Introduction to the Global Positioning System (GPS)

Webinar – 1.0 CPD Hour

Course Abstract
The Global Positioning System (GPS) has had a profound impact on our modern society. Hundreds of millions of users worldwide depend on it for navigation yet have little, if any, idea of how it works. This tutorial provides an introduction to GPS for an engineering audience. Following an overview, the tutorial describes the GPS signal broadcast by the satellites and the signal processing, measurement generation and position solution performed by the receiver. The tutorial then provides a description of the common errors that affect GPS and concludes with a brief glimpse into future developments.

What Engineers Will Learn

• The three main segments of the system architecture of GPS
• Why measurements from a minimum of four satellites are needed to compute a 3-dimensional position solution
• How binary phase-shift keying is used to form the GPS signal
• The primary measurements made by a GPS receiver
• How the satellite, atmosphere of the Earth and receiver hardware affect measurement errors
• Typical positioning performance

What is Unique About this Webinar?
This webinar provides a concise overview of the major technical aspects of GPS: system architecture, signal structure and processing, measurement generation, error analysis and system performance.

Presenter Biography

Michael S. Braasch, PhD, PE, Fellow U.S. ION, holds the Thomas Professorship in the Ohio University School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and is a Principal Investigator with the Ohio University Avionics Engineering Center. Dr. Braasch has been working with the Avionics Engineering Center since 1985 and has been performing GPS research for the past 30 years. Dr. Braasch has served as a Visiting Scientist at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, has lectured for NATO on navigation topics and has served as a Visiting Erskine Fellow at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Dr. Braasch is the co-founder and Technical Director of GPSoft LLC (a software company specializing in navigation). Dr. Braasch is a Fellow of the U.S. Institute of Navigation and is a senior member of the IEEE. He is also an instrument-rated commercial pilot and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Ohio.

 

Registration Fee

• Professional (Nonmember) - $50
• OSPE Member (30% off) - $35

Create Your Blackboard Account to Access Your Webinar(s)
You will receive an email message from the Office of Instructional Innovation at Ohio University with instructions for creating your Blackboard account (if you don't already have one) and for accessing your webinar(s).

Participation Monitored
During this webinar, we'll be monitoring your attendance so that we are in compliance with the requirements of the Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.  While this webinar is available "on demand," your participation will be monitored through a device that will require your response at various intervals. You must respond appropriately, or you will not be eligible for a CPD Certificate of Completion.

Continuing Professional Development Hours
OSPE programs are designed to meet the requirements for Ohio’s continuing professional development (CPD) law and State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors (State Board of Registration) rules.  For Ohio licensees, the State Board of Registration determines the acceptance of individual courses for CPD credit. The State Board of Registration does not preapprove any courses or course providers.  OSPE programs are also designed to comply with the laws in KY, NC and WV.  Be sure to consult those states' licensing authorities.  The program also meets CPD requirements in many additional states.  There is 1.0 CPD hour associated with this program. Professionals should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  Throughout the program, be sure to respond appropriately to our attendance monitoring device so that your attendance may be verified in case you are audited by the State.

Deductibility of Registration Fee
Registration fees for this program are not tax deductible as charitable contributions.  However, they may be tax deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses.  Please consult your tax advisor.

 

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Ohio Society of Professional Engineers
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