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Reliability and accuracy of a GPS unit for tracking vehicles in Palm Beach and Broward counties

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Date Issued:
2001
Summary:
The purpose of this thesis was to study the reliability and the accuracy of GPS positioning in Palm Beach and Broward counties. By studying the predictions of DOP values using Pathfinder Office and performing some statistical analysis on theoretical GPS data using the software SAS 8.0, the conclusion was made that PDOP values not only depend on the number of available satellites, but also on their relative positions. By field testing, and comparing the recorded data with the theoretical GPS data, it was seen that non-DGPS could be rather accurate. Furthermore, it can be justified for a GPS unit to eliminate the Z coordinate measurement since vertical position errors are larger than horizontal errors, which may lead to improved accuracy. On the other hand, some 'visibility problems' were encountered while testing the GPS units under driving conditions. Different ways to compensate for this disadvantage were studied. In the end, the different features of the GPS unit were discussed and a way to improve the system was also proposed.
Title: Reliability and accuracy of a GPS unit for tracking vehicles in Palm Beach and Broward counties.
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Name(s): Le Strat, Maud Gael.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Scarlatos, Panagiotis (Pete) D., Thesis advisor
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2001
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 184 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The purpose of this thesis was to study the reliability and the accuracy of GPS positioning in Palm Beach and Broward counties. By studying the predictions of DOP values using Pathfinder Office and performing some statistical analysis on theoretical GPS data using the software SAS 8.0, the conclusion was made that PDOP values not only depend on the number of available satellites, but also on their relative positions. By field testing, and comparing the recorded data with the theoretical GPS data, it was seen that non-DGPS could be rather accurate. Furthermore, it can be justified for a GPS unit to eliminate the Z coordinate measurement since vertical position errors are larger than horizontal errors, which may lead to improved accuracy. On the other hand, some 'visibility problems' were encountered while testing the GPS units under driving conditions. Different ways to compensate for this disadvantage were studied. In the end, the different features of the GPS unit were discussed and a way to improve the system was also proposed.
Identifier: 9780493418247 (isbn), 12862 (digitool), FADT12862 (IID), fau:9736 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): College of Engineering and Computer Science
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2001.
Subject(s): Global Positioning System
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12862
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.