GPS Integrated Camera's

Photographs, as some one said, are memories frozen in time & space, if there is a way to add accurate location dimension to the photograph, it definitely adds value to the cherished memories.

Digital cameras, whether it’s a point- and –shoot, prosumer or professional variants, all have a possibility of a very interesting integration of location technologies called GPS

(Global Positioning Systems), simply put, GPS chipsets receive signals from the GPS satellites and subsequently calculate accurate locations (Latitude & Longitude) , incredibly at an accuracy’s of 5 to 10 meters, now, if the GPS derived location information (Latitude & Longitude) is tagged to your digital image which you have taken, you can add that important 3^rd location dimension.

All digital images taken from a digital camera have metatags in EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) embedded into it. This EXIF format is a standard format for digital images taken by all digital cameras irrespective of its make and model, this means that all digital images taken by digital cameras will have some information embedded into it, this information is that of the aperture, shutter speed, focal length, metering mode, and ISO speed information etc. while you take that snap. Outwardly, you would not see this information from the image you have taken, but when the image is viewed in an appropriate image processing tool, you could see the information which is embedded into the digital image you have taken, now, when you take images from a GPS embedded digital camera, the location information (Latitude & Longitude) is also written/embedded in the image additionally along the usual aperture, shutter speed, focal length information.

The process of adding the location information into the digital image is known as geotagging, when this location embedded image is supplied to appropriate applications, they will read the location information from the image metatags and points the location on a map precisely on where this image is taken. All photo sharing websites like locr, panoramio picasa, flickr etc. instantly recognize the geotagged photos and put them on the map precisely, this way, you and your friends know where on the earth you have taken that excellent snap.

Other than recreation and viewing, geotagging of photos have serious application usefulness to photo journalists, media, law enforcement agencies, infrastructure industry, defence, forestry & environment, public utilities, disaster management, utilities, local government’s agencies, the list can go on.

Surprisingly, the technology of integrating Camera with GPS is not new, we now see that the every other high-end phone worth its salt has a camera and a GPS embedded to it, this means that you can already take geotagged images from your high-end phone, digital camera OEM’s have recognized the usage and value of embedding a GPS into their cameras, the intent can be gauged by the fact that you see a steady proliferation of GPS embedded cameras in the market place, digital camera biggies like Nikon, Canon, Sony & Samsung have started introducing models with embedded GPS chipsets, with a GPS chipset costing less than $10, its not that hurting to OEM’s as well. If you plan to buy your next digital camera it’s a good idea to look for a GPS integrated feature.