Template for Course Specifications (2008)

Suez Canal University

Faculty of engineering (port Said)
Course specifications:
Programme(s) on which the course is given: Eletronics& Communications
Major or minor element of programmes
: Optional
Department offering the programme
: Faculty of Engineering at Port Said
Department offering the course
: Electrical Engineering
Academic year / Level
: Third level
Date of specification approval
: Year 2002

A- Basic Information
Title: Radio navigation systems
Credit Hours: Four hours
Tutorial: Two hours

Code
: ECE 358
Lecture : Two hours
Practical : ..
Total: Tour hours

B- Professional Information
1 Overall aims of course

The cockpit and equipment racks of both modern aircraft and ships, large and small, are
becoming filled with ever more sophisticated systems. The course attempts to describe a
certain class of such systems, namely those which rely for their operation on
electromagnetic radiation. The basic theory of radio navigation as well as the theoretical
background necessary for understanding the operation of the nowadays used systems has
been covered. The principle of operation and main properties of the systems are given
with emphasis on the Global Positioning System (GPS) as it has proved to have the
greatest positive impact on everyday life.

2 Intended learning outcomes of course (ILOs)

Knowledge and understanding:

The course enables the student to:
a1- Recognize the main navigation data.
a2-.Acquainted with the general characteristics of radio navigation systems (RNS).
a3- Recognize the different errors of RNS.
a4- Acquainted with the effect of geometry on the accuracy of RNS.
b- Intellectual skills:
The student will be able to:
b1- Asses the basic properties of RNS.
b2- Calculate and draw the service area of RNS.
b3- Asses the performance of GPS and DGPS systems.
c- Professional and practical skills
The course aims to let the student be professionally able to:
C1- Analyze a given RNS.
C2- Calculate and draw the service area of a given RNS.
C3- Choose the position of ground stations for a given RNS to obtain the best accuracy in a
dedicated area.
C4- Asses the performance of GPS and DGPS in a prescribed location.

d- General and transferable skills:

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
d1- Use of text-books to follow the progress in this field
d2- Deliver selected parts of the course in oral seminars using available displaying
equipments.
d3- Compare among different RNS.
d4- Work in groups to solve a particular related problem

3- The course Contents

Lecture Topic

1-Fundamentals of radio

navigation.
2-Accuracy and service areas of
RNS.
3- RNS in use.
4- GPS and DGPS systems.

No. of Hours

Lecture

Tutorial/Practical

12

12

12
20

6
10

6
10

4 Teaching and learning methods

The course is delivered to the students through:

4.1- Lectures
4.2- Exercises
4.3- Sessions of discussion (some design problems)

5- Student assessment methods

5.1- Current discussion & class activities: to assess the student progress and personal
attitude
5.2- Written Mid-Term Exam: to assess the progress of the students along the Midsemester
5.3- Final Written Exam: to assess the ability of understanding, remember, and assessing

Assessment schedule

Assessment 1: Current discussion

Assessment 2: Mid-Term written Exam .8th Week
Assessment 3: Final Written Exam at the end of the semester

Weighting of assessments

Current Discussion
..
Mid-Term Written Exam
Final Written Exam .
Total ......................................
Any formative only assessments

6- List of references

6.1- Course notes:

10 %
25%
65%
100%

None

6.2- Essential books (text books)

1) Borje Forsell, Radio navigation systems, Prentice Hall, New York, 1991.
2)Bradford W. Parkinson and James J. Pilker Jr., Global positioning system: Theory and
applications, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc., Washington, DC,
1996.

6.3- Recommended books

1) Navigation, The journal of Navigation, London, Uk.
2) IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.
7- Facilities required for teaching and learning
Video projector- Slide projector- Photocopying Facilities
Course coordinator:

Ass. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Samy Abo El Soud

Head of Department:

Date:

Dr. Samir Makawi