Introduction to GPS
- Course Number: E1015
- Credits: 8 hours
- Instructor: Ellen Huang, PE
- Price: $80
Course Outline
These days Global Positioning System (GPS) is finding its way into cars, boats, planes, construction equipment, farm machinery, and smartphones. It is a space-based, satellite navigation system, owned and operated by the United States of America. GPS provides users with accurate information about their position and velocity, as well as the time, anywhere in the world and in all weather conditions. This course provides an in-depth overview of the Global Positioning System, including its three segments: the space segment, the control segment, and the user segment. Basic GPS components are discussed, from satellites to ground stations to receivers. Various GPS applications in transportation, oil and gas exploration, mapping, surveying, and communications are examined. Other GPS systems such as Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou are also discussed.
At the end of this course, there will be a multiple-choice, open-book quiz designed to enhance your understanding of the course material.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Understand what GPS is;
- Learn about the origin, applications and future of GPS;
- Know how GPS works; and
- Realize the impact of GPS on engineering and surveying professions.