Global Positioning Systems (GPS), or more currently, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are increasingly used in every aspect of field data acquisition and operations. This course is designed for professionals in science and management who seek condensed exposure to GNSS hardware, software and techniques beyond the basic capabilities of smartphones and recreational-grade GPS. Lecture topics include accuracy/precision theory, cost functions, error sources and their mitigation, real-time and post-differential correction, and virtual reference networks. Field exercises include customizing field data collection platforms, actual field data collection, post-processing and error assessment.
It is strongly recommended that students have prior training in ESRI (ArcGIS) or similar software. Completion of Introduction to Geographic Information Systems is sufficient for success in this course.