I'm sitting at yet ANOTHER set of tracks waiting for a train, really long one, pass by. Staring at my Garmin it dawned on me.

Since all rail traffic is tracked by GPS and GPS is tracking me and my route.

Assuming the Feds would allow it.

Why not have data streaming to GPS system that would route us around trains we are "likely" to intersect on a given route?

Such as this time the Garmin could have taken me across the tracks north of it's org route or south to avoid sitting there.

I'd call it the "Automatic Train/Rail Traffic detour system"

Just thinking out loud

 

This would be possible with the GPS units that have real-time traffic updates, assuming someone could convince the rail companies to share the data. Not sure how likely that is.

BTW - GPS isn't really tracking you, just providing your own position back to you via precise timing signals. Software in the GPS unit does the rest.

 

Your GPS only knows where you are...traffic is the down linked to you as by a 3rd party service....the traffic info has been aggregated by other means (some company's are using cell phone movement info(Google), others, traffic cameras, one or two are building a separate system into their GPS to report where their customers are back to their own company...by cellular data link ((can you say BIG-BROTHER!!))etc) and then down linked backed to your GPS on a second (mostly) one way signal (from an XM Satellite radio signal for one, or cellular data network by another...)...it is a separate system....not part of GPS.
Remeber GPS is a basic, one way system that uses minuscule time differences in the amount of time it takes to get a signal to from different satellites in Geo-stationary orbits 22,000+ miles away to determine your position!! The more satellites your receiver can "hear" the more accurate you position. Simple trigonometry is actually used to triangulate your position (the longer it takes to get the perfectly synchronized signal from each satellite, the farther you are from it, the shorter, the closer!! 3 Satellites are necessary for basic positioning, but with 5 or more, it can be nearly perfect (when allowed by the US Government....they have the ability to adjust the ultimate accuracy of the system as a matter of National Security...they also own and run it!!)
Ready for the pop Quiz?!!