Preface

This book is about global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), their two main instruments, which are a receiver and a simulator, and their applications. The book is based on an operational off-the-shelf real-time software GNSS receiver and off-the-shelf GNSS signal simulator. The academic versions of these tools are bundled with this book and free for readers to use for study and research.

The GNSS is probably unique in that it combines such a diverse variety of humanity’s technological achievements. In order to understand a system better one needs to look at it from a wider perspective. Therefore we always try to present a theory behind each aspect of GNSS in general, which not only allows a better understanding of GNSS, but may also make it useful for specialists engaged in other fields.

The book structure is schematically presented on Figure P.1. Chapter 1 describes general methods of using GNSS. Chapter 2 looks at GNSS satellites and deals with their orbital mechanics. Chapter 3 discusses GNSS signals and how they are generated in satellites, simulators, and pseudolites. Chapters 4,7,10 describe GNSS signal propagation. Chapter 4 looks at where the GNSS signals are in relation to other electro-magnetic signals and how their specifics affect their propagation. Chapter 7 deals with multipath and Chapter 10 is devoted to the very interesting subject of signal scintillation. Chapters 5 and 6 describe in detail a software GNSS receiver front end and a baseband processor. Chapter 8 treats the subject of creating and improving various GNSS observables. Chapters 9,11,12 discuss how these observables are used in navigation and geophysics applications.