Workshop Background:
Traditional methods of surveying and navigation are tedious observation techniques for deriving positional and directional information. Various field conditions, seasonal variation and many unavoidable circumstances always bias the traditional field approach. There is great advancement in electronic systems, telecommunication, and space science and technology. The fields of surveying and navigation are greatly benefited through the global navigation satellite system (GNSS), including global positioning systems (GPS) and electronic devices. The GNSS systems provide critical positioning capabilities to military, civil, and commercial users around the world. Many of the critical situations in surveying and navigation are now easily and precisely solved in short time.
The GPS has been under development since 1973. The GPS are considered as a worldwide navigation and positioning resource for military as well as civilian use for 24 hours and all weather conditions. The GPS satellites act as reference points from which receivers on the ground detect their position. The fundamental navigation principle is based on the measurement of pseudo ranges between the user and four satellites. Ground stations precisely monitor the orbit of every satellite and by measuring the travel time of the signals transmitted from the satellite four distances between receiver and satellites will yield accurate position, direction and speed. Though three-range measurements are sufficient, the fourth observation is essential for solving clock synchronization error between receiver and satellite.
There are four different GNSS systems are in use or under development: the USA GPS, the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), the China''s BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) and European Galileo system. There are also some regional navigation systems, including the Japanese Quasi Zenith satellite system (QZSS) and the India''s regional navigation satellite system (NAVIC).
China BeiDou Navigation Satellite System:
The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is a Chinese satellite navigation system. Now, China is implementing the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. In accordance with the construction plan, the initial satellite navigation system will provide coverage in the Asia-Pacific region with positioning, navigation, timing, and short-message communication service capabilities. The system is designed to provide global coverage around 2020.
China Satellite Navigation Office (CSNO - RCSSTEAP):
The Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (RCSSTEAP in short), (China), affiliated to the United Nations, was established on November 17, 2014. The Centre, as an education and training entity supported by the Committee on the
Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), was established to contribute to the implementation of “Space Applications Program” promoted by COPUOS and to enhance of the education and training level as well as application capacity of space science and technology in Member States of the Centre through capacity building, information communication, and training programs. Beihang University, previously known as Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics is a major public research university located in Beijing, China. The university has joined the construction procedure of BeiDou system. The RCSSTEAP and BeiDou Training and Exchange Center are located in the university.