Course in Ethics in GPS-Denied Navigation
Online 300-hour course in ethics in GPS-denied navigation. 6 modules covering RTCA DO-229 (GPS/SBAS equipment), ETSI EN 303 413 (GNSS receivers) and MATLAB Navigation Toolbox. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Ethics in GPS-Denied Navigation — studying from Ireland
Ireland maintains a small defence force, the Defence Forces, which operates its own engineering corps and equipment maintenance capabilities. Defence procurement and development are handled through the Department of Defence, while much of the wider defence-related industrial activity involves dual-use technologies, electronics and communications systems supplied by domestic and international firms. Engineers in this area typically work on land vehicle maintenance, military communications, protective equipment and systems integration. Policy and procurement are governed by national and European frameworks, including EU defence initiatives.
Fees for Ireland: €448 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies oversee defence engineering and does a private qualification count?
Defence in Ireland is overseen by the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces run their own training and technical structures. Engineers Ireland sets general professional engineering standards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not state-awarded, and they are not accredited by any national body, so recognition for any defence-related role is decided by the relevant authority or employer.
Do Irish defence and land-systems employers hire people with private online qualifications?
Irish defence-related hiring is limited and often subject to security vetting and specific qualification requirements, so employers set their own criteria. A private online qualification may be taken into account alongside experience, but we cannot say how any employer will view it or guarantee any result. Check requirements for particular roles directly.
Can I study this from Ireland while working, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Plan your weekly hours realistically around your job.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the dependence of critical infrastructure on GNSS.
Learn alternative navigation techniques: inertial, visual and signals of opportunity.
Apply concepts of integrity, anomaly detection and PNT resilience.
Analyse the legal and governance framework for spectrum and positioning.
Assess the effects of GNSS interference on civil safety.
Evaluate the ethical dilemmas of developing resilient navigation.
Develop an integrating project on navigation without GNSS with a responsible approach.
Who it's for
- Navigation engineer wishing to specialise in Ethics in GPS-Denied Navigation.
- GNSS systems specialist wishing to specialise in Ethics in GPS-Denied Navigation.
- Sensor fusion engineer wishing to specialise in Ethics in GPS-Denied Navigation.
- Autonomous systems engineer wishing to specialise in Ethics in GPS-Denied Navigation.
- PNT resilience analyst wishing to specialise in Ethics in GPS-Denied Navigation.
- Navigation researcher wishing to specialise in Ethics in GPS-Denied Navigation.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter the aeronautical industry.
What you'll work with
- RTCA DO-229 (GPS/SBAS equipment)
- ETSI EN 303 413 (GNSS receivers)
- ISO 21448 (SOTIF, safety of the intended functionality)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/696 (Union Space Programme)
- ITU Radio Regulations
- ICAO Annex 10 (aeronautical telecommunications)
- DO-178C (software in airborne systems)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Global navigation services and their coverage1.2Accuracy, availability and integrity of the service1.3Dependence of critical infrastructure on positioning1.4Dependence on the timing service1.5Causes of degradation: natural, urban and deliberate1.6Interference and service interruption1.7Signal spoofing and its detection1.8Consequences by sector: transport, energy and finance1.9Field vocabulary and acronyms1.10Exercise: analyse the dependence of a service
2.1Inertial navigation and its drift2.2Odometry and wheel sensors2.3Visual navigation and visual odometry2.4Simultaneous localisation and mapping2.5Terrain and map correlation2.6Navigation using signals of opportunity2.7Autonomous timing references2.8Sensor fusion and filtering2.9Estimation of position uncertainty2.10Practice: design a degraded-mode navigation solution
3.1Integrity monitoring in the receiver3.2Signal anomaly detection3.3Multi-antenna receivers3.4Signal authentication and signed services3.5Comparison between independent sources3.6Controlled service degradation3.7Procedures for loss of positioning3.8Event recording and reporting3.9Resilient positioning and timing architectures3.10Practice: a contingency plan for a system
4.1Protection of the radionavigation spectrum4.2Prohibition of jamming equipment4.3Applicable penalty regime4.4Obligations of critical operators4.5Reporting of positioning incidents4.6Coordination with the spectrum authority4.7Resilience standards and guidelines4.8Public procurement requirements4.9Liability for positioning failures4.10Practice: an obligations map for an operator
5.1Use of location data and personal privacy5.2Tracking of workers and its limits5.3Retention of position data5.4Use of interference by private individuals and harm to third parties5.5Liability of receiver manufacturers5.6Transparency about system limitations5.7Dependence on services from third countries5.8Technological sovereignty and alternatives5.9Honest communication of risk to the client5.10Debate: a case of interference with collateral victims
6.1Choice of system and its dependencies6.2Criticality analysis of positioning and timing6.3Design of the alternative navigation solution6.4Design of integrity monitoring6.5Contingency procedures6.6Legal framework and obligations6.7Privacy and ethics analysis6.8Test and validation plan6.9Technical report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB Navigation Toolbox, RTKLIB, GNSS-SDR, ROS 2 (robot_localization), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for fusing inertial and visual sensors, positioning integrity assessment, and analysis of GNSS interference cases in civil aviation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand the dependence of critical infrastructure on GNSS.
Learn alternative navigation techniques: inertial, visual and signals of opportunity.
Apply concepts of integrity, anomaly detection and PNT resilience.
Analyse the legal and governance framework for spectrum and positioning.
Assess the effects of GNSS interference on civil safety.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with MATLAB Navigation Toolbox, RTKLIB, GNSS-SDR, ROS 2 (robot_localization). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An in-house diploma from SEIUM Institute upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
Related programmes
Course in Public Policy in Defence and Society
Online course of 300 h in public policy in defence and society. 6 modules covering Organic Law 5/2005 on National Defence, Law 36/2015 on National Security…
Course in International Standards for Ballistic Testing
Online course of 300 h in international standards for ballistic testing. 6 modules covering NIJ Standard 0101.06 (ballistic resistance of body armour), STANAG 4569 (protection levels…
Course in Ethics in ISR Scenario Simulation
Online 300-hour course in ethics in ISR scenario simulation. 6 modules covering Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions (1977), Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and VBS4.…
More in Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems
All Defense, Military Engineering & Land Systems programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships