Electronic Aids to Navigation Position Fixing L. Tetley |. eng., FILE... M-RULN. Principal Lectuser in the Information Systems Division Southampton Institute of Higher Education D. Calcutt m. sc.,c. eng., M.1.6.E. Senior Lecturer in che Faculty of Engineering, Portsmouth Polytechnic Edward Arnold A divson of Hodder & Soughton LONDON MELBOURNE. AUCKLAND© 1991 L. Tetley and D. Calon? Firs published in Great Briain 1996 as Electronic Ais 10 Navigation Reprinted 1988 ‘Furst publithed as Eleironic Auds o Navigation: Postion Fixing 199. ‘riish Library Catctoguing in Publication Dete Tertes, L- recionic ads to navigation: Position Cixing L-Tie’ UW, Caleut, D. 623.04 ISBN 05405809 {All rights reserved. No part of ths publication may be reproduced ‘or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically oF mechanically, including photocopying, recording or 07 information storage of reiievl system, without dither prot permission in writing from the publisher or lisence permting ‘stricted copying. In the United Kingdom such licences ate issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency: 90 Tastenham Court Road, London WIP SHE ‘Typeset in 10/11 Times Roman by Brian Smith Pasineship, Bristo! Printed in Great Britain for Edward Armold. = division of Yoder and Stougttoa Linited, Mil Ros4, Dunton Green, Sevencaks, Kent {IN 2YA by Si Edmundsbury Press Lid, Bory Se Edmunds, Suffolk, and bound by Hartnlls Lid, Bodmin, Cornwall,Preface Readers will find that this, the second edition of Electronic Aids to Navigation, has been extensively rewritten and enlarged to include new systems and technology. Each chapter hhas been reviewed and new material has been included in the high technology areas of satellite navigation and integrated navigation. Two further chapters have been included ‘which deal with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System {GMDSS), a subject ‘which will affect the lives of all international mariners in the next decade, and NAVTEX, Nevertheless, even though technology is becoming ever more sophisticated it would be a serious error to ignore the human link in the electronic chain of action. 1k is the ship's captain or navigating officer who bears the responsibility for position fixing. Position fixing is now easily achieved by the use of one of the hyperbolic systems described in the chapter dealing with Decca, Loran-C and Omega. Each of the systems described, however, possesses limiting factors which cause fix accuracy to be less than perfect. For more precise position fixing, data received {rom orbiting satellites is pro- ‘cessed, by a microcomputer, 1o determine the position of a ship to within 100 metres. In many cases fix accuracy Surpasses this figure and may be better than 10 metres. LS. technology has been directly responsible for the development and production ‘of miniaturized equipment. Miniaturization has in turn led to the production of tow cost ‘equipment which is more reliable than was possible a decade ago. Ten yeats ago, (0 ‘compute a fix, a satellite navigation receiver required a computer the size of a smalt car. Today better quality equipment produces a more accurate fix from apparatus which is hardly bigger than a domestic transistor radio. In fucure itis tikely thae the overall size ‘of equipment will remain static but the processing capability wll be increased enabling the apparatus to encompass many of the mundane tasks of ship management. The reduced size and cost of modern electronic navigation equipment has brought complex ‘apparatus within easy reach of the small boat owner. Although this book is aimed at the merchant navy officer, it will aso appeal to small craft owners who wish to improve their understanding of current systems. ‘Modern electronic apparatus is increasingly becoming microprocessor based. lectronic navigation equipment iso exception. Although in many cases specific ‘manufacturers’ equipment has been depicted, where possible each system has been described with microprocessor applications in mind. Some of the equipments described are not micropracessor controlled but have been included because of their widespread use. The principle of operation is the same regardless of the use of a microprocessor. Readers will find that system descriptions will also apply to many other types of apparatus which are controlled by a dedicated microcomputer. Radar, Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA) and maritime communications systems are all discussed in depth in the companion volume to this publication, Electronic Aids to Navigation:' Radar and Communications. The Radat and Communications volume is written on the same lines as this book with the technology of each system discussed in depth followed by the application of that technology to the task in hand. L. Tetley 1. Eng., F.LE.LE., MRLN. D. Caleutt M.Sc., C.Eng., M.LE-E.