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LAST UPDATED: JANUARY 9, 2023

Difference between GPS and DGPS

Have you ever wondered how Differential (DGPS) and GPS vary from one another and how the two may work together? Read this post to see how the two complement one another to provide reliable facts and information.

The satellite-based navigation systems are DGPS and GPS. The main distinction between GPS and DGPS is that the latter is more accurate than the former. DGPS was purposefully designed to minimize signal deterioration.

Although DGPS can only give precision to a maximum of approximately 1 meter, GPS can provide accuracy to a maximum of around 10 cm.

Let's compare DGPS vs. GPS and find out which one is the right fit for you.

Difference between GPS and DGPS

What is DGPS?

What is DGPS

Development over GPS is the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The precision of DGPS technology is up to 10 cm. Accuracy is increased as a consequence of reducing or eliminating signal deterioration. Differential GPS seeks the position relative to a fixed reference point rather than seeking the location itself. The rover and reference receivers are necessary for DGPS; the rover serves as the user, and the reference receiver is also referred to as the stationary receiver.

A stationary receiver is fixed, and the system knows its location. The rover and the base station tower continually receive the satellite data stream. The precise time is determined by the base station tower using its known location. To correct the measurements using the relative location of the stationary receiver, the information is sent from the stationary receiver to the rover receiver.

Features of DGPS

  • To get over accuracy denial's drawbacks.
  • System operation is fully automated.
  • Enhance the GPS fix's precision in the system's operational range, generally 200 nm.
  • There has to be more hardware installed.
  • Still depending on the GPS signal provider.

Advantages of DGPS

  • While GPS is precise while in use, utilizing DGPS increases its accuracy even more.
  • In contrast to ILS and MLS, GPS or DGPS provides A/L guidance at every exact level.
  • The ideal position on the planet must be known to DGPS.
  • Give precise information in less than a minute.

Disadvantages of DGPS

  • The DGPS's usable coverage area is limited.
  • More DGPS stations must be added to this signal to ensure a larger coverage area.
  • As the distance between the aircraft's GPS-Rx and DGPS grows, so does the location accuracy.

What is GPS?

what is gps

The Global Positioning System (GPS) gives the earth a precise location for an point. It takes advantage of timely messages produced by satellites orbiting the planet. A constellation of 24 satellites and additional ones for backup is part of the GPS system. Trilateration, a method for obtaining a precise location, uses four satellites.

With standalone receivers and GPS technology, the position is easily determined. Uncorrected satellite clock errors, orbital parameter satellite errors, ionospheric and tropospheric delays, multipath errors, geometric errors, and datum selection mistakes are some of the flaws that might occur while using this method. New technologies have been developed to minimize these mistakes. GPS has a theoretical accuracy range of 10 to 15 meters. If you want to use GPS, here is the list of best GPS navigation systems.

Features of GPS

  • Real-Time Tracking—Track your items' whereabouts in real-time online (including people, bikes, phones, and other vehicles). Select a map from the list below: Satellite, Google, OSM, etc. View more details about the tracked item, such as its speed, precise location, fuel use, journey history, etc.
  • Notifications—Receive immediate updates about your tracking item via notifications. Find out whether the item is speeding, when it enters or leaves a geo-zone, and where it stops. If it has been taken, get SOS alerts to start or stop the engine quickly. Receive alerts through email, mobile app, or SMS to your iPhone, Android, or Windows device.
  • History and Reports—Review and download reports in XLS, PDF, CSV, and TXT formats. Reports include data organized by date and the name of the GPS tracker, such as the number of driving hours, rest stops, distance traveled, fuel consumption, and much more. There are also detailed and group reports accessible.
  • Fuel Savings—It's simple to monitor the tank's fuel level and use it in real time while you travel. Look for aggressive driving behaviors that might increase fuel consumption, such as sudden acceleration, speeding, and braking. It is proven that altering your driving style may drastically reduce gasoline expenditures (by 5% to 15%). Controlling fuel use is also a fantastic fraud prevention strategy.

Advantages of GPS

  • Globally, the GPS signal is accessible. As a result, people won't be denied access to it anyplace.
  • A reliable tracking system and a GPS receiver are all you need to utilize GPS, which can be used anywhere globally since it is powered by global satellites.
  • The GPS automatically calibrates, making it simple for anybody to operate.

Disadvantages of GPS

  • The GPS chip consumes a lot of energy and depletes the battery between 8 to 12 hours. This necessitates regular battery replacement or recharging.
  • GPS can't pass through solid objects like walls or buildings. Additionally, significant buildings or structures have an impact on them. This implies that users cannot use GPS inside, underwater, in densely forested areas, in shops, or in other locations below ground, etc.
  • GPS accuracy is reliant on receiving a strong enough signal. The atmosphere (multipath), electromagnetic interference, the ionosphere, and other factors all impact the GPS signal. This causes a 5 to 10-meter inaccuracy in the GPS signal. The accuracy of various receivers varies, however.

Difference between GPS and DGPS

DGPS GPS
  • Differential Global Positioning System is referred to as DGPS.
  • Global Positioning System is known as GPS.
  • While in DGPS, frequency changes depending on the needs of the agency.
  • Frequency in GPS ranges from 1.1 GHz to 1.5 GHz.
  • A local coordinate system is utilized in DGPS.
  • WGS84 is the time coordinate system utilized by GPS.
  • While DGPS is more expensive than GPS.
  • GPS is less expensive than DGPS.
  • DGPS's instrumentation has a localized range.
  • The GPS system covers the whole world.
  • Two receivers are used when in DGPS.
  • There is just one receiver used in GPS.

Conclusion

Since the Global Placing System (GPS) is a widely sought-after instrument for positioning and synchronizing measurements, determining a GPS receiver's accuracy is crucial in every field survey. This study's primary objective is to provide a quick overview of the several widely used GPS accuracy metrics before comparing the horizontal and vertical accuracies of GPS and differential GPS (DGPS) using instantaneous measurements rather than prolonged measurements at sampling points.

Field researches at the Middle East Technical University (METU) campus in Ankara, Turkey, was conducted to accomplish this. A simple sampling approach was created as a first step before the field investigation. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) and arithmetic mean of error were used to determine and present both receivers' horizontal and vertical accuracies. The findings showed that, when both horizontal and vertical accuracies are taken into account, DGPS performs much better than GPS.

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Related Questions

1. What is the primary cause of the DGPS error?

  • Atmospheric interference is one of the leading causes of GPS positional inaccuracy.
  • Rounding and calculation mistakes.
  • Errors in ephemeris (orbital route) data.

2. What number of satellites are required for DGPS?

The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses four satellites to establish an exact location on Earth: three to determine an Earth position and one to correct for receiver clock inaccuracy.

3. How many different varieties of DGPS exist?

DGPS techniques often referred to as augmentation schemes, may be broadly classified into two groups based on the extent of the geographic region that the system covers. Both the wide area augmentation system (WAAS) and the local area augmentation system are DGPS augmentation systems (LAAS).

4. What is RTK in DGPS?

RTK is a particular kind of DGPS; however, it makes use of newer technology than the standard DGPS. Real-time kinematics, or RTK, often uses the RTCM protocol. RTK employs a more modern algorithm and a protocol based on RTCM3, while regular DGPS uses an outdated, older protocol.



About the author:
Adarsh Kumar Singh is a technology writer with a passion for coding and programming. With years of experience in the technical field, he has established a reputation as a knowledgeable and insightful writer on a range of technical topics.