Two lightning detectors, of the magnetic direction finder type, form part of a two station system for determining the position of lightning strikes. The detectors are on a baseline of approximately 600 m, and the ultimate aim of the system is to accurately detect and map lightning within a radius of 30 km. Although no real time capability is present, the archive data collected from each separate station is used to find the offset errors in the azimuthal orientation, as well as in time (using processes described in Appendix A). The relative offset errors are determined by shifting the time and azimuthal information for one station’s data and calculating the maximum possible matching records (within certain time and azimuth criteria) for each incremental shift. An analysis of the peaks in total matching records, when plotted against the relevant shift increments, is performed in order to obtain the values of the offset errors. Between the two individual stations, the relative offset in orientation is found to be 24.5 degrees, and in time to be 0.001305 days (112.75 seconds). The individual stations, as well as the triangulated data calculated from matching records, can also be calibrated using data from the South African Weather Service Lightning Detection Network (SAWSLDN). Individual station calibration indicated an offset of +6.4 degrees and 0.00575 days (496.8 seconds) for Station 1, with the offsets for Station 2 determined as +29.4 degrees and −0.000105 days (9.07 seconds). Comparison of triangulated data to SAWSLDN data yields unexpected results with regard to resultant shifts, which may point to an error or anomaly in the triangulation calculations. A detailed analysis of the storm data is contained in Appendix B of the dissertation.

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A direction-finding system with multiple direction finders (DFs) is a military intelligence system designed to detect the positions of transmitters of radio frequencies. This dissertation studies three decision problems associated with the direction-finding system. The first part of this dissertation is to prescribe DF deployment to maximize the effectiveness with which transmitter positions are estimated in an area of interest (AOI). Three methods are presented to prescribe DF deployment. The first method uses Stansfield’s probability density function to compute objective function coefficients numerically. The second and the third employ surrogate measures of effectiveness as objective functions. The second method, like the first, involves complete enumerations; the third formulates the problem as an integer program and solves it with an efficient network-based label-setting algorithm. Our results show that the third method, which involved use of a surrogate measure as an objective function and an exact label-setting algorithm, is most effective. The second part of this dissertation is to minimize the number of DFs to cover an AOI effectively, considering obstacles between DFs and transmitters. We formulate this problem as a partial set multicover problem in which at least -fraction of the likely transmitter positions must be covered, each by at least direction finders. We present greedy heuristics with random selection rules for the partial set multicover problem, estimating statistical bounds on unknown optimal values. Our results show that the greedy heuristic with column selection rule, which gives priority for selecting a column that advances more rows to k-coverage, performs best on the partial set multicover problems. Results also show that the heuristic with random row and column selection rules is the best of the heuristics with respect to statistical bounds. The third part of this dissertation deals with the problem of deploying direction finders with the goal of maximizing the effectiveness with which transmitter positions can be estimated in an AOI while hedging against enemy threats. We present four formulations, considering the probability that a direction finder deployed at a location will survive enemy threats over the planning horizon (i.e., not be rendered inoperative by an attack). We formulate the first two as network flow problems and present an efficient label-setting algorithm. The third and the fourth use the well-known Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) risk measure to deal with the risk of being rendered inoperative by the enemy. Computational results show that risk-averse decision models tend to deploy some or all DFs in locations that are not close to the enemy to reduce risk. Results also show that a direction-finding system with 5 DFs provides improved survivability under enemy threats.

