Be careful how you use GPS
GPS can be a wonderful tool. But, recently we had some instances where people were not using there head with it. We had a big blizzard. It got bad enough that the state of MN closed down the inter...
Forum Discussion
pnichols wrote:
The "errors" in the GPS system probably result primarily from the accuracy of the maps used, the interpretation of those maps, and the keeping-current of those maps as used by the GPS system ... more so than accuracy variations in the GPS system's determinaton of where the user is located.
It's very complex what the GPS system is intended to provide, and I can only imagine the work required to make it, and keep it, accurate. It is what it is at any given time and location, so as is usual with so many tools - it's user beware.
I once was using a GPS mapping system that provided the ability to adjust the "Snap To" distance. The maps are always improving but the vehicle sticks to the road even if the actual position is calculated to be beside the road. The displayed position snaps to the road. By tinkering with this value I could be driving close to many roads.
There is a road in Newfoundland that the vehicle position is yards from the displayed road. It is the map that is off and the actual position is beyond the Snap To setting or design limit of the software. It will be on my list next trip to check again to see if the map has been moved to the actual road position.
