SA

Definition of SA

Selective Availability (SA) is a feature of Global Positioning System (GPS) intended to reduce the accuracy of GPS signals for non-military users. SA was originally implemented for national security reasons, as it could make it difficult for adversaries to use GPS for precise targeting of military systems. However, in 2000 the United States government stopped using SA as a civilian GPS users had begun using GPS for commercial applications, and the impact of SA on civil users became more pronounced.

Today, SA is no longer enacted, and GPS is available to the general public with high accuracy. GPS receivers can provide accurate positioning, navigation, and timing information which are useful for a range of applications such as aviation, shipping and transportation, surveying, and outdoor recreation. With the loss of SA, GPS technology has become more accessible and diversely applied, resulting in enormous benefits to businesses and individuals worldwide.