The European Union just unveiled its new hyper accurate GPS enhancement system to much homegrown hoopla. Pinpoint accuracy up to five times that of standard GPS might sound sexy to some. The folks at Mio, however, see the project as a bit of overkill when it comes to drivers who rely on their car navigation devices to get them from point A to point B. 

The European Geostationary Navigation Overly System (EGNOS) differs from GPS in that it focuses on regional rather than global coverage. What EGNOS lacks in global scope, it makes up for in precision. GPS boasts of accuracy down to 10 meters, while EGNOS shrinks that to just two.

 
Users switching their devices to “pedestrian mode” should see more immediate benefits.

Do most drivers really need that degree of precision? Probably not, according to the product management team at Mio. Current levels of accuracy provided by systems like GPS are sufficient for roadway navigation and have the added benefit of global coverage (that all-important “G” in GPS). Accuracy down to the seven- to five-meter level is negligible for most drivers, they said. As one online source points out, driver navigation problems more often stem from map reliability than signal accuracy.

A system like EGNOS would probably have the biggest impact for drivers in some of Europe's older cities, known for their twisting alleys and narrow back streets. Additionally, delivery drivers trying to locate an address among a confusing jumble of buildings should be pleased.

Picture from Trip Advisor

On the consumer side, all that vaunted accuracy has bigger implications for those traveling on foot, says the Mio team. Users switching their devices to “pedestrian mode” should see more immediate benefits. Outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers and mountain climbers can hit the trail with confidence that the next turn isn't going to lead them over the edge of a ravine.

Taking this idea a step further, geocaching hobbyists could know right down to the meter where to find hidden treasure, but where is the fun in that? Mio points out that a flood of EGNOS devices in geocaching circles could take some of the thrill and mystery out of searching a location. It would be sort of like consulting Wikipedia while playing a game of Trivial Pursuit.

 Picture from GPS Daily

All this is not to say that EGNOS doesn’t have its benefits, particularly in the areas of commercial shipping and aviation. The vision impaired could be guided with handheld EGNOS devices. Europe’s farmers hope to use the system to direct tractors and crop-dusting planes that spread fertilizer and pesticides. Not bad for “free” service, though one online commentator points out that the end cost does get passed on to the EU taxpayer.

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More to read -

Harvesting EGNOS and Galileo for use in agriculture
http://www.gsa.europa.eu/go/news/harvesting-egnos-and-galileo-for-use-in-agriculture

Space technology to help the blind
http://www.esa.int/esaNA/ESAKN58708D_egnos_0.html

Geocaching - WAAS/EGNOS and Accuracy - Detailed information
http://www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk/resources/egnos.html