Differential GPS: What It Is and How to Use It Effectively

What Is Differential GPS?

Differential GPS (DGPS) is an important tool in modern navigation. It is a system that uses satellites and ground-based reference stations to provide improved accuracy for GPS receivers. From military personnel to professional surveyors, this technology helps ensure their navigation is accurate and reliable.

This article will give an overview of DGPS, explaining what it is and how to use it effectively. We will cover the basics, its components, and what it can do for you. With this information, you will be able to make the most of your DGPS and get the most accurate positioning as possible.

How Does DGPS Work?

Before going into the details of how DGPS works, it’s important to understand how GPS works. GPS is a satellite-based navigation system that has been around since the 1980s. In North America, the US government owns and operates the GPS network, which provides free, accurate data to anyone with a GPS receiver.

GPS works by receiving information from a network of satellites that are in medium Earth orbit (MEO). These satellites send out radio signals that users can detect with GPS receivers, which use the information to calculate a user’s position. From here, GPS receivers use triangulation to pinpoint anyone’s location.

DGPS takes information from the GPS satellites and adds extra accuracy from ground-based reference stations. So instead of your typical 5-10 meters accuracy, you can get 1-3 meters accuracy with DGPS.

Benefits of Using DGPS

As you’ve already learned, a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) is an improved version of the basic GPS that uses additional reference stations to provide more accurate and reliable positioning data.

The most crucial benefit of DGPS is how surveyors can achieve improved accuracy and reliability. In general, a DGPS can achieve accuracies of 1-3 meters, depending on a variety of factors.

This means that survey measurements can be conducted with greater precision and reliability. This makes DGPS ideal for applications such as surveying, construction, navigation, mapping, and engineering.

Components of a DGPS System

Here are some of the critical components of a DGPS system:

1. Reference Stations: A network of ground-based reference stations is installed throughout the area in which the DGPS system will be used. These reference stations contain very accurate clocks and they receive signals from the satellites and compare them to their known position. Any discrepancies found are then sent out as corrections to users of the system. Reference stations are also known as fixed receivers or known points.

2. GPS Receiver: A mobile GPS receiver is the primary component of the DGPS system. First, it receives GPS signals from satellites and decodes them. Next, the receiver then calculates the user’s position based on the information received from the satellites, which includes those from the reference station. This is how it obtained an increased accuracy.

Conclusion

Differential GPS is a type of navigation system that can provide more accurate data to GPS receivers. It not only incorporates GPS satellites for its positioning but also uses ground-based reference stations to provide more precise data to receivers.

With DGPS, users can make sure that their GPS receivers have more accurate data available with the help of differential correction. For anyone involved in surveying, engineering, or maritime applications, a DGPS may give you the increased accuracy you need for a successful project.