GPS Saves the World — But Who’ll Save GPS? (summary of article 2)

I recently read a very interesting article on Wired.com about the troubles facing GPS. About 150 of the world’s best GPS engineers have gathered in California this week to discuss the problems facing GPS. Attending the meeting was Dr. Brad Parkinson, considered the founding father of GPS.

He cited the recent confrontation with Lightsquared, a mobile broadband player, endorsed by the Obama administration and offers to next generation wireless service known as LTE nationwide in the U.S, to be a direct treat to the future and stability of GPS.

The problem is that the it sites in the same spectrumas GPS who's by design low signals would easily be effected. A spokesperson for Lightsquared reported that tests had been conducted which shows with a few alterations that the problem of interference could be addressed and that the GPS community where blowing it out of proportion.

But Parkinson is not convinced and also cites the companies plans to increase it's signal from 1.5 kW to 15 kW and no tests have yet been conducted at those higher levels.

At the presentation he told the audience that,

“15 kW is a very powerful L band signal,” he said. “It’s not something a man particularly wants to stand next to, if he wants to have children at some time in the future. (Laughter)”.

“I’m not kidding. That’s comparable to microwave ovens.”


But there are other treats such as the increased use of illegal and cheap GPS jammers used by drivers who are paranoid of being watched by F.B.I. These interfere with GPS guidance of aircraft and have already been proven the cause of a GPS guidance failure at Newark international airport. Solutions to this problem would be a lessening of the use of unwarranted tracking by law enforcement.

Other causes of damage to GPS are due to major solar activity which interferes degrades GPS signals, particularly in equatorial regions. Solutions to this include layering GPS with new satellite tracking systems and the setting up of more base stations in the southern hemisphere. 

The article goes on to mention new improving technologies, but GPS remains essential for the military and commercial aviation navigation systems, automated agricultural machines, consumer mapping services in cars, and the tracking of wild endangered species among other uses.

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I don't believe the illegal use of GPS jammers are a big of a problem in europe, and especially in Ireland where mistrust for law enforcement is less the that on average in the U.S.

But Lightsquard remains a treat as the European commission has loudly apposed to its operations
(according to avweb.com) concerned it will interfere with its developing Galileo satellite-based navigation system and GPS.

Sunspots also a treat but i don't think there would be much that could be done to prevent damage in the case of excessive solar activity. As i am reminded of the advanced tsunami defense walls in japan which where costly and in the end, of little defense and only offered fake reassurance of safety.