Algorithms and Methods

Track Chair: Dr. Aboelmagd Noureldin, Queen’s University and Royal Military College of Canada

ACCURATE NAVIGATION IN GNSS CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS
Developments and technologies improving the performance and efficiency of receivers and sensors in challenging environments: in urban or indoor areas with multipath interferences; under jamming or spoofing situations; or in the presence of ionospheric/tropospheric scintillations, for ground-based or satellite-based platforms. Receiver behavior under deep amplitude fading or fast phase fluctuations in signals, highly dynamic conditions, signal anomalies, etc. Fusion algorithms, signal processing and receiver designs, mitigation of jamming threats at the antenna and the receiver levels, machine learning approaches, and signal improvements, with an emphasis on robustness, adaptation, multi-signal/multi-sensor capabilities. Vision-based modelling, 3D city map assistance, ray tracing, non-line-of-sight ranging for multipath detection, or simulation and mitigation in urban environments. Experimental tests and new models in real environments.
Chairs:
Dr. Mohamed Youssef, Apple
Hidetoshi Kawauchi, Sony

ADVANCED PROCESSING OF TERRESTRIAL AND NON-TERRESTRIAL SIGNALS OF OPPORTUNITY
Developments in the use of signals of opportunity for PNT. Fusion of new-generation communication system signals with GNSS. Alternative location methods based on received signal strength estimation, ToA, TDoA, DoA, or advanced RF propagation models. Signal processing techniques to improve receiver synchronization to terrestrial and non-terrestrial signals; hybrid positioning techniques; and fine synchronization of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks; interference / coexistence of the terrestrial and non-terrestrial signals. The signals of interest include but are not limited to: Wi-Fi, cellular (3G, 4G, 5G), RFID, Bluetooth, NFC, HD Radio/DAB, Digital TV, LEO satellites, etc.
Chairs:
Dr. Kyle O’Keefe, University of Calgary
Dr. Gonzalo Seco, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN HIGH PRECISION GNSS POSITIONING
High-precision and high-integrity navigation algorithms for safety-critical applications of GNSS and other sensors. High-integrity measurement error modeling and uncertainty quantification methods; PPP, RTK, PPP-RTK, LEO PNT, and other precise positioning techniques; precise positioning in challenging environments with low-cost GNSS; end-user fault detection, identification and exclusion algorithms for high-precision GNSS or multi-sensor navigation systems; integrity monitoring and performance evaluation of multi-GNSS PPP/RTK/PPP-RTK/LEO correction services; and satellite- and ground-based integrity augmentation techniques and their performance evaluation.
Chairs:
Dr. Sunil Bisnath , York University
Dr. Yang Gao , University of Calgary

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR ALTERNATIVE, RESILIENT, AND INTELLIGENT PNT SYSTEMS
Alternative and resilient PNT technologies, designed to enhance reliability and intelligence in complex environments with newly emerging sensing technologies like quantum inertial sensors, multi-sensor/multi-system fusion and machine learning-driven PNT algorithms, and innovative signal processing techniques for robust and intelligent navigation. Participating PNT sources: GNSS, RNSS, UWB, Wi-Fi, LEO, and opportunistic radio signals as well as diverse sensors; including inertial sensors, odometers, magnetometers, altimeters, radar, Lidar, cameras; in addition to the emerging quantum sensing technologies in order to provide reliable measurements under challenging or variable conditions. Topics include intelligent PNT data filtering and integration, stochastic model optimization, advances in uncertainty representation, real-time critical information perception, interpretation and smart fusion, reinforcement learning, cloud-based computing, trustworthy navigation in urban and smart urban areas, etc. Innovative ideas about close integration between machine learning and Bayesian inference.
Chairs:
Dr. Allison Kealy, Swinburne University of Technology
Dr. Andrea Masiero, University of Padua

INNOVATIONS IN AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION AND CONTROL FOR OFF-ROAD AND UNMANNED VEHICLES
Cutting-edge research and developments in autonomous navigation, motion planning and control for robots and unmanned vehicles operating in challenging environments and off-road conditions. Topics include innovative perception systems, sensor fusion techniques, real-time path planning, and resilient navigation algorithms tailored for autonomous systems in self-driving cars, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), off-road vehicles, and specialized service vehicles. The session will also highlight advances in localization, mapping, and decision-making that enable robust operations in diverse applications, from agriculture to mining and defense. Researchers and industry experts will share novel approaches to overcoming environmental uncertainties, terrain variability, and GNSS-denied navigation, offering insights into future breakthroughs in off-road autonomy.
Chairs:
Dr. Sidney Givigi, Queen’s University
Dr. Jacques Georgy, TDK Trusted Positioning

LEO SATELLITES FOR POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING
LEO satellites are emerging as a transformative domain for enhancing global PNT capabilities, driving advancements in precision, accuracy, and resilience. The integration of LEO-based PNT technologies is set to revolutionize numerous industries and applications. Topics include LEO-based constellations dedicated to enhancing PNT capabilities; receiver performance with live LEO PNT signals, signal design and characteristics for LEO PNT services; LEO augmentation systems for improving GNSS accuracy and reliability; mitigation of multipath effects through advanced modelling techniques and propagation models specifically tailored for LEO environments; the benefits of LEO for improving indoor PNT; resilience and security challenges with LEO-based PNT; and user algorithms and systems for LEO PNT.
Chairs:
Bryan Chan, Xona Space Systems
Dr. Mohamed Tamazin, Safran

