Program
The program consists of two semesters of 30 ECTS. The first semester is organized in five subjects
with 5 / 6 ECTS each one plus a subject on Technology Asset Management with 3 ECTS, while
the second semester consists of four subjects of 3 ECTS plus a subject on GNSS data processing
with 6 ECTS and a Master Thesis of 12 ECTS. In the admission process, according to the
professional experience, background skills and the undergraduate profile of each student, the
master director proposes for each student five elective subjects among a set of ten, to be
coursed on the first semester, homogenizing thus the required student skills for the second
semester. The second semester is focused on the Geomatics technology core: remote sensing,
advanced data processing of global satellite navigation systems, sensors and navigation systems
integration, geospatial modelling and visual representation and geolocation based user
applications. Finally, in the second semester all students must do their Master Thesis in which
the student has to apply, in a practical way, the previously acquired knowledge. The Master
Thesis can be performed at the university departments or in a company.
FIRST SEMESTER
Elective subjects for a geoscience background access skill
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Algorithm Design and Numerical Methods (5 ECTS)
This subject will provide solid skills in numerical analysis for later use in other subjects
of the master. The different objectives that are pursued are: to deal with mathematical
problems such as the solution of partial differential equations (PDEs), to understand
how scientific and engineering problems can be solved by numerical methods, to solve
problems by applying software based routines, to get a feeling for the accuracy of the
solution and the error budget and to handle measurements appropriately.
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Estimation and Quality Analysis (6 ECTS)
Revisit the fundamental concepts and introduction to advanced concepts on the theory
of stochastic processes and parameters estimation, for one dimension and
multidimensional signals, with a general application framework and with emphasis on
those aspects most related to Geomatics and Navigation disciplines.
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Signal and Image Processing (5 ECTS)
Students will get a sound theoretical and practical understanding of continuous and
discrete signal and image analysis in time/space and frequency domain. Topics relevant
for photogrammetry and remote sensing as image properties, sampling, quantization,
storage of digital Images, histogram, correlation, point processing, local image
operators, digital filter, edge detection, morphological operators, global Image
operators, correlated and uncorrelated noise, geometric transformation, bilinear
interpolation or segmentation will be presented.
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Data Communications (6 ECTS)
This course introduces data communications by using the Internet as a reference. The
logical organization of the Internet is presented, followed by its physical structure and
components (data transmission techniques, transmission media). The course ends
applying all the previous points to mobile communication networks, with emphasis on
the location information they provide.
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Data Structures and Big Data (5 ECTS)
This course provides the fundamentals for programming using typical geo data
structures and algorithms. The course will discuss the idea of big data and the numerous
challenges associated with this concept: storing, processing, and analyzing large sets of
data in efficient ways.
Elective subjects for an Information and Communication Technologies background access skill
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Geodesy (6 ECTS).
This subject focuses on the study of the Earth geometry, rotation and gravitational field,
as well as the observation and calculation of geodetic networks.
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Reference Frames and Coordinate Systems (5 ECTS)
The goal of this course is to study how to project an idealized Earth (Earth models are
the sphere or the ellipsoid of revolution) onto a planar map. The course explains the
unavoidable deformations associated to the mapping process. Special attention is paid
to optimal as well as legal and widely-used map projections, such as Gauss-Krüger/UTM,
and their specific geodetic coordinate systems. Datum transformation models are
presented in order to transform a set of coordinates from one reference system to
another.
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Photogrammetry (6 ECTS)
The objective of this subject is to present to the students the basics about
photogrammetry, stereoscopic vision, the orientation process for photographs and the
knowledge of the specific vocabulary and processes related to map generation.
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GIS and Cartography (5 ECTS)
The topics of this course are:
Geoinformation: definition, examples and historical development, models and
representation, quality, time dependent geoinformation.
Spatial data structures, spatial analysis, data mining and big geodata.
Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). OGC standards. Spatial Data
Infrastructures. Web mapping.
Cartography as a visual representation of geoinformation, definition, examples and
historical development.
Maps and GIS, integration of GIS into Location Based Services.
The language of cartography: map design, map symbology and map generalization,
classification of map types. Use cases of map production and maintenance.
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GNSS Basics (5 ECTS).
This course is designed to assist students in mastering the working principles of GNSS.
The principles of positioning and navigation will be reviewed and the student will learn
the main limitations of satellite positioning systems. The absolute and differential
positioning techniques will be explained as well as their different implementations and
commercial services. Augmentation systems, like GBAS and SBAS, and the concepts of
integrity, availability and continuity will also be explained. The students will have the
opportunity to use very simple GNSS receivers to understand its working principles.
