Earth Systems Science, Inc.

What is GPS?

GPS (Global Positioning System)

GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It is a precision location and navigation system. It uses a group of 24 satellites, some ground stations and receivers to help tell you where you are on Earth. All you need is the GPS receiver like the one shown in the photo.

You can learn more about GPS technology by studying a free on-line tutorials at the web pages listed below. The tutorials are free of charge by Trimble and Aerospace (both are GPS technology companies).

What can you do with GPS?

You can use a GPS receiver to locate objects and features in your neighborhood. For example, the City of Los Angeles needs to know the location of trees, fire hydrants, water pipes, sewer mains, and many other objects in the city. If you planted a new tree along your street, the city might not know about it. By surveying its location using GPS, they could enter the location and data about the tree into a computer database. Then the city would know there was another tree to take care of along your street.

GPS and the Community Atlas Project

Earth Systems Science, Inc. wants to help communities to develop and implement a community-based education plan to teach youth and families how to use a GPS. The data would be used to make a community atlas for a neighborhood. At the same time, people could learn about this new technology. This can help you in many ways. It can make you aware of the value of studying and using mathematics. It can help improve your job knowledge and skills. Making a community atlas can also help show how the area is changing over time. And it can be very helpful in getting people to do things to improve the neighborhood.

To learn more about the US Community Atlas Project, visit the ESRI web page listed below.

© 2002, Earth Systems Science, Inc. All rights reserved.

Email us
earthsystemsscience@yahoo.com

Links

Free GPS on-line tutorial from Trimble
Free GPS tutorial from Aerospace Corp.
ESRI US Community Atlas Project