GPS Tracking Systems Course
This course takes you through the complete chain of a GPS tracking solution. You will learn how GNSS positioning works and what limits its accuracy, choose and install trackers, antennas and power supplies, transmit data over cellular, LPWAN and satellite links, design tracking platforms with APIs, geofences and alerts, and secure the system against cyber threats, jamming and spoofing while protecting personal data.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the GPS Tracking Systems Course?
This short course covers GPS and GNSS tracking from the satellite signal to the operations dashboard. You will study GNSS constellations and signals, pseudorange, carrier phase and Doppler, error sources and DOP, integrity and availability, SBAS, DGPS and RTK, tracker types, antennas and RF, power and battery life, installation in harsh conditions, complementary sensors, cellular, NB-IoT, LTE-M, LoRaWAN and satcom links, sending models, MQTT and other protocols, SIM and roaming management, quality of service, platform architecture, data models, geofences and rules, API integration with ERP, TMS and WMS, map visualization, privacy, cybersecurity, GNSS interference and deployment planning.
What sets this course apart: it treats tracking as an end-to-end system, linking hardware, communications, software and operations; it gives practical attention to installation on vessels and vehicles exposed to vibration, humidity and salt; it addresses GNSS integrity, jamming and spoofing as real operational risks; and it closes with a project in which you design a complete tracking solution with a pilot, acceptance criteria and a plan for 24/7 operation.
Program highlights
- GNSS fundamentals: signals, error sources, integrity and accuracy improvements.
- Trackers, antennas, power and installation in harsh marine and road conditions.
- Data transmission over cellular, LPWAN and satellite networks.
- Tracking platforms: data models, geofences, alerts, APIs and map visualization.
- Cybersecurity, privacy and protection against jamming and spoofing.
- Final project: design and deployment plan for a complete tracking solution.
Syllabus of the GPS Tracking Systems Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Satellite positioning fundamentals and GNSS architecture: signals, errors, integrity and operational availability
- 1.1. GNSS/GPS principles: constellations, segments, observables, time and coordinates applied to tracking
- 1.2. Signals and measurements: pseudorange, carrier phase, Doppler and their impact on accuracy and stability
- 1.3. Error sources: ionosphere, troposphere, multipath, clocks, geometry (DOP) and degradation in complex environments
- 1.4. Integrity, availability and continuity: service metrics, alarms, fault detection and tolerance to degradation
- 1.5. Accuracy and improvement techniques: SBAS, DGPS, RTK/PPK (overview), filters and track smoothing
Tracking devices and field hardware: receivers, antennas, power, installation and robustness
- 2.1. Tracker types: standalone, wired, OBD/vehicle, maritime, portable and assets with built-in sensors
- 2.2. Antennas and RF: location, gain, ground plane, interference, cable losses and multipath mitigation
- 2.3. Power and battery life: consumption, sleep/wake modes, batteries, charging, protection and operating profile design
- 2.4. Installation and commissioning: mounting, sealing, vibration, humidity and salt, cabling and verification checklist
- 2.5. Complementary sensors: IMU, temperature, doors, fuel, physical geofences and threshold-based events
Communications and data transmission: cellular, satellite, LPWAN, protocols and coverage management
- 3.1. Communication channels: 2G/4G/5G, NB-IoT/LTE-M, LoRaWAN, Wi-Fi, satcom and selection criteria by coverage
- 3.2. Sending models: real time, batch, store-and-forward, compression and resilience to signal loss
- 3.3. Protocols and formats: MQTT/HTTP/TCP/UDP (practical view), payloads, encoding and compatibility
- 3.4. SIM/eSIM and roaming management: plans, APN, costs, data policy and consumption control per device
- 3.5. Quality of service: latency, retries, queues, deduplication, time synchronization and integrity control
Platforms, integration and visualization: tracking back-ends, APIs, geofences and operational automation
- 4.1. Platform architecture: ingestion, processing, storage, queues, scaling and observability
- 4.2. Data models: positions, events, states, assets, routes, users and normalization of heterogeneous sources
- 4.3. Geofences and rules: entries and exits, dwell times, schedules, risk zones and actionable alerts
- 4.4. API/EDI integration: ERP/TMS/WMS, webhooks, reconciliation and end-to-end event traceability
- 4.5. Visualization and UX: maps, layers, history, playback, heatmaps and operational reading of tracks
Security, privacy, compliance and final project: designing a complete GPS tracking solution
- 5.1. Privacy and data protection: minimization, retention, role-based access and query traceability
- 5.2. Ecosystem cybersecurity: device hardening, firmware control, credentials and incident response
- 5.3. GNSS risks: interference, jamming and spoofing (operational view), detection, mitigation and contingency plans
- 5.4. Policies and procedures: consent, acceptable use, audit, evidence and third-party and supplier management
- 5.5. Deployment plan: pilot, acceptance criteria, user training, 24/7 operation and continuity
Duration and format of the GPS Tracking Systems Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the GPS Tracking Systems Course
Career opportunities after the GPS Tracking Systems Course
Questions about the GPS Tracking Systems Course
To determine the real-time location of a vehicle, vessel, asset or person and turn that data into useful information such as routes, events and alerts.
GPS is one satellite constellation; GNSS is the general term that also includes Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou and others. The course works with GNSS principles that apply to all of them.
Yes. It includes maritime trackers, satellite communications for areas without cellular coverage and installation challenges such as humidity, salt and vibration.
A module covers data minimization, retention, role-based access, consent and acceptable-use policies so that tracking respects data protection rules.
You design a complete tracking solution, from hardware and communications to the platform, and prepare a deployment plan with a pilot, acceptance criteria and user training.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at business owners and fleet managers, logistics and transport professionals, security staff who track vehicles and valuable assets, GPS service providers who want deeper technical knowledge, and technically minded individuals interested in tracking solutions; a technical background in electronics, telecommunications or IT, or experience installing GPS systems, is recommended, together with basic knowledge of networks and communication protocols.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and access to mapping or tracking software; a GPS tracker or smartphone is useful for the practical exercises.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.