Seon Offers the Benefits of GPS

As a leader in the mobile video surveillance systems design and manufacture, Seon has applied Global Positioning System (GPS) capability to its Trooper® DVR 4-Channel Plus System and the Explorer™ DVR 4-Channel Plus System.

GPS information is being used by transportation departments to track and plan bus routes. Seon offers a separate, optional GPS receiver with its full-featured digital systems to make such applications easily accessible. The receiver is mounted on the roof of the bus, allowing it to communicate with GPS satellite signals.

These GPS-ready DVRs record the latitude and longitude position of the bus, calculating the bus’ position accurately within feet. GPS data allows administrators to determine the exact route the bus has taken and determine if the bus has gone off its scheduled route. Other signals captured include the speed of the bus, whether turn indicators were used, and other useful information in the event of an incident. With the Explorer DVR series, GPS can also be used to set the clock to a very accurate time standard.

How GPS works

More than 24 satellites are constantly orbiting the earth, and countless GPS receivers access them in order to accurately calculating geographical positions. These satellites make two passes of the earth every 24 hours.

The basis of GPS is the process of "trilateration" from a group of satellites. To trilaterate, a GPS receiver measures distance using the travel time of radio signals. Distance is measured by calculating the amount of time it takes a radio signal from the satellite to make a one-way trip to the GPS Receiver. Trilateration is like triangulation, which uses a known distance and the measure of an angle to determine a point in geographical space. Trilateration uses two or more reference points and the distance from those points to the subject point to determine distance.

For a GPS Receiver to know its exact latitude and longitude, it needs to determine its distance from three or more satellites at the same time, and the exact locations of the satellite. If the receiver took longer to receive the signal, it means that the satellite is farther away. With four satellites, GPS can even determine altitude.

The origins of GPS

GPS was originally created by the United States Department of Defense, with the first discussions beginning around WWII. The aim of the project was to accurately track military units in the air, sea and on the ground.

The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978, but it wasn`t until 1995 that GPS was declared fully operational. Originally called NAVSTAR (Navigation System with Timing and Ranging), GPS met the very specific needs of the United States military.

Although the system was originally created by and for the military, GPS is today open to the general public. In 1995, President Bill Clinton declared that the United States would maintain the GPS satellite network as a service to the international civilian community. The United States military still uses the GPS satellites, but they use more sophisticated technology than that available to the public to receive even more accurate information.

GPS at work

GPS technology has developed into a resource that goes far beyond its original goals of navigation and location determination. People with different jobs from many industries are using GPS in ways that make their work more productive, safer and often easier.
These days, GPS is finding its way into cars, boats, planes, construction equipment, movie making gear, farm machinery and even laptop computers. Scientists, cartographers, postmen, forestry workers, mineral exploration, soldiers, pilots, surveyors, hikers, delivery drivers, sailors, dispatchers, fire fighters, wildlife habitation managers and many others are using GPS as a part of their regular work tools.

GPS at play

The use of GPS has even evolved to include play. The sport of geocaching is a GPS-aided treasure hunt. All over the world people are hiding waterproof stashes of little monetary value. Inside is usually a memento, which stays with stash or is traded for something of equal or higher value. The coordinates are posted on a Web site for geocachers to find and locate with their GPS units.

There are also "Travel Bugs" or "Geocoins" which are mementos that are transported from stash to stash while their progress is tracked on the Internet. There are now more than 350,000 geocaches in more than 222 countries throughout the world.

To get more information on Seon`s GPS solutions, contact your sales representative or dealer, call 1.877.630.7366 or email sales@seon.com