This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

Logo UAB

Navigation and Earth Observation Systems

Code: 43846 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Geoinformación OB 1

Contact

Name:
Maria Assumpcio Termens Perarnau
Email:
assumpcio.termens@uab.cat

Teachers

Maria Assumpcio Termens Perarnau

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

This course has no specific requirements. Students should only have a basic knowledge of software as user level.


Objectives and Contextualisation

Earth observation systems offer a synoptical view of land. The advantage of having a point of view at a certain altitude has been used by aerial platforms for more than a century. More recent, however, is the operational use of satellite systems, that had its origin and broad use from the 70s when the Landsat programme began. Nowadays spectral, spatial and temporal resolution are components of an equation of uses and applications that spans from the optical and thermal systems to the active systems, such as radar and lidar, that give a better knowledge of land for environmental applications, resource management and sustainability.

Navigation is the ensemble of arts and techniques used to go from point A to point B in an efficient and safe way. It is possible to go from A to B knowing the speed and heading to follow, taking references and angles from known points, or knowing the coordinates of points A and B on a navigation chart, either on paper or on the screen of an electronic device.

At the end of XIXth century and the begining of XXth, using terrestrial radiocommunication systems and different methods of triangulation it was possible to calculate position knowing the coordinates of the points from which radiocommunication signals were broadcast. In the decade of 70s it was thought that it would be better to have those broadcasting stations on board of orbiting satellites, instead of having them on the ground, in order to have permanent signal coverage. Thus was born the concept of satellite navigation systems, which from US GPS to European GALILEO had democratised the concepts of positioning and navigation.

In this context, the specific goals of the course are to give:

  • the basic knowledge to understand and use the data gathered by satellite observation systems and by global navigation satellite systems. Particularly in the key aspects of precision and of spectral, spatial and temporal resolution.
  • the theretical and practical understanding to have a criticalthinking on the most appropriate technologies and approaches to solve actual projects of geoinformation production and integration, both in the field of Earth observation and in that of positioning.
  • the specific practical skills to use and analyse satellite data from Earth observation and navigation systems.

Learning Outcomes

  1. CA03 (Competence) Propose positioning and navigation instruments to measure biophysical parameters with different levels of precision and performance.
  2. CA04 (Competence) Extract information from the data provided by the different types of images obtained by Earth observation systems.
  3. CA05 (Competence) Integrate optimal geospatial information technologies, services and applications into each application case.
  4. CA06 (Competence) Explain the societal implications of the use and dissemination of geospatial information and its derivative products taking into account ethical responsibility and related legislation.
  5. KA04 (Knowledge) Distinguish the main types of satellite platforms and sensors for the necessary processing of the data they provide.
  6. KA05 (Knowledge) Choose the coordinate system for a given geographical area and the derived sensors and data products for each type of study and application.
  7. KA06 (Knowledge) Accurately and reliably distinguish between navigation and positioning systems and techniques for the different navigation and field data collection scenarios.
  8. SA04 (Skill) Use navigation and positioning techniques to establish both navigation and position reliably and accurately.
  9. SA05 (Skill) Apply the physical foundations of Earth observation to the analysis and processing of data from remote sensors.
  10. SA06 (Skill) Review the post-processing and analysis of the data of interest provided by the navigation and global positioning systems by satellite.

Content

Positioning, topography and navigation

1.  Introduction to the concept of navigation.

2.  Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).

3.  Geodesy, measurement, spatial reference systems and map projections.

4.  Navigation sensors, systems integration and architectures.

5.  Geolocation, practical cases and corrections.

 

Image processing, photogrammetry and Earth observation

1.  Fundamentals of digital image processing.

2.  Introduction to optical remote sensing. Photogrammetric cameras. Multispectral and hyperspectral sensors.

3.  Multi/hyperspectral data correction. Radiometric, geometric and atmospheric corrections.

4.  Microwave remote sensing. Theory and applications.

5.  Getting quantitative information from remote sensing data.

6.  Introduction to photogrammetry. Theory and applications.

7.  Geometric correction principles and strategies for airborn and satellite platforms.

8.  Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR).


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Guided practical exercises at the classroom 12 0.48 CA03, CA04, CA05, CA06, KA04, KA05, KA06, SA04, SA05, SA06, CA03
Lectures on basic concepts 24 0.96 CA03, CA04, CA05, CA06, KA04, KA05, KA06, SA04, SA05, SA06, CA03
Type: Supervised      
Field exercises 4 0.16 CA03, CA04, CA05, CA06, KA04, KA05, KA06, SA04, SA05, SA06, CA03
Supervised exercises 11 0.44 CA03, CA04, CA05, CA06, KA04, KA05, KA06, SA04, SA05, SA06, CA03
Type: Autonomous      
Design and presentation of potential applications integrating remote sensing and navigation 29 1.16 CA03, CA04, CA05, CA06, KA04, KA05, KA06, SA04, SA05, SA06, CA03
Study and exercises 40 1.6 CA03, CA04, CA05, CA06, KA04, KA05, KA06, SA04, SA05, SA06, CA03

Learning is achieved by means of three types of activities.

