At every turn there is a new and innovative use of this technology in all walks of life, from consumer applications to scientific, environmental and public safety endeavors. For instance, the coming increase of GPS as an integral part of:

Precision Farming

GPS-derived spatial data help to improve the management of field operations. GPS systems provide accuracy to farm practices that was unaffordable or technically unavailable. Precision farming seeks to adjust farm practices to match the variation of soils and terrain at much smaller increments within a field. Industry experts expect precision farming to become an industry standard.

Intelligent Traffic Systems

Run-off-the-road accidents represent 30% of highway incidents on rural roads. The University of Minnesota's Department of Mechanical Engineering & Center for Transportation Studies is researching the use of differential GPS (DGPS) for preventing road departure in case a driver is incapacitated. The research focuses on human-centered systems in which technology assists the driver. So, if the driver loses control, the proposed system would aggressively intervene by taking control of the vehicle, steering it to a safe location on the shoulder, and stopping it.

Emergency & Security Services

Future automotive GPS systems are expected to go beyond navigation to offer remote diagnostics and process vehicle servicing schedules, with dealer garages sending the results via mobile communications. Also expected is a dynamic routing capability that will warn the driver of traffic congestion or other undesirable factors, and provide real-time alternatives. GPS will play an integral role in the development of this technology that will allow traffic flow to adjust to road conditions in real-time. Some systems that are currently available have some of these capabilities. The OnStar system, available with GM vehicles, takes a very active roles in the case of an accident.