Using a computerized map integrated with a GPS unit, these observers could accurately direct personnel on the ground to a specific location. This technology can improve the performance of aviation personnel and enhance communication between members of different units. In addition to aiding aviation units, GPS could easily be applied to assist personnel operating in ground vehicles. The advantages of GPS for ground-based personnel are most profound for employees working in large jurisdictions. Officers engaged in a pursuit which has taken them outside of their jurisdiction can always determine their precise location.
Officers responding to a mutual aid call can plan their route and estimate their time of arrival.
There are a variety of other GPS applications which go beyond supporting patrol and aviation functions. Personnel who routinely travel in unfamiliar or semi-familiar territory may find GPS helpful in improving their efficiency. For example, state-level investigators may frequently be called to assist in major crime investigations in an area encompassing hundreds or thousands of square miles. GPS systems could help guide these employees to the exact location where their assistance is needed. Correctional personnel might frequently be called to transport prisoners and detainees between locations.