| There are many professional uses for GPS | | | | for timing. The systems are self correcting to |
| systems. Some are simple, such as using a GPS | | | | ensure the GPS itself requires very accurate time |
| system to find a worksite before it is actually | | | | in order to function, and there is no reason for |
| surveyed. Others are more interesting. One is the | | | | other devices not to take advantage. So some |
| GPS Compass. A pair of GPS systems can | | | | devices such as seismology sensors which are in |
| accurately determine direction without worrying | | | | known locations have an integral GPS in order to |
| about magnetic declination, as magnetic north can | | | | keep that accurate time. |
| be slightly different than true north in some parts | | | | Surveying |
| of the world. | | | | Surveying is also becoming a GPS dominated |
| Weather Reports | | | | function, with Survey quality GPS systems used |
| Another professional use for GPS systems is to | | | | to place survey markers, roads and buildings. |
| increase accuracy for weather reports, with | | | | Mapping quality GPS systems are used to keep |
| special systems able to determine information | | | | accurate locations down to 10cm. Geophysicists |
| such as air density, temperature, moisture and | | | | and geologists use GPS systems to record |
| electron density. This information can be fed into | | | | locations in realtime, which can be of exceptional |
| computer models in an attempt to increase the | | | | value in circumstances such as a volcanic eruption, |
| accuracy of the system. | | | | a sinkhole or other rapid movement. |
| Emergency Services | | | | Military |
| Perhaps the most dramatic uses are for | | | | The original intended use for the GPS system |
| emergency services. Both in terms of calling in | | | | was military, and the armed forces are still heavy |
| locations when initially reporting the issue and | | | | users of the technology. The systems are so |
| aiding first responders to quickly find the location | | | | popular that some soldiers who are not assigned a |
| afterwards. E911 requires that all mobile phones | | | | GPS system will buy a civilian system for the |
| be locatable by GPS, though not all parts of the | | | | added convenience of having one at any time it |
| US are E911 compliant at this time. GPS location is | | | | might be needed. |
| actually less power hungry than the radiolocation | | | | Navigation |
| system which was the previous standard while | | | | Boats and ships make exceptional use of GPS |
| increasing the accuracy. | | | | systems. From knowing where they are on the |
| Digital Cameras | | | | chart to quickly reporting the location of a crisis |
| Some digital cameras can be connected to GPS | | | | such as a ship in distress or man overboard, a |
| systems and insert the datetime group and | | | | working GPS system turns navigation from a |
| location into the picture, useful when there is | | | | task requiring an extensively trained professional |
| reason to desire pictures to be tied to a specific | | | | to a task that can be accomplished quickly by an |
| time and place, such as pictures of work sites or | | | | amateur. This does not mean it isn't a good plan |
| crime scenes. | | | | to have such a trained professional handy, of |
| Some tasks require precise timing and are | | | | course. |
| connected to GPS systems, not for location but | | | | |