GPS is a satellite-based georeferencing system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in order to accurately determine (X, Y, & Z) position, velocity, and time in a common referencing system anywhere on the planet on a continuous basis. For a more comprehensive description of GPS, please check out Peter Dana's GPS Overview paper.

The Vermont Geodetic Survey Unit

Within the Technical Services Division of the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VAOT), the Geodetic Survey Unit establishes precise geographic reference positions for use in coordinating Agency projects, cooperates with the National Geodetic Survey's Geodetic Advisor to promote the use of modern coordinate systems in Vermont, advances state-of-the-art technology such as the Global Positioning System and maintains an automated repository for geodetic control data.

VAOT Continuously Operating GPS Reference Station

The VAOT Geodetic Survey Unit maintains a network of Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) throughout the state. GPS users can download data and use it to correct GPS data that they have collected in the field, in order to generate more accurate coordinates.

Vermont GPS Helpful Resources

• Setting Your GPS Receiver to Display VT State Plane Coordinates (PDF, 84 KB)
• VGIS GPS Guidelines

GPS Links:

• A superb GPS overview paper - University of Colorado
  
• GPS: A New Constellation - National Air & Space Museum
  
• F.A.A. - GPS Satellite Product Team
  
• U.S. Naval Observatory - NAVSTAR Timing Operations
  
• The Institute of Navigation
  
• International GPS Service for Geodynamics (IGS)
  

• The Vermont Geodetic Survey Unit
  
• NOAA - National Geodetic Survey