Bridging Situational Awareness and PNT Resilience
When integrated with the principles of PNT System resilience and those of resilience engineering, this SA framework can guide the development of a national or organisational PNT-Situational Awareness (PNT-SA) function that transcends technical domains and fosters system-wide clarity.
The need for such a framework is urgent. The threat landscape for PNT systems is evolving rapidly, driven by factors such as increasing cyber threats (e.g., GNSS spoofing by state and non-state actors), natural phenomena (e.g., solar storms disrupting satellite signals), and geopolitical tensions (e.g., regional conflicts leading to intentional jamming).
Situational Awareness Model
This diagram illustrates Endsley's Situational Awareness model integrated with PNT system functions. Click on each level to learn more about its role in PNT Situational Awareness.
Integration with PNT Resilience
This diagram illustrates how PNT resilience functions integrate with the Situational Awareness model. Click on each function to see how it relates to the SA levels.
Integrating SA Levels with PNT Resilience Functions
Endsley's SA Level | PNT Resilience Function | Implication |
---|---|---|
Level 1: Perception | Detection | Detect and perceive critical environmental elements and events. Multi-domain real-time monitoring systems, spectral analysis, visual input, assessing system performance outputs (PNT Context - The environment is changing) |
Level 2: Comprehension | Detection, Response | Interpret and understand the meaning of perceived information in context. Understanding and correlating inputs to output performance, (PNT Context - Am I being jammed? Is it impacting me, if so, how badly? What options can I use to respond?) |
Level 3: Projection | Response, Recovery, Adaptation | Anticipate future states and outcomes based on current understanding. System performance forecasting and recovery, learning and adaption (PNT Context - I can switch PNT source, but will the jamming last long, what do I understand about it, will it stop me doing what I need to? What can I learn to prevent it impacting me in the future?) |
Interconnection and Feedback Loop
The SA levels and resilience pillars are deeply interconnected, forming a continuous feedback loop: detection informs response, response outcomes guide recovery, and recovery lessons drive adaptation. For instance, if a cyberattack jams GNSS signals (detected at Level 1), its consequences are situated within the mission parameters (Level 2), the expected impacts are estimated (level 3) and the system responds by switching to an alternative PNT source (Decision). The incident is used to support modelling future risks (knowledge/experience), and potential system adaptations, investment in anti-jamming technology perhaps, enhancing overall resilience. This loop ensures that systems that use PNT information are not merely reactive but adaptive, capable of evolving in response to emerging threats.