Course syllabus for Satellite positioning

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameSatellitbaserade navigationssystem
  • CodeRRY095
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPWPS
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyElectrical Engineering, Engineering Physics
  • DepartmentSPACE, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 29131
  • Maximum participants65 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0108 Written and oral assignments 7.5 c
Grading: TH
0 c7.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Basic physics.

Aim

The aim of this course is to provide a fundamental understanding of the principles of satellite-based positioning systems and specific knowledge about existing and planned Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and their applications.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  1. show a thorough understanding of the principles of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)
  2. understand the mathematical and physical models included in scientific GNSS data analysis
  3. do observations using GNSS equipment and the corresponding data analysis

Content

This course will introduce the student to the fundamentals of GNSS and give an overview of a wide range of different GNSS applications.

The basic principles of satellite-based positioning will be studied. We will introduce the reference coordinate and time system, satellite orbital motion, signal propagation, and the GNSS signal structure. The mathematical models for pseudo-range and carrier phase-based modes of positioning for both absolute and relative positioning implementations will be developed. The principles will be illustrated using toolkits for GNSS data analysis. Especially, we focus on the principles of positioning using existing GNSS (i.e. GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo).

We will make a systematic study of factors limiting the accuracy. Especially atmospheric, satellite orbital and other random and non-random error are discussed. Methods to mitigate these individual sources of error will be presented. The use of different observational modes are described and motivated. The concepts of space-based and terrestrial augmentation systems (e.g. EGNOS and WAAS) will be thoroughly addressed. The augmentation systems are used to improve the accuracy and reliability of GNSS. We will define the word integrity which is associated with the quality control of GNSS.

The students will be able to learn a GNSS software package developed for scientific applications with accuracy requirements for relative positioning on the order of a few millimetre.

An extensive part of the course is dedicated to the wide range of GNSS applications existing today and prospects for the future. In addition to the traditional applications found in navigation and positioning, GNSS data contributes to weather forecasting, space weather monitoring, and geophysical investigations. Furthermore, GNSS is today fundamental for synchronization and distribution of time and frequency in e.g. communication networks.

Organisation

The course includes lectures and lab exercises. Additionally there will be field work during one full day collecting data using various GNSS receiver systems.

Literature

Lecture notes and additional hand-out material.

Examination including compulsory elements

Passed project report, home work and oral examination.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.