GNSS Monitoring and Interference Detection at Romanian Airports

Register for the Final Presentation of the NAVISP EL3 016 Project: “ECHO-GNSS Monitoring and Interference Detection Study and Pilot System Development at Romanian Airports”

In the context of transitioning to safer, greener and more cost-efficient aviation operations, the use of GNSS in this domain is increasing. GNSS-based flight procedures provide increased flexibility in procedure design, contributing to a more efficient use of airspace. However, the vulnerabilities of the GNSS signal caused by RF interferences may have negative impacts on aircraft operations.

Considering the increased reliance on satellite navigation in aviation, the ECHO project proposes a GNSS monitoring solution for airports, using a network of GNSS monitoring and interference detection stations at seven airports in Romania. This network of stations provides the user with periodic reports about GNSS performance and real-time alerts regarding the GNSS status and interference events. 

Each monitoring station has a GNSS Signal In Space monitoring component and a RF interference detection component. The stations have been installed at seven airports in Romania, in Bucharest, Constanta, Craiova, Suceava, Bacau, Timisoara and Baia Mare, in locations free of masking obstacles.

There are two information paths in the ECHO architecture. On the real-time path, the data coming from the stations is assessed by the real-time module, which determines the GNSS status and identifies the presence of interference. In case an event occurs (i.e. the GNSS status is degraded or an interference is detected), an alarm is sent to the user. The other path is for performance assessment. The data logged by the stations is used by the performance analysis module, for the computation of the GNSS performance parameters and their evaluation against the corresponding thresholds. The obtained results, along with interference statistics inputs, are transmitted to the reporting module, which provides 14-days reports to the user.

The ECHO project was developed in the scope of  ESA NAVISP Element 3, which is dedicated to supporting national PNT strategies, by a consortium containing RISE as prime contractor and the Romanian Space Agency and ROMATSA as subcontractors.

Please check the Agenda and register for the event.