Monitor, Report & Locate: Tools for Critical Infrastructure Protection

Greg Gerten, Steve Friedman, and Dean Irwin

Abstract:	A report published by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center titled “Vulnerability Assessment of the Transportation Infrastructure Relying on the Global Positioning System” [1] states: “The civil transportation infrastructure, seeking the increased efficiency made possible by GPS, is developing a reliance on GPS than can lead to serious consequences if the service is disrupted, and the applications are not prepared with mitigating equipment and operational procedures.” The findings of the Volpe report suggest, among other things, that: “Systems and procedures to monitor, report, and locate unintentional interference should be implemented or utilized in any application for which loss of GPS is not tolerable”. This paper will discuss the objectives, approach, and results of an Independent Research and Development (IRAD) project intended to address these issues. The focus of this effort is to research the critical infrastructure applications and determine the feasibility of integrating existing tools and an existing knowledge-base to develop a system that can be used to monitor and evaluate the GPS environment and determine impacts on GPS-aided applications. The GPS Anomaly Monitoring Equipment Suite (GAMES) is a system of stand-alone sensors that monitor GPS signal data and automatically report GPS integrity alerts to a central reporting station. GAMES sensor networks are intended to be installed at critical infrastructure nodes such as airports, ports, military ranges and other locations where GPS accuracy and integrity are critical. Each outstation can be self-supporting, with its own power supply and wireless communication equipment. The outstations consist of a commercial-off-the-shelf survey grade GPS receiver, wireless data modem, and palm top computer. The outstation reports are received at the central reporting station and consolidated into a situation display for the user. The central reporting station comprises an advanced laptop computer, wireless data modem, and a GPS receiver. The GPS Interference And Navigation Tool (GIANT) is a mission-level one-versus-many constructive simulation and analysis tool used to determine navigation (GPS/INS) system performance and operational effectiveness, particularly in an electronically challenged environment. GIANT is a US Government-owned PC-based simulation tool under the sponsorship and endorsement of the GPS Joint Program Office (JPO). The knowledge gained from the development and application of these tools is one of the fundamental building blocks for this effort. The IRAD project will develop a proof-of-concept that seeks to quantify the potential capability realized from being able to both detect and locate sources of interference during a GPS anomaly or interference event. This includes determining the benefits of interference identification for a variety of critical civil applications, and providing insights to help mitigate potential adverse impacts. The technical approaches undertaken will be outlined, results-to-date presented, and recommendations discussed on how to take this project from proof-of-concept to fielded system.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2002) September 24 - 27, 2002 Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR
Pages:	600 - 604
Cite this article:	Gerten, Greg, Friedman, Steve, Irwin, Dean, "Monitor, Report & Locate: Tools for Critical Infrastructure Protection," Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2002), Portland, OR, September 2002, pp. 600-604.
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