Basics of the Global Positioning System

Treat yourself to an exciting and relaxing weekend break at your region's nature park. You will enjoy the fresh air while hiking along the trails, discovering flora and fauna, and looking at magnificent views. Speaking of trails, many parks have established trails that safely leads one back to the park's staging ground. Unfortunately, some of these trails disappear due to normal wear. There are some natural paths that look like trails but are not trails at all! Inexperienced trekkers following these worn-out trails and natural paths may get lost and could run into trouble if they do not find their way back. That is why it is always a good idea to bring a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to help them return to their accommodations safely.

The GPS is a revolutionary space-based global navigational system that provides an accurate and reliable location and time data anywhere, any time, and in all weather conditions on earth. It was originally created by the United States Department of Defence to supersede earlier electronic navigation systems.

In its most basic sense, the GPS system is composed of 27 satellites that orbit the earth twice a day. The orbits are precisely arranged so that, at any time and at any place on earth, there are at least four satellites that provide a line of sight to your GPS receiver. Your receiver is designed to locate four or more of the satellites. It figures out the distance to each satellite and, using a mathematical principle called trilateration, it can determine its own location. Thus, as long as you have a GPS receiver with you, you know exactly where you are!