Difference between GIS and GPS

Difference between GIS and GPS

GPS stands for Global Positioning System and is a satellite-based navigation system which consists of a network of 24 satellites that were placed into orbit by the United States Department of Defense. Its main purpose before was for military applications but was later made available to public during the 1980s.

It works anywhere in the world and in any weather condition available 24 hours a day and the best part is that you don’t need to pay any subscription fees to use it. The 24 satellites that make the GPS space segment are orbiting 12,000 miles above the earth. The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978 and the complete constellation of 24 satellites was completed in 1994.

Each satellite is meant to last for about 10 years and they are constantly building replacements and launching them into orbit.

Photo of one of the satellites orbiting earth that forms the GPS navigation system

GIS stands for Geographic Information System and is used to combine software, hardware, and data for managing, acquiring, displaying, and evaluating all types of geographically referenced information.

It lets you to understand, interpret, view, visualize, and question data in different ways in the form of globes, maps, charts, and reports that will show the trend, relationship, and pattern. It is being used by thousands of organizations especially in the government to solve problems in different areas.

Images of GIS maps and layers