A GPS database is a collection of maps, whether electronic or in other formats that is used to enable the use of GPS to provide people with a host of important data. With the popularity of using GPS today, a database of maps used mainly for this new technology is growing.
There are different types of GPS maps that are now available for people to use with their GPS receivers. The most advanced and expensive GPS units usually have its own GPS database already built in with the receiver.
How GPS maps work?
GPS maps come in a variety of forms that depend on how they are used. There are GPS maps that are solely used for marine use. These types of maps usually have information about various marine waters that can be used by fishermen using a marine GPS receiver to locate schools of fish.
These types of maps are also integrated into more sophisticated GPS equipment to enable ocean going vessels navigate different bodies of water especially those with high vessel traffic such as channels, rivers, canals, etc.
There are also GPS maps that are used for receivers that are being used by hikers. These types of maps usually gives detailed information about different land terrains in an area such as hills, rivers, special landmarks and other points of interest for the hiker. And there is also a collection of different GPS maps that cater to drivers.
Road GPS maps provide detailed information about the network of road in a certain city or location. This type of GPS map doesn’t usually include more detailed terrain information as they usually only focus on road networks that allow drivers to locate streets to determine location of an address that they might be going to.
GPS units
The most expensive GPS units usually have their own GPS database. This database usually also contains a set of fixed way points that can help guide users while traveling. The database can also have other way points added that users might find to be of interest and save them up on the unit’s GPS database along with the other set of way points.
The GPS units with this database usually also has a program installed that can provide users with directions going to a certain destination without having to add in the different coordinates. It can be as simple as putting the name of the destination such as a city or town and the GPS unit will determine the means to get there using its GPS database of maps. GPS units may also provide directions and sometimes voice turn by turn instructions especially useful for drivers on the road.
