Gamal Zayed

and 1 more

Ground-based navigation systems are indispensable in modern multidisciplinary applications, ranging from emergency response to precision agriculture. The integration of space weather data with these systems not only improves their accuracy and reliability but also aligns perfectly with the transition from theoretical models to operational services. This research explores the implementation of navigation location estimation using data from the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Network (WSPRnet). The WSPRnet database, part of the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI), offers extensive spatial coverage through voluntarily provided data. This dataset includes key parameters such as transmitter-receiver operation timestamps, frequency bands, grid locations, separating distances, callsigns, transmitter Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), drift, power, and receiver azimuth and mode. By utilizing the robust IntlWSPR transmitting beacon structure, which features approximately 40 active beacons globally distributed and continuously operating, we obtain a resilient, real-time dataset. These beacons transmit very low noise-buried signals around 23 dBm, allowing for reliable non-interfering location estimation functionality. We evaluate the performance of our localization system by generating a test dataset through ideal calculations using the free space path loss propagation model. Our findings indicate that the HamSCI-based localization system achieves an acceptable error margin, with a worst-case scenario error of just 10 meters per grid. Future work will involve the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to incorporate additional ionospheric parameters, enhancing the precision of received power measurements for user location grids.Acknowledgements: Special thanks to the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI), Mr. Gary Mikitin (AF8A), Radio Operators Expert, and Mr. Bill Liles (NQ6Z), HamSCI Community Diversity Recruitment Chair, and Case Western Reserve University, in collaboration with the University of Scranton, for their invaluable contributions. Special thanks for the financial support of the U.S. National Science Foundation Grant AGS-2404997 and Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC).