GPSInfo

GPSInfo is a term used to describe information produced by Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, and, in software contexts, a data structure that stores that information. It represents a geolocated position at a specific time along with motion and quality metrics, used by a wide range of navigation, mapping, and tracking applications.

Common data fields typically included in GPSInfo are:

- latitude and longitude in decimal degrees

- altitude in meters (above ellipsoid or mean sea level, depending on data)

- timestamp or UTC time of fix

- speed over ground

- course over ground

- fix quality or type (no fix, 2D, 3D)

- number of satellites used in the solution

- dilution of precision values (HDOP, VDOP, PDOP)

- sometimes vertical velocity, climb or descent rate

Sources and formats

GPSInfo often reflects data delivered by GPS receivers in standard formats such as NMEA 0183, which includes sentences like GGA, RMC, GSA, and GSV. Many devices also provide additional binary or proprietary messages and may export data in formats like RINEX for post-processing or in application-specific schemas for software development.

Applications and use cases

GPSInfo is central to navigation apps, mapping and geotagging, fitness trackers, fleet and asset tracking, and autonomous or robotic systems. It supports location-based services, route planning, and real-time positioning, as well as historical trace and speed analyses.

Accuracy and limitations

GPSInfo accuracy depends on receiver quality, satellite geometry, atmospheric conditions, and environmental factors such as urban canyons or dense foliage. Augmentation systems (WAAS, EGNOS) can improve precision. Users should consider potential errors, signal loss, and privacy implications when handling location data.

In software, a GPSInfo object or structure typically encapsulates the fields above and provides methods to update from a receiver, format outputs, or convert coordinates to different representations.