PANEL: GNSS INTEGRATED HIGH-PRECISION POSITIONING: CURRENT CHALLENGES AND FUTURE TRENDS
(Presentations by invitation only)
This panel will discuss the evolving landscape of high-precision positioning, with a focus on GNSS technologies such as PPP and RTK in integrated systems. High-precision GNSS solutions are critical for applications in autonomous driving, smart cities, precision agriculture, and unmanned aerial systems, but urban environments pose significant challenges due to signal obstructions, multipath, and interference. The panel will explore the current limitations of GNSS PPP/RTK, such as initialization times, reliability under poor signal conditions, and the need for global coverage. The discussion will expand to include integrated positioning solutions that leverage wireless technologies such as 5G, LEO satellites, and RF signals of opportunity, as well as advances in sensor fusion with onboard systems like IMUs and cameras. The panel will also highlight future trends, including the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in enhancing positioning accuracy, and the development of resilient, robust positioning systems for autonomous and urban applications.
Moderators:
Dr. Naser El-Sheimy, University of Calgary
Dr. Mohammed Khider, Google Inc.

Advanced GNSS Technologies

Track Chair: Dr. Aurore Sibois, Xona Space Systems

ADVANCED SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE TECHNOLOGIES FOR GNSS RECEIVERS
Developments that improve the performance and efficiency of GNSS receiver technology. Wide-band GNSS antennas, high-sensitivity/high-dynamic range RF front ends, robustness to multipath and interference, use of assistance data, multi-constellation receiver algorithms, innovative and efficient software for GNSS receivers and new/existing applications, machine learning  applied to GNSS data and signal processing, experimental tests in real environments, software-defined GNSS receivers and associated processing strategies, low power-consumption techniques, open source projects, and the adoption of software radio standards and tools.
Chairs:
Sylvain Dessapt, Safran
Dr. Miquel Garcia-Fernandez, Rokubun

ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS ON GNSS AND LEO-PNT SYSTEMS
Tropospheric and ionospheric modeling, measurements, and algorithms to compensate for atmospheric errors. Novel methods for data collection, processing and analysis. Characterization of propagation environments. Ionospheric scintillation studies and impacts on GNSS/PNT services and applications.  GNSS signatures and impact of travelling ionospheric disturbances, equatorial plasma bubbles, and geomagnetic storms, including applications. Space weather and terrestrial weather applications. New ground-based and space-based GNSS networks and experiments.
Chairs:
Dr. Fabricio Prol, FGI and University of Vaasa
Dr. Lei Liu, Hexagon and CU Boulder

BEYOND GNSS: EMERGING TRENDS IN LEO-BASED AND TERRESTRIAL SIGNALS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PNT
The rapid deployment of LEO-based mega constellations for broadband has given us a myriad of signals from space with unprecedented availability and frequency diversity. Early research has shown that these signals can be used opportunistically for navigation. Several entities are working on LEO-based constellations that are built for PNT. Other terrestrial signal sources offer promising navigation performance – in some cases potentially outperforming space-based sources. Together, these technologies represent the exciting future of radionavigation-based technologies for PNT that promise to augment the pros and overcome the cons of GNSS. This session addresses these technologies, their expected performance, technical and policy challenges yet to overcome, and when we can expect operational capabilities.
Chairs:
Dr. Mark Psiaki, Virginia Tech
Dr. Tareq Al-Naffouri, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

LUNAR POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING
A comprehensive look at lunar PNT methods and technologies vital for the exploration of the Moon. Topics include lunar PNT service-providing satellites’ orbit and constellation designs, precise orbit determination, and time synchronization for lunar missions. Discussions on modulation techniques, and specifics of navigation messaging systems in support of lunar radionavigation services. Participants will elaborate on fault-tolerant sensor fusion methods, associated analysis of end-user performance, PNT algorithms suitable for different lunar contexts, the application of GNSS to lunar missions, emerging navigation technologies, and the role of lunar surface PNT augmentation systems. The focus is on practical insights and advancements in the field of lunar PNT.
Chairs:
Dr. Erin Griggs, Trusted Space, Inc.
Lauren Konitzer, NASA GSFC

REMOTE SENSING, TIMING, SPACE AND SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS
Scientific and engineering uses of GNSS, including terrestrial and space applications. GNSS Earth observation techniques such as: reflectometry for environmental remote sensing of land, ocean and ice; atmospheric and ionospheric remote sensing; detecting geophysical events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and man-made events. GNSS metrology, including emerging quantum technologies, and its applications. Advances in precision timing, time and frequency transfer, and  multi-GNSS for timing applications. Space applications, including high sensitivity signal processing algorithms; integration solutions with sensors and orbital filters; antenna technologies for space; multi-GNSS receivers, technical advances of both COTS and specialized systems for space applications; orbit determination, including precise orbit determination algorithms, constellation navigation, and spacecraft attitude determination.
Chairs:
Dr. Jan Weiss, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Dr. Attila Komjathy, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

PANEL: REVOLUTIONIZING POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING (PNT) USING LEO SATELLITES
(Presentations by invitation only)
This panel brings together leading experts from academia, industry, and government to explore the transformative role of LEO satellites in the future of PNT services. With growing demand for resilient and high-precision PNT across sectors such as autonomous systems, defense, and global telecommunications, LEO constellations offer a promising alternative to traditional GNSS systems. Panelists will discuss advancements in LEO-based PNT technologies, their integration with terrestrial networks, and the challenges of achieving global, uninterrupted coverage. Additionally, panelists will discuss how PNT and communications technologies can or will be integrated together, potentially in the existing mega constellations. Key topics include signal processing innovations, multi-constellation PNT, cybersecurity concerns, and potential applications in urban environments, remote areas, and space missions. Panelists will provide insights into the future of LEO satellites as a cornerstone for next-generation PNT systems.
Moderators:
Dr. Todd Humphreys, University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Kazuma Gunning, Xona Space Systems