Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

In August, while on vacation backpacking in central Oregon, my sister and I began learning to use her new GPS receiver—fascinating! 

General explanations of the Global Positioning System are found at “GPS Tutorial” and “How GPS Receivers Work.”  The Russian Federation has a similar system, Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS).  The European Commission (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA) plan to launch a global navigation satellite system called GALILEO. 

Interdisciplinary works on GPS and other global navigation satellite systems are classed in 910.285 Computer applications in geography and travel, as shown by the class-here note at 910.285: “Class here interdisciplinary works on geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS).”  Examples are GPS for Dummies and Fun with GPS. 

The number 910.285 is built with standard subdivision notation T1—0285 Computer applications.  There is a scatter see reference at 910.285: “For an application of geographic information systems (GIS) or global positioning systems (GPS) to a subject, see the subject, plus notation T1—0285 from Table 1, e.g., GIS applications in mathematical geography 526.0285.”  Works on use of GPS in various outdoor recreational activities are classed in 796.50285 Computer applications in outdoor life (built with 796.5 Outdoor life plus notation T1—0285 Computer applications), e.g., GPS-Navigation [für Wanderer, Bergsteiger, Biker . . . ].  Works on the use of GPS for hiking and backpacking are classed in 796.510285 Computer applications in walking (built with 796.51 Walking, which has the class-here note “Class here backbacking, hiking,” plus T1—0285).

Works that emphasize engineering aspects of GPS receivers are classed under radio engineering in 621.384191 Direction and position finding, which has the class-here note “Class here GPS receivers,” e.g., Hacking GPS.

Incidentally, orienteering is a competitive sport, with World Cup competition sponsored by the International Orienteering Federation (the final round of World Cup 2008 will be held in Switzerland on the first weekend of October).  Works on the sport are classed in 796.58 Orienteering, e.g., Orienteering and Be Expert with Map & Compass: The Complete Orienteering Handbook.  Standard rules of orienteering require that competitors use map and compass, not GPS.   There are versions of the sport that allow competitors to use GPS, and GPS can be used in other ways, e.g., to make the special maps used in the sport.  Nevertheless, most works on use of GPS should not be classed in 796.58 Orienteering.