Common subjects
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Technology Asset Management (3 ECTS)
To train engineers and scientists in the management of technology assets, research and
engineering teams. To understand the rules of the international patent system and to
learn how to develop a patent portfolio and a patenting strategy to secure and monetize
the technology value of a corporation. To learn the basic technology and patent licensing
models and the related business trade-offs. To develop the basic skills to plan and
manage a technology and product roadmap, understanding the role of a technology
department in a small or large corporation and its fit and interaction with other
departments and government bodies within the organization. To review several
strategies on how to introduce an innovation into the market, from the traditional
product development cycle to a pure intellectual property licensing model.
SECOND SEMESTER
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Microwave and Optical Remote Sensing (3 ECTS).
The main objective of this course is the physical and engineering principles to obtain
images and additional information of distant objects, including penetrable ones, at
microwave and optical frequencies, focused on Earth Observation or Remote Sensing.
The course is centered on the basic disciplines and techniques which are necessary for
the development and use of airborne and satellite Earth observation sensors. Both
passive and active sensors are studied. The main applications are described in the
context of airborne and satellite missions. Also, it is the intention of this course to
provide an introduction to the technology used in active and passive optical remote
sensing, and to generate an understanding of the methods used to extract usable
information from the recorded data. In this course we look at the various types of active
optical sensors available and at their most important properties. We learn about the
electromagnetic spectrum (light) and about radiance-object interactions. We discuss the
pros and cons of various active optical remote sensing techniques (e.g., Raman,
coherent, Dial, multispectral) with respect to specific applications (e.g., atmospheric
processes, weather and climate research, terrain mapping, forestry and hydrology
understanding, ecosystem structures). Besides, we will look at different aspects of data
analysis, starting with descriptive statistics and continuing with inductive statistics.
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Geospatial Modeling & Visual Representation (3 ECTS).
The objective of this subject is to provide a global overview of the state-of-the-art
technology for the use and visualization of geospatial information with special emphasis
to the presentation and diffusion of these data to final users. Topics include:
General view of the spatial data modelling methods.
Comparative study of geospatial data structures.
Interactive functionality of the Geographic Information Systems.
Geo-services.
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Geolocation based user applications (3 ECTS)
Comprehensive coverage of the main both radio and non-radio based geolocation
techniques, including:
Outdoor and indoor location basic techniques: Time-of-Arrival (TOA), Angle-of-arrival
(AOA), Received Signal Strength (RSS), the multipath and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS)
problems and mitigation.
Fingerprinting techniques: models and systems, Radio and Non-Radio Features.
Cellular location: Cellular positioning methods, Location in GSM, WCDMA and LTE.
Cooperative location in Wireless Sensor Networks.
Inertial systems: GPS limitations, MEMS sensors, the location and mapping problem,
SLAM Implementation.
User applications.
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Navigation Sensors Systems & Integration (3 ECTS).
The objective of this subject is to provide a global overview of the different navigation
sensors and the integration of them, together with other sensors, to provide high
precision navigation. Topics are:
Types of sensors. Characteristics and working principle.
Navigation systems classification.
Sensors and navigation systems integration.
Precision navigation and positioning systems.
Calibration and error correction techniques.
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GNSS Data Processing (6 ECTS).
The objective of this subject is to provide advanced concepts of GNSS specially, those
concerning the analysis of the data for different applications in precise navigation and
other disciplines as Earth observation. The synergies between GNSS systems and remote
sensing systems will be analyzed in-depth. The topics include:
GNSS code and carrier measurements and error budget. Linear combinations of
measurements and applications. Carrier cycle-slips detection. Carrier smoothing of
code pseudorange. Code multipath. Laboratory tools and skills. Test cases on GNSS
measurement errors.
GNSS Orbits and clocks. Computation and accuracy. Review Reference Frames and
satellite orbits. GNSS Satellite coordinate computation. GNSS Satellite clock
computation. Test cases on satellite orbit and clock computation.
Absolute positioning with code and carrier measurements. Position estimation with
pseudoranges. Parameter estimation. Precise Point Positioning (PPP). Test cases on
Standard and Precise Point Positioning.
Differential Positioning (DGNSS). Differential positioning with pseudoranges. Carrierbased differential positioning. Test cases on code-based DGNSS.
Carrier ambiguity fixing techniques. Floating versus fixing carrier ambiguities.
Resolving ambiguities one at a time. Resolving ambiguities as a set. Undifferenced
ambiguity fixing. Test cases on Carrier ambiguity fixing.
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Master Thesis (12 ECTS).