Principles of the Global Positioning System

Syllabus

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session

Basic Topics to be Covered

1. Coordinate and time systems
   • Definition of global and local coordinate systems
   • Relationship between satellite and conventional geodetic systems
2. Satellite orbital motions
   • Description of motions
   • Forces acting on the satellites
   • Satellite NAV messages
3. GPS observables
   • Pseudo ranges
   • Carrier phases
   • SA/AS
   • Format of data (RINEX)
4. Estimation procedures
   • Stochastic and mathematical models
   • Propagation of covariance matrices
   • Sequential estimation
   • Kalman filtering
   • Statistics in least-squares estimation
5. Propagation medium
   • Troposphere
   • Ionosphere
   • Multipath
6. Mathematical model of GPS observables
   • Basic theory of contributions that need to be included for millimeter level global positioning
   • Use of differencing, differential position
   • Wide-lanes and use in kinematic positioning
7. Methods of processing GPS data
   • Available software
   • Available data set, International GPS Service (IGS)
   • Cycle slip fixing/Bias resolution
   • Kinematic (moving receiver) GPS processing
   • Relationship between satellite and conventional geodetic systems
8. Applications and examples of GPS data analysis along with other space geodetic data

Text Books

Hofmann-Wellenhof, B., H. Lichtenegger, and J. Collins. GPS Theory and Practice. Springer, 1994. ISBN: 9780387824772.

Parkinson, B. W., J. Spilker, et al. Global Positioning System: Theory and Applications. Vol. 1. American Institute of Aeronautics & Ast, 1996. ISBN: 9781563471063.

———. Global Positioning System: Theory and Applications. Vol. 2. American Institute of Aeronautics & Ast, 1996. ISBN: 9781563471070.

Some Websites to Explore

U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center Website

University NAVSTAR Consortium Website

SCIGN Data Portal Website

Class Requirements

There will be homework once every few weeks. There will be no final, but there will be an end of semester paper on a topic of your choice. Grading will be from the homework (which will be largely the development of a GPS data analysis program) and the end of semester paper. The paper will be a review of an area related to the applications of GPS and will developed during the semester (i.e., the paper will be revised for content several times during semester).

It will be acceptable in this course to work together on homework with the aim of better understanding the material and to refer to other books and published material provided that these additional materials are cited appropriately in the homework. Each student should complete the homework separately. It is not acceptable to simply copy the homework of another student.