GNSS & Satellite Positioning

Seven lectures on how GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou really work.

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About this course

A seven-lecture series covering satellite positioning from first principles. Learn how pseudo-range positioning works, where the errors come from and how they are reduced, how the world's global and regional constellations and augmentation systems compare, how the GPS control segment keeps the system healthy, and what the L1, L2 and L5 signals carry.

Pseudo-range positioning and receiver clock error
The full GNSS error budget including GDOP and multipath
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, NavIC, QZSS and SBAS compared

Syllabus

7 documents · 59 pages · English

01
Lecture 1 · GNSS Principles & Pseudo-Range Positioning
PDF · 11 pages
- GNSS families: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC
- How satellite ranging determines position
- C/A and P codes on the L1 / L2 carriers
- Stand-alone positioning with pseudo-ranges and receiver clock error
02
Lecture 2 · GNSS Error Sources
PDF · 11 pages
- Satellite clock and orbit errors
- Ionospheric and tropospheric delay
- Multipath
- Satellite geometry and GDOP
- Selective Availability and Anti-Spoofing
03
Lecture 3 · Global & Regional Navigation Systems
PDF · 8 pages
- Global constellations: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou
- Regional systems: IRNSS / NavIC and QZSS
- SBAS augmentation: WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, SDCM and GAGAN
- GPS full operational capability
04
Lecture 4 · The GPS Control Segment
PDF · 7 pages
- Master Control Station responsibilities
- Monitor stations and ground antennas
- Navigation-message upload and constellation health
05
Lecture 5 · GPS Signals & Frequencies
PDF · 7 pages
- L1 (1575.42 MHz), L2 (1227.60 MHz) and L5 (1176.45 MHz)
- Wavelengths and signal penetration
- Dual-frequency correction of ionospheric delay
06
Lecture 6 · GLONASS
PDF · 11 pages
- Purpose and architecture of Russia's GLONASS
- Historical timeline from 1976 to today
- Degradation, recovery and modernisation
07
Lecture 7 · BeiDou (COMPASS)
PDF · 4 pages
- China's BeiDou navigation system
- From the experimental BeiDou-1 to the global system
- Strategic autonomy and unique capabilities