| Semester 2, 2020 Online | |
| Short Description: | Introduction to GPS |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences |
| School or Department : | School of Civil Engineering and Surveying |
| Student contribution band : | Band 2 |
| ASCED code : | 031101 - Surveying |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Rationale
Throughout the centuries, people have sought a simple way of determining where they are on Earth, and where they are heading. Positioning and navigation have always been one of the most basic problems facing civilisation. Today GPS and other GNSS have provided us with the ability to know where we are and where we are heading. GNSS provides this worldwide navigation service by using a constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth. It is essential that surveyors, GIS specialists, and other casual users be familiar with the fundamentals of GNSS and that they have a sound understanding of its uses, and the accuracy achievable by different GNSS observation and reduction techniques.
Synopsis
The use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), for accurately determining positions on earth, has grown exponentially since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today GNSS is firmly entrenched in the general operations of professional surveying and GIS organisations. This course presents fundamental information on structure, characteristics and use of GPS and other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Background information is provided and the basic principles of using the GNSS systems are introduced. The course has a bias towards the code observable and the use of GPS for asset mapping, but several sections dealing with higher accuracy measurement techniques make this course relevant to a wide range of students. Consequently, the information will be relevant to those seeking fundamental knowledge in areas of general GNSS surveying, agriculture, machine guidance, mapping and general data collection.
Objectives
The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. On completion of this course, students should be able to:
- discuss the features and applications of GNSS and its importance in society today;
- define coordinates systems likely to be encountered by GNSS users and calculate and discuss GPS coordinates;
- describe global satellite navigation systems, satellite orbital characteristics, and satellite signal structure;
- define the fundamental characteristics of GPS/GNSS and outline their development;
- discuss the principles of GNSS observations, make observations using a GNSS receiver, and calculate and analyse findings;
- explain GNSS observations techniques, and calculate and evaluate levels of accuracy associated with GNSS observations;
- demonstrate an understanding of error sources in GNSS observations, and explain the uses and critical factors of Differential GNSS techniques;
- identify and discuss project planning features when using GNSS, and discuss the key steps in planning a GNSS data collection project for asset mapping;
- explain GNSS data collection and processing procedures, including Differential (code and phase) GNSS, and evaluate collected and processed data;
- describe the use of GNSS for asset mapping, and other common uses.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Introduction | 5.00 |
| 2. | GNSS Coordinates | 10.00 |
| 3. | GPS/GNSS Fundamentals | 15.00 |
| 4. | Code observable | 15.00 |
| 5. | Phase observable | 15.00 |
| 6. | Differential (code & phase) GPS | 10.00 |
| 7. | Project Planning | 10.00 |
| 8. | Collection and Processing | 10.00 |
| 9. | Asset Mapping and other Applications | 10.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=02&subject1=SVY1110)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
Reference materials
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 40.00 |
| Directed 精东传媒app | 48.00 |
| Examinations | 2.00 |
| Private 精东传媒app | 65.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Objectives Assessed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | 100 | 10 | 01 Sep 2020 | 1,2,3,4 | |
| Assignment 2 | 300 | 30 | 07 Oct 2020 | 5,6,7,8,9 | |
| Online Exam | 600 | 60 | End S2 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 | (see note 1) |
Notes
- This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via 精东传媒appDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the official Alternate Assessment Schedule has been released.
Important assessment information
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Attendance requirements:
There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.
Requirements after S2 2020:
To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available (or at least a grade of C-) for each assessment item. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Requirements after S2 2020
To be assured of receiving a passing grade in a course a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks for the course. -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. -
Examination information:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination.
Requirements after S2 2020:
In a Closed Examination, candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date.
Requirements after S2 2020:
Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period. -
精东传媒app Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment notes
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Students must familiarise themselves with the USQ Assessment Procedures (.
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If other than electronic submission is specified for a course assessment, students will be notified of this on the Course 精东传媒app Desk.
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Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.
Other requirements
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Students will require access to e-mail and internet access to UConnect for this course.