Description:
Welcome
to the azimuthnavigation.com website.
With the continuing
commercial development of SatNav systems for vehicles and hand held devices the
user community among the general population is rapidly increasing. There is a
requirement for more awareness of how these devices work.
Many have a strong
belief in the pinpoint accuracy of GPS and the maps that are supplied to
manufacturers of SatNav systems. This belief is well founded for nowadays GPS
has a high reliability. However GPS and the maps are not without fault. As with
any technical development there are issues and problems that can occur both
while in use and in development.
When I hear some
people talk about GPS I feel that they do not really know much about their
satnav system. The freely used term "I have a GPS" is without regard
to the GPS bit only being a part of a complete integrated system with all the
different parts needing the other. It is as though most believe, because GPS is
space stuff, that understanding is beyond them. This is not the case. GPS
technology is deeply engineering, but, the essential principles can be well
understood with only a slightly above basic knowledge. The same applies to the
navigation and mapping principles that all go together to get you, in your car,
from A to B, or Z. When it comes down to general principles this technology is
not the rocket science that it would first seem to be.
GPS systems have
varying accuracy, according to make and cost and also whether moving or
stationary. Further degradation in accuracy can occur depending on your
location and present circumstance of use. Setting up the complete nav system at
the manufacturer end also has its problems, for the end result requires a map
on a flat screen. The process of going from round earth to flat has its
difficulties. Then there is the issue of keeping maps updated as changes in
road systems occur.
These systems are a
fantastic technology but they do have limitations. Being lost or just misplaced
can carry a risk factor with severe consequences in some harsher environments.
I guess we have all heard some examples of, shall we say, the dafter
misidentifications through using car satnav.
To this end this site
presents the downloadable with many diagrams guide:
The SatNav Users Guide to Navigation and Mapping Using GPS
It's a clickable link
but you may need to read on to see if you think it's useful for you. There is a
buying info click link at the end of this page.
The Guide provides information on how these systems work covering
aspects of GPS, how we go from round to flat and allow for our local area, how
digital maps are made and how they are used to navigate along roads from A to
Z.
It is intended for the SatNav user who wants to know more about how GPS,
navigation and mapping combine together to give us these systems. It is a
behind the scenes information and awareness for those with an interest in
understanding more about what is involved, the difficulties encountered and
some misconceptions that are around. It is not a guide to particular systems or
how to use them individually. It will not, directly, help you to not get lost.
There are other books for not getting lost, involving map and compass. It will
help you to understand where things can go wrong, how to notice them and
correct them, or at least to know not to rely on it for the moment. It will
also give you an edge over those who think they know but really don't.
There
is quite a lot involved and the book covers it in a fair amount of
detail. However, some of you may not want the whole detail so the pdf,
which is the main idea, comes in two forms as a Basic book and an
Advanced book. The advanced is also available to download as reader
formats. All four are available.
So, this technology is fantastic, but, it is designed and built by
humans. Mistakes and errors are human nature. Do not fall for others' human
nature. You can help yourself to avoid this by understanding how systems work.
You input your destination correctly, but, the software misinterprets or
glitches and calculates an inappropriate route. The map may be not updated. If
followed blindly, unchecked, it may not be disasterous, but is likely to lose
you time, fuel, patience and, perhaps, temper.
Blind following has been done, hence those weird and strange incidents
of bridges that really are not there. Jetties that are roads across oceans! OK,
obvious (to most) extremes, but, some errors may not be so obvious. Armed with
information you are better qualified to look out for them.
You can develop a feel for when things can go wrong and check. Stand
back and take a broader look, or, resort to a paper map. As an overview they
are still valid.
The technology does not anticipate for peoples' sense and appropriate
judgment. This is for you to do.
Knowing more about how the systems work can help you avoid the patience
and temper situations.
Knowing the complexities involved, even just basic knowledge, in getting
these systems into operation will aid you to understand how errors and faults
can arise and instil in you that 'Does it look right?' mode.
Knowing
What You Don't Know
I have always believed that you can say you are good at something if you
know what you don't know. The book cannot cover everything of all the included
subjects but It will give you enough understanding of what is generally going on
for your SatNav use and where to dig deeper if you wish. It is not the full
story, each section could be a book in its own right. It does cover slightly
more than what many consider the basics. It will certainly give you an
advantage over others who claim to know or to have the best system. For anyone
about to embark on a course of study I would class it useful as a first year
graduate starter information.
I say 'slightly above basics' and not 'deep rocket science', however,
complete explanation is difficult if the technical is largely avoided. This is
the nature of the game, for nature is cruel. To get a reasonable grasp of
understanding, nature requires us to think in 3D and adds awkward
irregularities on top. Nevertheless, it's the sort of subject that full deep
understanding is maybe only required by those who are paid to do it. The info
here will leave you with a good grasp and awareness of the concepts that will
help you understand these systems more, remove the misconceptions that abound
and put you ahead of many.
These misconceptions about GPS and SatNav maps, well they may lead you
astray. It may be likely that some salespersons have these misconceptions and
general uncertainty about some details.
"It gives you an exact pinpoint position any where in the world."
"Exact pinpoint, really, anywhere? Ok so how accurate?"
"What? It's just accurate to 5m"'
You can beat him. If he cannot answer your 'accurately' guided
questions, maybe you can get a discount. This guide will give you the
information.
We often hear about that pinpoint accuracy. Now what does that mean? To
me pinpoint is less than 1mm, er, like maybe the point of a pin or needle. Yes,
a very expensive and sophisticated GPS receiver can achieve this if left
standing in one place for 24 hours plus. No doubt about it though, 5m is
actually good and can reasonably be expected, but 5m is not pinpoint.
Snips from each section are in a pdf preview. This also acts as a test to
ensure you have Adobe Reader on your computer. In the, nowadays, unlikely event
you do not have Adobe Reader, here is the free download link.
The guide has been put together from my knowledge in the field as a
navigator, surveyor and mapper, offshore, coastal and onshore. It is backed up
by research in some specific areas to update myself. I have found a lot of free
content on the internet. As with many technical topics it requires much digging
to find what you think you want, and then, is the info reliable? Again, knowing
what you don't know. The principles are there. Again, for those
interested this guide saves you the search time.
For further buying
information press the compass rose below to start navigating
I wish you the joy of
everyday not being lost.
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