Locating

Locating is the process of determining the position of an object, person, or event within a given space or context. It spans fields such as geography, navigation, surveying, logistics, and emergency response, and is fundamental to mapping, routing, and spatial analysis.

Modern locating relies on technologies that provide location data. Satellite navigation systems (GPS, GNSS) determine position from signals, while ground-based methods use triangulation, trilateration, time difference of arrival, or bearing measurements. Data from maps, aerial imagery, and geographic information systems may be used to refine results. In many cases, multiple sources are combined to improve accuracy through data fusion.

Coordinate systems and datums are essential to locating. A reference frame such as latitude and longitude on the WGS84 datum, or a projected system like UTM, is required to express positions consistently. Correction methods, including differential GPS and real-time kinematic (RTK), can enhance precision in real time.

Applications of locating include field surveying, navigation, and geospatial analysis; inventory and asset management; search and rescue and emergency response; and archaeological site discovery. In these contexts, locating supports decision making, routing, risk assessment, and resource allocation.

Common challenges involve signal obstruction (indoors or in urban canyons), atmospheric delays, multipath errors, clock and datum discrepancies, privacy concerns, and the quality and accessibility of location data.