GPS stands for Global Positioning System, allowing anyone to access position and time information anywhere. It is an earth-orbiting satellite system that offers a precise location on the Earth's surface in latitude/longitude coordinates. GPS is a powerful and frequently utilized integrated tool (similar to GNSS) used in Civil Engineering to acquire tabular location data.
Segments of GPS
1. Space Segments – A number of GPS satellites operate in a 12-hour circular orbit around the planet at an altitude of approximately 20,000 km (four GPS satellites per orbit). At least six satellites are constantly visible from any position and are powered by solar cells.
2. Control Segments – The control segment is made up of the control station, the monitor station, and the ground antenna. The control station keeps the GPS constellation at its best. The monitoring station determines the orbiting satellite's exact altitude, position, and speed. GPS satellites are communicated via ground antennas. It is in charge of ensuring that all GPS operations go smoothly.
3. User Segments – An antenna, receiver processor, and highly steady clock comprise a GPS receiver. Calculating the exact position requires at least four GPS satellites.
Application of GPS in Civil Engineering
1. Geodetic Control Survey– The GPS system was developed and is maintained by the United States. GLONASS is the Russian equivalent of GPS. These two systems, when combined, are known as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and they continue to advance and improve their capabilities, making it a common tool for surveying and capable of performing geodetic control surveying in much less time than traditional terrestrial survey methods.
2. Cadastral Survey– Cadastral surveying is a survey used to determine land borders and subdivisions. The cadastral survey delivers exceptionally accurate data with GPS. Because the majority of land work is on real estate, it is considered the most significant of all sorts of surveys. GPS receivers have proven to be more accurate and faster than other options.
3. Photogrammetry, Remote sensing, and surveying– GPS is integrated with photogrammetry, making spatial data collecting easier. GPS can be utilized in Remote Sensing to provide applications in a variety of domains, such as environmental modeling, disaster mitigation, mobile mapping, and so on. GPS receivers are commonly used in surveying because they provide highly accurate data.
4. Navigation– GPS assists in establishing an object's ground position and navigating to any location.
What is GIS?
A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool to investigate spatial relationships, patterns, and trends. It is used to capture, store, verify, and display data about positions on the Earth's surface. It is a structured collection of computer hardware, software, and geographical data used to analyze and display all types of referenced data. GIS uses the global reference system WGS 84 (World Geodetic System 1984) for geospatial information.
Components of GIS
1. Data: GIS saves location data as thematic layers and feature information. GIS data is classified into two types:
- Raster data is stored in rows and columns. They might be either discrete or continuous in nature.
- Vectors are used to store spatial data made up of lines or arcs.
2. Hardware – Mobile phones, CPUs that operate GIS software, dual monitors, extra storage, and graphic processing cards are also required in GIS.
3. Software – The most popular desktop GIS software is ArcGIS and QGIS. Other GIS software besides desktop GIS includes GeoServer, MapServer, GeoTool, and others.
4. People – GIS users are technical specialists who design and maintain, like managers, programmers, analysts, etc.
5. Method – The map can be created by automated raster to vector or can be done manually by scanned images.
Application of GIS in Civil Engineering
1. Remote Sensing – It gathers information about an object (terrain, land, topography, or a hill) without directly contacting the object. This information or data is then used in GIS.
2. Transportation – GPS aids in the examination of existing infrastructure and road surveys. GIS integrates, manages, analyses, and visualizes a diverse variety of data sets.
3. Watershed analysis – DEMs are a raster GIS layer used in watershed analysis to delineate watersheds and derive properties such as streams, stream networks, catchment regions, basins, and so on.
4. Pollution monitoring –GIS can integrate and correlate various data types, such as chemical, physical, and demographic data. This data may be analyzed and extended to create themed cartography, which can then be connected with health data.
5. Resource management – GIS is used in natural resource management to analyze, organize, manage, and monitor natural hazards. It delivers geographic disaster data, which is displayed on a GIS-based map.
6. Terrain mapping and analysis – Terrain Analysis uses GIS to analyze and interpret topographic features such as slope, elevation, contour lines, upslope, downslope, and so on.
Softwares
- ArcGIS
- Q-GIS
- gvSIG
- Grass GIS
- SAGA GIS
- SuperGIS
- Map Window GIS
- IDRISI
- AutoCAD Map 3D
- Bentley Map
- ILWIS
And there are other wide ranges of software used.
Future GIS
Through revolutionary technology and methodologies, GIS will provide limitless possibilities in the future. It will also help to develop new software solutions that provide consumers with exceptional conceptual design and efficient development of 3D cities, landscapes, and structures.
Big Data in Geoscience
One of the most significant transformations for businesses in recent years has been the rise of big data and analytics. Analytics specialists can use GIS data to produce visualizations, discover important trends, and make predictions. Drones (UAV) will also improve the information accessible for mapping with GIS tools. GIS will be critical in the future for enhancing self-driving car performance and guiding drivers to their destinations as swiftly, comfortably, and safely as feasible.