Directed activities: Directed activities are theoretical and practical lectures in a computer lab. They include solving case studies and practical exercises. Lectures are the common thread of the course. Lectures serve to systematize all the content, to present the state of the art of the different subjects, to provide methods and techniques for specific tasks, and to sum up the knowledge to learn. Lectures organize also the autonomous and complementary work done by the students

Supervised activities: Supervised activities are focused on the execution of a semester project, consisting of a real case study, carried out through workshop hours, autonomous work and tutorials. This semester project allows to apply together all the knowledge and technical skills learnt in all the courses of the semester. The semester project is a milestone for the students and the actual demonstration that they had achieved the learning goals of all the courses of the semester. It is also the main evidence for evaluation as students should have to submit at the end of the semester a report that summarizes the whole project and do an oral presentation.

Autonomous activities: Autonomous work of the students includes personal readings, data and documentation search, complementary exercises and the personal development of the semester project.

The activities that could not be done onsite will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools. Exercises, projects and lectures will be carried out using virtual tools such as tutorials, videos, Teams sessions, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Oral presentations 20 6 0.24 CA03, CA04, CA05, CA06, KA04, KA05, KA06, SA04, SA05, SA06
Practical exercises 35 10.5 0.42 CA03, CA04, CA05, CA06, KA04, KA05, KA06, SA04, SA05, SA06
Report submissions 45 13.5 0.54 CA03, CA04, CA05, CA06, KA04, KA05, KA06, SA04, SA05, SA06

In the event that assessment activities cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

CONTINUOUS EVALUATION. This subject/module does not incorporate single assessment.

a) Evaluation procedure and activities:

Evaluation of the course is based mostly on the semester project, that comprises two evaluation activities. The elaboration and submission of a synthesis report and the oral presentation of the project done. Given the technical content of the course, the weight assigned to the project report is 45% of the total course grading, assuming that it is the most appropriate means to explain all the technical details of the project, and a weight of 20% at the oral presentation. The course assessment is completed with the evaluation of the practical exercises done along the course, that account for another 35% of the total course grading.

Unless otherwise specified, the submission of exercises is mandatory. In order for the exercises to be averaged with the project, they must have an average grade of 5 or higher.

Except when expressly noticed, all the evaluation activities (report and oral presentation of the semester project, as well as practical exercises) have to carried out individually.

Time assigned to each evaluation activity includes the time spent in making all the material evidences for evaluating each activity (e.g., writing of the report, preparing the presentation slides, etc.).

b) Evaluation schedule:

1st semester project report: Making during all the semester. Submission at the end of semester, on January 22nd 2026.

1st semester project oral presentation: Making during all the semester. Oral presentation at the end of semester, on January 29th 2026.

Course practical exercises: Making and submission weekly or biweekly along the semester.

c) Grade revision:

Once the grades obtained are published, students will have one week to apply for a grade revision by arranging an appointment with the corresponding teachers.

d) Procedure for reassessment:

1st semester project report: It could be reassessed in the following two weeks after the submission date scheduled. Reassessment will require the submission of a new whole report in case of negative evaluation of the former report submitted.

1st semester project oral presentation: It could be reassessed in the following week after the date scheduled for the oral presentation. Reassessment will require doing again the oral presentation in case of negative evaluation of the former presentation done.

Course practical exercises: Can not be reassessed.

To have right to a reassessment the student will have to have been previously evaluated in a set of activities that account for at least two thirds of the total course grading. Therefore he or she will have to have been evaluated of the 1st semester project report (45%) and ofthe 1st semester project oral presentation(20%) inthe dates scheduled.

The right to a reassessment will only be granted to students that, having not passed the course (e.g., having a total course grade below 5 over 10), had obtained at least a total course grade above 3,5 over 10.

e) Conditions for a ‘Not assessable’ grade:

Students will receive the grade ‘Not assessable’ instead of ‘Fail’ if they had not submitted neither the 1st semester project report nor done the 1st semester project oral presentation. Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 1/3 of the assessment items.

f) UAB regulations on plagiarism and other irregularities in the assessment process:

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject..

Assessment acitivities with a zero grade because of irregularities can not be reassessed.

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

For this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks. Students must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Non-transparency in the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total penalty in the activity's grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.


Bibliography

Chuvieco, Emilio: Earth Observation of Global Change:The Role of Satellite Remote Sensing in Monitoring the Global Environment, Springer, 2004.

Hofman - Wellenhof et all: GNSS, Springer, 2008.

Jacobson, L: GNSS, markets and applications,  Revistes Artech House, 2007.

Kaplan, E. D. and C.J. Hegarty: GPS, Principles and applications, ed. Artech House, 2ª Edición, 2006.

Krisp, J.M., Meng, L., Pail, R., Stilla, U.: Earth Observation of Global Changes (EOGC), Springer, 2013.

Leick, A.: GPS Satellite Surveying, Willey, 3ª Edición, 2004.

Ormeño, S.: Fundamentos de Teledetección. ETSI Topografia, G.C. Madrid 2006.

Wolf P.R., Dewitt B.A.: Elements of Photogrammetry with Applications in GIS. 2000.

Xu, G.: GPS: Theory, Algoritms and Applications. Springer, 2007.


Software

ESA SNAP

Google Earth Engine

QGIS


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PLABm) Practical laboratories (master) 1 Spanish first semester afternoon
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Spanish first semester afternoon