NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

PUBLICATIONS

Economic Benefits of the Global Positioning System (GPS)

Published

Author(s)

Alan C. O’Connor, Michael P. Gallaher, Kyle Clark-Sutton, Daniel Lapidus, Zack T. Oliver, Troy J. Scott, Dallas W. Wood, Manuel A. Gonzalez, Elizabeth G. Brown

Abstract

The focus of our analysis was on the estimation of the economic benefits of GPS to the U.S. private sector. We provide estimates from two perspectives. First, we quantified the value of GPS relative to alternative technologies and systems for the period from 1984 to 2017. Second, we estimated what the potential impacts would be if a GPS outage were to occur today. Our analysis combined insights from nearly 200 experts in the use of GPS for specific applications, surveys of professional surveyors and smartphone users, economic modeling tools, and national statistics. Benefits comprise productivity gains from new and existing products and services, improvements in quality, increases in personal enjoyment, and environmental and public health impacts.
Citation
Grant/Contract Reports (NISTGCR) - NIST GCR 25-062
Report Number
NIST GCR 25-062
NIST Pub Series
Grant/Contract Reports (NISTGCR)
Pub Type
NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.GCR.25-062
Local Download
Technology transfer and Advanced communications

Citation

O’Connor, A. , Gallaher, M. , Clark-Sutton, K. , Lapidus, D. , Oliver, Z. , Scott, T. , Wood, D. , Gonzalez, M. and Brown, E. (2019), Economic Benefits of the Global Positioning System (GPS), Grant/Contract Reports (NISTGCR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.GCR.25-062, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=959637 (Accessed October 13, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created June 3, 2019, Updated February 18, 2025
Was this page helpful?