LONDON, UK: While much of the current attention surrounding GPS is focused on consumer navigation and LBS devices and services, the less well known industrial GPS applications such as precision agriculture, surveying, GIS, construction machine control, network timing, marine and avionics are increasingly being adopted by companies to increase quality, security and efficiency, as well as reduce costs.

"While the precision GPS industrial segments continue to experience growth levels of up to 25 percent, they cannot match the triple digit growth which has been observed in certain consumer segments such as navigation and GPS-handsets," says principal analyst Dominique Bonte.

"However, industrial GPS segments are characterized by more stable growth and sustained higher margins compared to consumer markets subject to volatile trends and declining profitability."

In order to reach centimeter and even millimeter accuracy, GPS is stretched to its limits by using dual frequency, Differential GPS (DGPS) and Real Time Kinematic (RTK)-based receivers combined with correction signals to compensate for atmospheric and timing errors. GPS is often complemented by other technologies such as sonar, radar, radio, laser, or optical systems.

Precision GPS technology will benefit from the upgrade of the existing GPS satellite system. New civilian frequencies and signals, as well as the increased transmission power provided by next-generation GPS III satellites (the $3.57 billion contract for the first twelve satellites was recently awarded to Lockheed Martin) will increase both accuracy and coverage, an important requirement for industrial applications. Coverage will be further enhanced by the rollout of new GNSS systems such as Galileo and Glonass.

The industrial GPS ecosystem consists of Total Solution Providers (TSPs) such as Trimble, Magellan, Topcon, Leica, Caterpillar and Brilliant; Core Technology Providers (CTPs) such as NavCom, Novatel, HemisphereGPS and Septentrio; Value Added Resellers (VARs); system integrators, and distributors. It is characterized by a large number of strategic partnerships and ownership-based relationships.