Let's Keep it in This Discussion
When I list 3 letters and what I've dug up to fit within those letter, please come behind me and add words that you know along with a definition or description. If you care to have a link to your site for your submission, please attach link at the end of your posted term or terms. Also, if you are adding a term for a letter which has already been covered, start your post like this:
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T
Term-the definition or description of you GPS and/or Mapping term
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Let's Begin!
AAA
acquisition time - see TTFFactive antenna - An amplified antenna
active leg - The segment of the route currently being traveled.
agonic line - An imaginary line on the earth's surface connecting points where the magnetic declination is zero.
AGPS - Assisted Global Positioning System - A land station assists GPS in acquiring position.
almanac data - Orbital position data for each GPS satellite. Considered not to be very accurate as the data are valid for over one month.
altimeter - An instrument that measures altitude or elevation with respect to areference level, usually mean sea level, by means of air pressure.
APRS- Automatic Position Reporting System - An amateur radio based
automatic position reporting system for tracking and digital
communications.
arcGIS - A family of software products that form a complete GIS (Geographic Information System).
archipelago - A large group of islands.
arcInfo - Comprehensive software in the arcGIS family that has advanced geoprocessing and data conversion capabilities.
arete - A sharp, narrow mountain ridge or spur.
ARGOS- Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite - An advanced
research and development satellite launched by the United States Air
Force. Carries various space and atmospheric experiments.
atoll - A ringlike coral island and reef that nearly or entirely encloses a lagoon.
automatic vehicle location - A system of providing real-time location information for emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, service vehicles, etc.
AVL - See automatic vehicle location.
azimuth - The horizontal angle (0 - 360 degrees) from a reference point, usually true north or true south. Also known as a bearing.
azimuth ring - The dial on a compass, marked with zero to 360 degree markings.
BBB
barranca - A dry ravine or a steep depression between hills.bathymetry - The measurement of depth of bodies of water.
bearing - An azimuth; a horizontal direction of a line or direction of travel with true north or true south as a reference.
bench mark - A material object, natural or man-made, with a known elevation orhorizontal location. Bench marks can be used as reference points when
traveling a route or in determining the elevation of nearby land
features.
bitmap image - An image with 1 bit of color information per pixel, also known as a bitmapped image.
Bluetooth- A standard of radio technology that makes it possible to transmit
signals over short distances between telephones, computers and other
devices.
bosk - A small, wooded area.
bourn - A small stream.
bourne - Same as bourn.
BTGPS - Bluetooth GPS - See Bluetooth.
CCC
C/A code - Coarse Acquisition code - The GPS signal for civilian use (also used by the military to get an initial fix).cadastre - A public record, survey, or map of the value , extent, and ownership of land as a basis of taxation.
calibration - The process of associating map information held in an image file withits location on the earth so that, for example, each pixel becomes
associated with a latitude and longitude allowing routes and tracks to
be correctly plotted and displayed.
carrier-aided tracking - A method to improve accuracy by using the GPS carrier signal to get a more precise lock on the pseudorandom code.
cartography - The art or technique of making maps or charts.
CEP- Circular Error Probable - The radius of a circle within which fifty
percent of positioning solutions fall. CEP is used to achieve horizontal
accuracy.
CF- Compact Flash - A standard that PDAs, laptops, and other
computer-related devices use to accept removable accessories such as
additional memory or GPS receivers.
channel - Circuitry necessary to receive the signal from one GPS satellite.
chartplotter - A device that overlays GPS data on to marine navigational charts.
circular error probable - See CEP.
Clarke 1866 - The reference spheroid for the NAD27 coordinate system.
clinometer - A device, usually similar to a compass, used to measure vertical angles, as in the slope of a hill.
CMG - see course made good
COG - see course over ground
cold start - The ability of a GPS receiver to start giving position data without any almanac data stored in its memory.
collar- The area surrounding the actual map itself containing necessary
information such as scale, legend, latitude and longitude, etc.
compact flash - See CF.
constellation - 1) All GPS satellites. 2) The satellites visible to a GPS receiver at one time.
continental margin- The zone of transition from a continent to the adjacent ocean basin.
It usually includes a continental shelf, continental slope, and
continental rise.
continental rise - The gently sloping surface located at the base of a continental slope.
continental shelf - The submerged margin of a continental mass extending from the shore to the first prominent break in slope.
continental slope- The slope that extends from a continental shelf down to the ocean
basin. In some areas, such as off eastern North America, the continental
slope grades into the more gently sloping continental rise.
contour interval - The difference, in feet or meters, in elevation between two adjacent contour lines.
contour line - A line on a topographic map that represents a specific elevation.
control point- Also called a control station. Locations on the earth's surface used
for mapping references. Can be horizontal or vertical or both. Often
these are bench marks.
