GPS navigation in India

Introduction

Global positioning system (GPS) refers to a structured satellite constellation network comprising of around 24 satellites orbiting the earth’s atmosphere. GPS satellites are used for navigational, surveying, mapping, routing and time distribution purposes. GPS technology is a sophisticated as well as complicated form of satellite technology that uses a complex network of processors and servers to receive and transmit data to and from the earth. It is mainly integrated with GSM (Global System of Mobile Communications) data network protocol to locate and update data.

GPS gives you your position on earth. This is received in numbers-latitude and longitude. If you have a map and software along with it, you will easily know your position. GPS provides unequaled accuracy and flexibility of positioning for navigation, surveying and geographic information system to capture data.

A GPS device provides you with a route to reach the destination that you select. Only thing you need is a clear view of the sky for GPS to work, so it obvious that it won’t work inside a building, underground or even in forest.

Uses in India

India has been using GPS technology since the early 90’s only to identify weather conditions, track traffic system, identify national borders etc. Now GPS is going mainstream, where more and more organizations are using GPS technology for making best use of their resources like transportation industry and the delivery services. It is also used widely in tourism and adventure sports purposes.

Driving in many Indian cities can be a nightmare experience for the uninformed and inexperienced traveler. With roads that don’t have any names, building blocks that don’t particularly follow a pattern, addresses that even the locals confused and traffic regulations that change overnight, finding the way around can be quite a task. Till now, printed maps, advice, tips from friends and directions from roadside dwellers have been the standard sources of information for travelers. However, with the development of in-car GPS navigation devices, no doubt these days will be over very soon. At this stage, a GPS product called Satguide added points of Interest (POI) to their maps to make landmarks easily identifiable. What’s more, you too can participate in making India more mappable by adding your address to their maps.

Car based GPS navigation systems are very popular these days in India for which Satnav Technologies is considered to be the pioneers of GPS systems in India. The modern navigation devices give drivers turn-by-turn directions while following a route. While using GPS navigation systems in car, all you have to do is, enter your destination address and the GPS system will plan a route for you using the maps it has access to. These are very helpful to people who travel for business and find themselves visiting unfamiliar destinations on a regular basis.

GPS navigation systems can be used anywhere in India. There is no subscription fee; only the GPS transmitting receiver set will cost you the money at the time of buying. A variety of GPS sets is available nowadays in the market. The easy availability of GPS navigation with mobile communication devices has made it very popular in India.

Conclusion

Though vital developments have taken place in the field of GPS in last two decades in India, to make it more popular to the same extent will take more initiative and some time.
A country’s policies and basic infrastructure also play a very crucial role in developing a new technology like GPS. Recently the price of GPS devices has been dropped significantly. Hopefully, with the addition of numerous models in mobile phones, dropping prices and fair competition between the local as well as international GPS vendors will enhance the growth of GPS market in India.

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