Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-16-2026

Abstract

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) provide the majority of critical positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services for civilian, commercial, and military applications. However, GNSS is vulnerable to service denial from spoofing and jamming from adversaries and environmental obstruction. These vulnerabilities highlight the need for resilient Alternative PNT (APNT) methods. This dissertation investigates APNT frameworks operating in GNSS denied environments. We develop coalition formation and matching theoretic models that allow users APNT services from anchor nodes under resource constraints and in adversarial or emergency conditions. The proposed frameworks optimize positioning accuracy, network utility, and system stability while accounting for geometric dilution of precision (GDOP), communication constraints, and interference. A game theoretic formulation is introduced to ensure equilibrium and convergence. Analytical results establish conditions for stability, convergence, and performance bounds. This work provides an algorithmic foundation for resilient APNT architectures capable of operating efficiently and autonomously in emergency and defense applications.

Keywords

Alternative Positioning, Navigation, and Timing, GNSS-Denied Environments, Game Theory, Geometric Dilution of Precision, Multilateration

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Computer Engineering

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Jim Plusquellic

Second Committee Member

Eirini Eleni Tsiropoulou

Third Committee Member

Ramiro Jordan

Fourth Committee Member

Afsah Anwar

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