Commercial uses of GPS - Assignment Example

Although Global Positioning System (GPS) was originally for use in strategic military operations, the contemporary society has derived other beneficial commercial uses of GPS. In the main, GPS use a satellite network to offer precise navigational information. Most of the consumer-oriented products are applicable in industry, often free of charge. GPS locators continue to become smaller, and as a result, they have become more valuable in several commercial industries such as automotive industries, real estate businesses, and advertising.

In security, GPS enables tracking of computer equipment, and in consequence, aids in recovery of lost items. GPS-enabled transporters can be activated when removed from selected machines, and provide location updates for recovery (Nei 1). Apart from machines, humans can insert GPS devices in their body for tracking, in case they operate in insecure areas, or are wealthy enough to afford one. A satellite-linked GPS receiver can provide accurate navigational data on the location of a victim and aid in a rescue mission.

In shipping, GPS has diverse valuable applications in navigation and service delivery. It is applicable if a company pairs a GPS tracker with a radio transponder for tracking purposes (Pham 9). It can ease their operations significantly, for instance, identification of problems in the course of transportation. The resultant up-to-the-minute update on movement of products is helpful for companies, as it can help transportation trucks avoid traffic or accident routes. In addition, it is useful in commercial transportation, for instance, one can determine the distance and time a bus or train takes to arrive to its destination.

In the contemporary society, companies use GPS in their advertisement and marketing strategies. GPS receivers in portable services such as cell phones enable location-based service delivery in terms of marketing (Pham 6). The GPS device offers estimated geographical location when one connects to a network using a GPS enabled device. In addition, social networking companies such as Twitter have taken up the trend, and offer services to ‘nearby’ consumers. Personalization of service delivery promotes efficiency because it connects virtual presence to real-world nearness.

In addition, GPS is widely applicable in survey work and real estate processes. It saves hours of survey work because it enables verification of property location and property size online. Accurate measurements are possible using a GPS-enabled computer or GPS software and applications such as remote sensing. It is especially useful if a terrain is inaccessible, or if a piece of land is too vast for physical measurements. It helps in real-time border dispute resolution and save mind-numbing survey time, especially with traditional surveying equipment.

As seen above, GPS has several consumer-oriented applications that have revolutionized personal lives and business operations. Apart from the cost of GPS devices, most of the services are free of charge. There are several other commercial uses of GPS such as navigation of unfamiliar locations, forestry, and map-making. It is precise, easy to use, and prompt, and this means there are other commercial uses of GPS that will arise in future. Works CitedNei. Website. Available at http://www.neigps.

com/Pham, Nam. The Economic Benefits of Commercial GPS Use in the U.S. and the Costs of Potential Disruption. Ndp-Consulting. June 2011.