Cette thèse étudie le design et la conception d’un Goniomètre Radio Fréquence (GRF) visant à assister les services de secours à la personne (e.g. équipes de sauvetage déblaiement), exploitant les téléphones des victimes à retrouver comme des balises de détresse radio. La conception est focalisée sur une interface audio, utilisant le son pour guider progressivement les sauveteurs vers la victime. L’ambition de la thèse est d’exploiter les mécanismes naturels propres à l’audition humaine pour améliorer les performances générales du processus de recherche plutôt que de développer de nouvelles techniques d’Estimation de Direction de Source (EDS).Les techniques d’EDS classiques sont tout d’abord exposées, ainsi qu’une série d’outils permettant d’en évaluer les performances. Basée sur ces outils, une étude de cas est proposée visant à évaluer les performances attendues d’un GRF portable, adapté aux conditions d’emploi nominales envisagées. Il est montré que les performances des techniques dites « à haute résolution » généralement utilisées pour l’EDS sont sérieusement amoindries lorsqu’une contrainte de taille/poids maximum est imposée sur le réseau d’antennes associé au GRF, particulièrement en présence de multi-trajets de propagation entre le téléphone ciblé et le tableau d’antenne.Par la suite, une étude bibliographique concernant la sonification par encodage de paramètres (Parameter Mapping Sonification) est proposée. Plusieurs paradigmes de sonification sont considérés et évalués en rapport à leur capacité à transmettre une information issue de différents designs de GRF envisagés. Des tests d’écoute sont menés, suggérant qu’après une courte phase d’entrainement les sujets sont capables d’analyser plusieurs flux audio en parallèle ainsi que d’interpréter des informations de haut niveau encodées dans des flux sonores complexes. Lesdits tests ont permis de souligner le besoin d’une sonification du GRF basée sur une hiérarchie perceptive de l’information présentée, permettant aux débutants de focaliser leur attention sans efforts et uniquement sur les données les plus importantes. Une attention particulière est portée à l’ergonomie de l’interface sonore et à son impact sur l’acceptation et la confiance de l’opérateur vis-à-vis du GRF (e.g. en ce qui concerne la perception du bruit de mesure pendant l’utilisation du GRF pendant la navigation).Finalement, un prototype virtuel est proposé, simulant une navigation basée sur le GRF dans un environnement virtuel pour en évaluer les performances (e.g. paradigmes de sonification proposés plus haut). En parallèle, un prototype physique est assemblé afin d’évaluer la validité écologique du prototype virtuel. Le prototype physique est basé sur une architecture radio logicielle, permettant d’accélérer les phases de développement entre les différentes versions du design de GRF étudiées. L’ensemble des études engageant les prototypes virtuels et physiques sont menées en collaboration avec des professionnels des opérations de recherche à la personne. Les performances des designs de GRF proposés sont par la suite comparées à celles des solutions de recherche existantes (géo-stéréophone, équipes cynotechniques, etc.).Il est montré que, dans le contexte envisagé, un simple GRF basé sur la sonification en parallèle des signaux provenant de plusieurs antennes directionnelles peut offrir des performances de navigations comparables à celles résultantes de designs plus complexes basés sur des méthodes à haute résolution. Puisque l’objectif de la tâche est de progressivement localiser une cible, la pierre angulaire du système semble être la robustesse et la consistance de ses estimations plutôt que sa précision ponctuelle. Impliquer l’utilisateur dans le processus d’estimation permet d’éviter des situations critiques où ledit utilisateur se sentirait impuissant face à un système autonome (boîte noire) produisant des informations qui lui semblent incohérentes. / This research investigates the design of a radio Direction Finder (DF) for rescue operation using victims' cellphone as localization beacons. The conception is focused on an audio interface, using sound to progressively guide rescuers towards their target. The thesis' ambition is to exploit the natural mechanisms of human hearing to improve the global performance of the search process rather than to develop new Direction-Of-Arrival (DOA) estimation techniques.Classical DOA estimation techniques are introduced along with a range of tools to assess their efficiency. Based on these tools, a case study is proposed regarding the performance that might be expected from a lightweight DF design tailored to portable operation. It is shown that the performance of high-resolution techniques usually implemented for DOA estimation are seriously impacted by any size-constraint applied on the DF, particularly in multi-path propagation conditions.Subsequently, a review of interactive parameter mapping sonification is proposed. Various sonification paradigms are designed and assessed regarding their capacity to convey information related to different levels of DF outputs. Listening tests are conducted suggesting that trained subjects are capable of monitoring multiple audio streams and gather information from complex sounds. Said tests also indicate the need for a DF sonification that perceptively orders the presented information, for beginners to be able to effortlessly focus on the most important data only. Careful attention is given to sound aesthetic and how it impacts operators' acceptance and trust in the DF, particularly regarding the perception of measurement noise during the navigation.Finally, a virtual prototype is implemented that recreates DF-based navigation in a virtual environment to evaluate the proposed sonification mappings. In the meantime, a physical prototype is developed to assess the ecological validity of the virtual evaluations. Said prototype exploits a software defined radio architecture for rapid iteration through design implementations. The overall performance evaluation study is conducted in consultation with rescue services representatives and compared with their current search solutions.It is shown that, in this context, simple DF designs based on the parallel sonification of the output signal of several antennas may produce navigation performance comparable to these of more complex designs based on high-resolution methods. As the task objective is to progressively localize a target, the system's cornerstone appears to be the robustness and consistency of its estimations rather than its punctual accuracy. Involving operators in the estimation allows avoiding critical situations where one feels helpless when faced with an autonomous system producing non-sensical estimations. Virtual prototyping proved to be a sensible and efficient method to support this study, allowing for fast iterations through sonifications and DF designs implementations.

Magister Commercii - MCom / The research focuses on the acceptance of new technologies within the telecommunications industry. The study examines three models namely Innovation theory, Theory of Reason Action (TRA), and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This study explores the technology acceptance models in order to explain why certain monitoring officers at ICASA would prefer specific technologies over others. Models of interest could be the innovation theory, TRA and TAM. After reviewing both models, the author will examine the TAM in detail as a model of interest in this study. In turn, this model is expected to assist us to understand why monitoring officer's at ICASA would prefer a particular frequency monitoring technology over the other. / South Africa