - It is a radio wave that travels along the earth’s surface.
Illumination : - It is defined as the signals that are coming from the GPS satellites.
Initialisation : - It is first time a GPS unit orients itself and determines its current location by collecting the almanac data.
Interference : - It is any kind of distortion to the transmitted signal that blocks the reception of the signal at the receiver end; similar to noise.
IPX7 Standard : - It is a waterproof standard that indicates that the device can be submerged in one meter of water for about 30 minutes.
Latitude and Longitude : - They are the polar co-ordinates that can determine the location of any object. The Latitude is the angular distance from the Equatorial plane while the Longitude is the angular distance from an adopted reference point that is located in Greenwich, England.
LCD : - It is the acronym for Liquid Crystal Display and is a type of screen that is found in most of the small electronic gadgets.
Mapsource : - It is a type of detailed mapping programme that is used to load map information in Garmin receivers . This software can maintain a backup of personal waypoints and routes.
Modulation : - It is a process of encoding a message signal over a carrier signal while transmitting. At the receiver’s end this signal is then demodulated.
Nautical Charts : - This can be defined as a series of elaborate maps that aids in safe and secure marine navigation.
Navigation : - The technique of deciding the course or route to the destination. It can be for air-planes, ships, cars or pedestrians.
NAVSTAR : - This is the official name given to the GPS satellite system by the US government. It is acronym for NAVigational Satellite Timing and Ranging.
NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) : - This is a US standards committee that defines the protocols that are to be used in GPS receivers. These NMEA standard protocols help GPS receivers to communicate effectively with each other.
NSDI (National Spatial Data Infrastructure) : - It is the set of basic geographic data that is required for effective operation of the United States Federal Government and its suppliers. It is made accessible as a distributed database.
Outage : - This refers to the loss of GPS availability due to less number of satellites being in the visibility range.
Parallel Channel Receiver : - It is a continuous tracking receiver that uses multiple receiver circuits so that it can track more than one satellite simultaneously.
Patch Antenna : - It refers to an antenna that is based on a plated section of metal on a circuit board for receiving GPS signals.
Position Reporting : - This is a system that is used by RINO GPS receivers wherein one unit can report its position to the other.
Quadrangle : - It refers to the four sided area of the earth’s surface and is used as a unit in mapping.
RAIM (Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring) : - This is a technique wherein the GPS unit detects any type of incorrect satellite signals by comparing it with the observations provided by different sets of satellites.
Range : - It is a fixed distance between two points; it can be between the starting point and the destination as well as between the satellite and GPS unit. It is also known as Geometric Range.
RINO (Radio Integrated with Navigation for Outdoors) : - These are made by Garmin and are known as robust outdoor receivers that have the ability to communicate with each other via Radio.
Route : - It is a series of points that enables on to navigate from one position to another.
Sequential Receiver : - It is a GPS receiver in which the number of signals to be tracked exceed the number of receiver channels. Such a type of receiver must thus toggle between channels to effectively track satellites.
Satellites : - It is a type of extra-terrestrial body that orbits around a planet. In case of navigational systems, satellites are defined as man-made objects that orbit around Earth.
SiRF STAR III : - It is a high sensitivity, first time fix GPS reciever.
SNR (Signal To Noise Ratio) : - It is the ratio of an strength of the incoming signal to the amount of interfering noise. It is measured in decibels.
SOG (Speed Over Ground) : - This refers to the speed at which the GPS unit and the user are moving with respect to the earth’s surface.
Sound Pulse : - It is a short burst of sound energy that is used in sonar devices to interpret the Pulse’s echo.
Sounder : - It is a device that determines the depth of water by measuring the sound echoes through water.
Squelch Code : - It is a type of code that is entered in integrated into public radio band devices for eliminating unwanted radio traffic.
Stylus : - It is a pointing device that is used to navigate on a touch screen monitor.
TracBack : - It is a feature found in Garmin devices that creates a track log as you move and later converts it into a route to effectively track you to your initial position.
Tracklog : - It is a series of points that are recorded in a GPS receiver as and when the user moves.
Transducer : - It is an instrument that transmits sound waves and listens for echo.
Voice Enabled : - It is a feature found in automotive sat navs, wherein regular and timely voice instructions are provided.
WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) : - It is a system that consists of satellites and ground stations. It works towards position determination and signal corrections.
Warm Start : - It is the stage wherein a GPS unit has almanac data while it is powered on, this enables it to acquire positioning details almost instantly.
Waypoint : - It is a geographic position that is saved on a GPS unit.
Zenith : - It refers to the point on the celestial sphere that is situated directly above the observer.
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