The Global Positioning System, GPS, has become relatively well known during recent years. GPS is a navagation system consisting of a constellation of 24 satellites in orbit around Earth. These satellites are used to triangulate the location of a GPS reciever. This can be accompished by knowing exactly where the satellites are and how long it takes for a signal from the satellite to reach the reciever. With advanced equipment, GPS readings can be accurate to about a centimeter.
The images above were taken at Mono Lake, California and Cason Sink, Nevada. The GPS system was linked into a pentop computer and readings were recorded into the computer. By taking readings at precise intervals, a 3D map can be made. This is often useful for fieldwork. It was used by the class at Mono Lake to make a accurate map of the area in which vegatation sampling was done. Click HERE for more information on the GPS system.
