Final answer:
Real-time location tracking of vehicles relies on Global Positioning Systems (GPS), using a satellite network to determine exact positioning and navigation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Real-time location tracking of vehicles relies predominantly on Global Positioning Systems (GPS). This technology is built on a network of 24 satellites orbiting the Earth, each one equipped with a highly accurate atomic clock.
GPS receivers, such as those in vehicles, determine their position by calculating how long it takes for signals from these satellites to reach them.
This system allows for precise positioning and navigation, which is essential for mapping, tracking, and managing transportation systems. Even factors like relativistic effects on the timing due to the high speeds at which these signals travel must be accounted for to ensure the accuracy of the GPS.