CONUS - Contiguous (or Continental) United States.
coordinates - A set of numbers that represents a precise location anywhere on Earth. Usually stated as latitude and longitude.
course - The direction from the starting waypoint or location to the destination waypoint, measured in degrees.
course made good- The bearing from the "active from" waypoint to the current position,
independent of the path taken to arrive at the current position.
course over ground - The direction of movement relative to the Earth.
crosstrack error - The lateral distance in either dirction you are off the desired course.
DDD
datum - (pl. datums) A model of the earth's surface that is comprised of a network of physical points that serves as a reference for maps, for both horizontal and vertical data. In the U.S. early topographic maps were based on the North American Datum 1927 (NAD27). More recent maps are based on a North American Datum 1983 (NAD83). GPS uses a datum called World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84). There are over 100 datums in use around the world.dead reckoning - The technique of determining position by computing distance traveled on a given course. Distance traveled is determined by multiplying speed by elapsed time.
degree - A unit of measurement; 360 degrees equal one complete circle, as around the earth on a line of latitude; measured from 0 to 90 degrees from the equator to each pole along a line of longitude.
depression - An area in the surface of the earth that is lower in elevation than the surrounding area; a hole.
depression contour - A contour line with hachures (small perpendicular tick marks) to signify a depression.
DGN - microstation design file - A file format/extension.
DGPS - Differential GPS - A method of improving GPS accuracy using measurements at a known location to improve the measurements made by other GPS receivers within the same general area.
dingle - A small, wooded valley.
DMA - Defense Mapping Agency - Former name for the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA).
donga - A gully in a veldt.
DOQQ - Digital Orthophoto Quarter-Quadrangle - 1:12,000 scale representations of a quarter of the area of a conventional USGS 7.5 minute topographical map.
draw - A small, natural depression or valley in the side of a hill; a gully.
DRG - Digital Raster Graphics - See "Raster Maps."
DTAM - Digital world Tectonic Activity Map.
DTM - Digital Terrain Model - A digital model of the terrain surface - similar to a DEM but often enhanced by planimetric information.
DXF - Drawing eXchange Format - Used for transfering CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) files.
EEE
ECDIS - Electronic Charting Display Information System - A system with sufficient precision that commercial navigation can be accomplished without the aid of paper charts.ECEF coordinates - Earth Centered Earth Fixed coordinate system where the positive X axis lies on the equatorial plane passing through the prime meridian (Greenwich), the positive Y axis lies on the equatorial plane at 90 east, and positive Z passes north through the mean rotational axis of the earth.
EGNOS - European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service - A European system of satellite navigation. It will augment the two satellite navigation systems now operating, the U.S. GPS and GNSS systems. It consists of three geostationary satellites and a network of ground stations. EGNOS will achieve its aim by transmitting a signal containing information on the reliability and accuracy of the positioning signals sent out by GPS and GNSS.
elevation - The vertical distance of a point above or below a reference surface, usually sea level.
ellipsoid - The mathematical function used to describe the shape of the earth for geodetic computations.
EPE - Estimated Position Error - The distance the GPS receiver may be off target.
ephemeris data - Precise orbital position and clock data for each GPS satellite. Valid for about 30 minutes.
equator - An imaginary line around the Earth at 0 degrees latitude.
ETE - Estimated Time Enroute - The time left to the destination at the present speed.
FFF
fall line - A line connecting the waterfalls of nearly parallel rivers that marks a drop in land level.Federal Geographic Data Committee - See FGDC.
FDGC - Federal Geographic Data Committee - An agency established by the United States Federal Office of Management and Budget responsible for the coordination of development, use, sharing, and dissemination of surveying, mapping, and related spatial data.
fjord - (also fiord) - A long, narrow inlet of the sea between steep slopes.
flume - A narrow gorge, especially one with a stream.
fluxgate compass - An electronic device used to measure magnetic direction.
ford - A shallow place in a body of water, such as a river, where one can cross on foot, by riding an animal, or in a vehicle.
form factor - A term used to describe the way a device is constructed, such as its shape. For example, GPS receivers come in many form factors, such as handheld, PDA, automotive, USB, etc.
FRS - Family Radio Service - A walkie talkie system authorized in the United States since 1996 that uses UHF frequencies.
Replies
so I gather that this project has moved here?