Session A1: Navigation Security and Authentication

Enhancing GNSS Resilience: Benchmarking 3D PNT Simulation Against Real-World Interference-Rich GNSS Environments
Ricardo Verdeguer Moreno, Spirent Communications PLC; Miguel Angel Gomez Lopez, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)
Location: Holiday 1 (Second Floor)
Alternate Number 2

Operating in GNSS-degraded or denied environments, particularly those impacted by jamming, can greatly benefit from advanced simulation tools that can accurately replicate real-world signal behaviour. Our research evaluates the fidelity of 3D PNT simulation in modelling GNSS performance under interference-rich conditions by benchmarking it against field-collected data.
We conducted controlled field experiments to capture GNSS signals affected by various types and power levels of interference while recording real vehicle dynamics. The dataset includes time-to-first-fix, acquisition time, carrier-to-noise density ratio (C/N0), navigation and measurement errors, and received power levels. These real-world recordings were then used to validate a high-fidelity 3D simulation framework that incorporates terrain-based obscuration, multipath reflections and diffraction, using ray-tracing techniques. The simulation models RF propagation in complex environments, enabling precise replication of GNSS signal degradation under interference.
Through comparative analysis, we assess the accuracy of simulated results against empirical data, identifying key strengths and limitations in existing simulation 3D models. Our findings demonstrate how 3D PNT simulation enables precise performance assessment, facilitates the design of robust interference mitigation strategies, and reduces dependence on expensive and logistically complex field campaigns.
By providing a controlled and repeatable test environment, this approach enhances the development of resilient GNSS-based navigation systems across defence, transportation, and critical national infrastructure (CNI) applications.