Fundamentals of

Navigation

 Navigational Aids
CourseOutline
Course Description
Principles and theories of navigational
systems for air, marine, and space;
RADARs; directional finders (ADF), antenna
systems, non-directional beacons (NDB),
LORAN/DECCA/OMEGA systems, ILS and
MLS; distance measuring equipment
(DME); VHF Omni Range (VOR), and global
positioning system (GPS).
 Course Outline

1. Fundamentals of Electronic Navigation
2. RDF/ADF
3. RADARs
4. Hyperbolic Navigational Systems
(DECCA,OMEGA,LORAN)
5. Satellite Navigational Systems, GPS
6. Aircraft Navigation (VOR,DME, ILS, MLS)
7. Marine Navigation
Homework

1. Define Navigation j. Longitude
2. What are the branches of
navigation? k. Course
3. Define the following l. Distance
a. Earth
b. Axis
m. Heading
c. Great Circles n. Bearing
d. Small Circles
e. Equator
o. Distance
f. Parallel p. Speed
g. Meridians
h. Prime Meridians
i. Latitude

4. Define navigational aids
5. Give example and pictures of navigational
aids for the given category:
a. Bouys
b. Lights
Short quiz

Set A (2 pts each) Set B (2 pts each)
1. What is navigation?
1. What is piloting?
2. Define:
a. Great circle 2. Define
b. Axis a. Small circle
c. Meridians b. Equator
d. Longitude c. Latitude
e. Bearing d. Prime meridian
e. Azimuth
 Learning Outcomes

At the end of the session the students
must be able to
Identify the branches of navigation.
Define nautical terms.
Illustrate the following nautical terms.
Axis
Great circle and small circle
Meridians and Prime meridians
Latitude and longitude
Bearing and Azimuth
 Navigation

The art or science of determining the ships
or aircrafts position and of conducting a ship or
aircraft from one position to another safely and
efficiently.
Derived from Latin words navis (ship) and
agere(to move or direct.)
 Development of
Navigation

Land navigation
Movement from one place to another over land areas by
reference of land marks.
Piloting
Movement from one place to another including coastal
waters and river by means of primitive boats and river
craft.
Dead reckoning
Venturing into the sea beyond the range of piloting aids.
It includes keeping of record of estimated distance and
direction to allow safe return of the mariner.
 Development of
Navigation

1800
Position can be determined by observing the
celestial bodies.
1900
Radio navigation
Electronic navigation systems
Air navigation
Submarine navigation
Space or astral navigation
 Nautical terms

Nautical chart
It is concerned in depicting navigable water
areas; includes information on the location of
coastlines, harbor, channels and obstructions,
currents, depths of water and aids to
navigation.
Map representation of a land area on the
earths surface showing political subdivisions,
physical topography, cities and towns.
Terrestrial Coordinate
System

Earth
Polar diameter 6864.57 miles
Equator diameter 6887.92 miles
Axis
The diameter which the earth rotates. Consist of
two points (North pole and South pole)
Great circle
A circle on the surface plane of the earth which
passes the center of the earth.
Terrestrial Coordinate
System

Small circle
A circle on the surface plane of the earth which
does not pass the center of the earth
Equator
Great circle formed by passing a plane
perpendicular to earths axis.
Meridians
Any great circles formed by passing a plane
through the center of the earth at right angles
to equator.
Terrestrial Coordinate
System

Prime meridians
Great circle that passes through the original
position of the Royal Greenwich Observatory
near London, England.
It divides the earth in an east-west direction
into eastern and western hemispheres.
Terrestrial Coordinate
System

Longitude
Angular distance between greenwich meridian and the
meridian of a particular point on the earths surface.
Measured in degrees of arc from 0 to 180 degrees.
Latitude
The angular distance between the equator and the parallel
of latitude passing through a particular point.
Measure in degrees of arc from 0 to 90 degrees
1 minute = 1 nautical miles
Parallel
Any small circle perpendicular to earths axis and formed by
passing a plane parallel to equator.
Terrestrial Coordinate
System

Direction
Angular inclination of that line to the meridian
measured right or counter clockwise from north
point of the meridian and expressed in three
digits.
Course
Intended direction of travel of a ship.
Bearing
Direction of a terrestrial object from observer.
Azimuth direction of celestial object from
observer.
Terrestrial Coordinate
System

Distance
Length of joining two places on the surface of
the earth and is expressed in nautical miles.
Speed
The velocity of travel and is expressed in 1 knot
= 6080.2 ft/hr = 1.852 km/ hr = 1.15078 mi/hr.
 Navigational Aids

Defined as any device external to a vessel or
aircraft intended to assist a navigator in
determining position and safe course, or to
warn of dangers or obstructions to navigation.
Navigational aids must be identified, correlate
its position on navigational chart and proceed
to use it to assist the determination or
verification of the ships position.
 Lighted Navigational
Aids

Major
High intensity and reliability and normally placed in light
ships, light houses and other permanently installed
structures.
Intended to indicate key navigational points along
seacoast and channels, and in harbor and river
entrances.
Minor
Automated lights of low to moderate intensity placed on
fixed structures.
Intended to serve as navigational aids for harbors,
channels and rivers and to mark isolated dangers.
 Characteristic of
LightedNavaids
Phase
Defined as the light sequence or pattern of light
within one complete cycle.
Period
Length of time required for the light to progress
through one complete cycle of changes.
Color
Color of the light during the time it is shining.
 Period of Light

The time required for the light to progress
through one complete cycle of changes.
The period of light are indicated both on
charts depicting them and in the LIGHT LIST
and LIST of LIGHTS.
It is measured from start of the first flash of
one cycle to the start of first flash of the
succeeding cycle.
 Buoys and Beacons

Bouys
Floating navigational aids that warn the marine
of danger, obstruction or change in contour at
the sea bottom.
Classified both by their construction and
function
Construction (Can, Nun, Lighted, Sound)
Function (Channel buoy, Special buoys, Cardinal
Buoys)

Beacons
Not floating, rigidly attached at the bottom or to
the shore.
Day beacons
End of Session