Characterization of the GNSS RFI Threat to DFMC GBAS Signal Bands

Area of Science:

• Navigation Systems Engineering
• Radio Frequency Interference Analysis
• Satellite Systems

Background:

• Ground Based Augmentation Systems (GBAS) are vital for aviation safety and require resilience against Radio Frequency Interference (RFI).
• GBAS receivers near high-traffic areas are susceptible to unintentional RFI, necessitating research into interference characteristics.
• Dual Frequency Multi Constellation (DFMC) GBAS concepts require detailed knowledge of RFI for algorithm development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the prevalence and properties of RFI events impacting GNSS signals used in DFMC GBAS.
• To understand the spectral occupancy distribution and identify novel RFI types.
• To provide data essential for developing robust RFI mitigation strategies for GBAS.

Main Methods:

• Long-term, multi-site GNSS RFI monitoring campaign.
• Analysis of RFI events across GPS L1/L5, Galileo E1/E5a/E5b, and GLONASS G1 frequency bands.
• Characterization of RFI signal properties, affected frequency bands, and occurrence rates.

Main Results:

• Detailed analysis of RFI event prevalence and characteristics on key GNSS bands (GPS L1/L5, Galileo E1/E5a/E5b, GLONASS G1).
• Investigation into spectral occupancy distribution, revealing patterns of RFI.
• Identification and documentation of previously uncharacterized RFI event types.

Conclusions:

• The study provides critical insights into RFI impacting DFMC GBAS operations.
• Characterizing RFI is essential for developing effective mitigation strategies to ensure GBAS availability.
• Findings support the ongoing development of resilient and reliable navigation augmentation systems.