Sferic-based Underground Geolocation

Program Manager: Dr. Stefanie Tompkins

The Sferic-based Underground Geolocation program will provide underground geolocation, with minimal supporting/brought-in infrastructure, by exploiting naturally occurring very low frequency (VLF) sferic (lightning) signals. The program will conduct experimental verification that sferics received above ground can be correlated with sferics that have propagated (and dispersed) through various geological overburdens, with sufficient accuracy to achieve desired geolocation resolution. Further research will seek verification that signal processing techniques to correlate sferic signals and estimate position enable geolocation at the desired spatial resolution. The ultimate program goal will be the design of a full navigation and tracking system.