Base26gps

Before I will write about the Base26GPS standard lets first understand some things.
Many people around the world use the well known GPS to locate where they are or where is the place they want to go to.
Actually we almost forgot that paper maps exist. We tell a machine to take us where we want to go.
GPS, as quoted from , is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.
In order to understand how GPS actually works in a simple manner we can imagine four or more satellites maneuvering above us while every satellite position is fixed, known and transmitted to earth. Our simple GPS receiver, let it be our cell phone for example, picks up those signals received from all the satellites within range and with some mathematic algorithm it can tell the actual position you stand at the given moment. The more satellites you receive the more accurate is the position you get. The position you get is a small circle around you. The size of the circle is equivalent to how accurate the position you get is, the smaller the better.
Now after understanding how GPS works there is one thing missing - how to implement the position received from the GPS to something everyone can understand and work with. For this we have two parameters which are Longitude and Latitude.
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is described as a number between -180.0 to 180.0. The more numbers after the dot the more accurate the position. Four numbers after the dot gives us accuracy of approximately five meters.
Latitude is the same as longitude only that it is a geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is described as a number between -90.0 to 90.0 with the same accuracy parameters.
When we obtain the two parameters, the place they cross each other is where we are located.
Now about the Base26GPS standard - this standard was invented to allow users to share their location with each other in a simple, global way.
Before understanding how it is done lets see why we actually need it.
Since the GPS was invented, a lot of platforms started to use it. Every platform had its own applications that implemented to location finding into them. Base26GPS idea is to globalize them. Until now they kept the location to themselves and between themselves. Using this standard they are able to share their location, no matter who is the user on the other side and what kind of application or platform they use.
Here are some examples:
- One user is using 'Waze' and the other is using 'IGO' - using this standard they can share their location.
- You wand to send a letter to an address. Using this standard you can stamp a barcode on the envelope that is actually the location you wish to send the letter to.
- You wish to drive to a business you located on the yellow pages. Using this standard you can scan a barcode located in the yellow pages and feed it to your navigation program.
- Cell towers hide their location from the naked eye. Using this standard they can send a cell broadcast message which the cell phone will receive and translate to location.
- did you ever try to find where you are inside tunnels? It is actually impossible because there is no satellite reception inside tunnels. Using cell towers located inside the tunnel they can send a cell broadcast according to this standard and by this show you where you are located.
What is this standard, why can it be global and how is it implemented?
Base26GPS standard converts Longitude and Latitude information to English Alphabetic letters. There are 26 Alphabetic letters all together.
In order to convert from Longitude and Latitude decimal numbers to Alphabetic we will use Hexavigesimal (base 26 format)
Base 26 is represented using only letters of the Basic Latin Alphabet. As there are 26 letters in English base 26 is also the highest base in which this is possible and hence utilizes every letter.
In our case we will use two letters to represent a number. The counting will begin sometimes from
-180, sometimes from -90 and sometimes from 0.
Converting from Longitude and Latitude to Alphabetic letters is done using the following steps:
1. First three letters are "GPS", next six letters represent Longitude and last six letters represent Latitude. All together fifteen letters.

2. The Longitude and Latitude should always have 4 numbers after the dot.
For example: -180 will be -180.0000, 12.53 will be 12.5300 and 151.45319 will be 151.4532
3. Each one is separated to the number located at the left side of the decimal point and the number located at the right of the decimal point
4. The left number is from -180 to 180 for Longitude. -180 equals to AA and 180 equals to NW. here the counting begins from -180.
for Latitude the left number is from -90 to 90. -90 equals to AA and 90 equals to GY. Here the counting begins from -90.
5. The right number is divided to two groups. Each group is from 00 to 99. 00 equals to AA and 99 equals to DV. Here the counting begins from 0.
6. After conversion there are six letters for Longitude and six letters for Latitude.
For example - Longitude of 12.45 and Latitude of -11.54 will generate the string
"GPSHKBTAADBCCAA"
Converting from alphabetic letters to Longitude and Latitude is done using the same principle.
The Base26GPS standard accuracy is 5 meters. It can pinpoint easily to the position of a house.
For more information please refer to http://www.base26gps.com

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