Our Vision and Objectives
CARNATIONS is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC) that addresses the growing cyber-physical risks impacting Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) in transportation.
Securing the Future of Transportation: The Growing Risk Facing PNT
CARNATIONS pursues a three-pillar research strategy aimed at toughening, augmenting, and protecting PNT systems for multi-modal surface transportation.
PNT is at a critical juncture. Transportation systems increasingly rely on GPS and related technologies, yet interference events like jamming and spoofing have already caused major disruptions at ports, airports, and across surface networks.
These incidents result in:
- Delays and traffic jams
- Safety risks across roadways, railways, and waterways
- Vulnerabilities in automated transportation systems
Our Goals
CARNATIONS is transforming infrastructure and technology to defend against today’s cyber-physical threats — and those on the horizon.
We aim to: Transform infrastructure and technology to keep U.S. transportation resilient to interference and cyber threats, especially in automated systems
Develop standards and best practices for the responsible use of PNT in transportation
By strengthening navigation reliability, our work is shaping the future of safe, intelligent mobility.
Our Focus Areas
CARNATIONS pursues a three-pillar research strategy aimed at toughening, augmenting, and protecting PNT systems for multi-modal surface transportation.
Research
CARNATIONS pursues a three-pillar research strategy to advance Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems for multi-modal surface transportation: Toughen, Augment and Protect.
Toughen:
Develop advanced GNSS receiver and antenna technologies to increase resistance to interference.
Augment:
Integrate non-GNSS sensors and alternative signals to enhance PNT accuracy and reliability.
Protect:
Detect, track, and mitigate radio frequency interference using V2X connectivity and community-sourced data.
Education and Workforce Development
CARNATIONS is preparing the next generation of transportation professionals in R-PNT technologies.
Resilient PNT systems are emerging as crucial in transportation engineering and planning. CARNATIONS addresses this need through a dedicated program designed to prepare the next generation of transportation professionals in R-PNT technologies.
REACH: The Research Engagement and Collaboration Hub facilitates student exchanges across institutions and offers hands-on research opportunities with experienced mentors, helping students gain critical skills in R-PNT.
Technology Transfer
CARNATIONS’ institutions have long-standing records of developing and transferring R-PNT solutions to public agencies and industry.
By leading and participating in international PNT standardization committees, CARNATIONS ensures its research aligns with industry needs and standards.
Funded by the U.S. DOT
Fueled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), CARNATIONS is a Tier 1 University Transportation Center (UTC) dedicated to tackling one of today’s critical challenges: Growing cyber-physical risks impacting Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) in transportation.
The People Behind the Projects
Our amazing team and culture
CARNATIONS brings together a consortium of partner institutions including Illinois Tech, Chicago State University, Stanford University, the University of California-Riverside, and Virginia Tech to form a research team working at the forefront of R-PNT in multimodal transportation.
Meet the Team
CARNATIONS Memberships and Consortium Universities
Our involvement with these respected organizations highlights our dedication to advancing transportation research and promoting collaboration to strengthen and improve transportation systems.
CARNATIONS Team Feedback
At CARNATIONS, we highly value your input. We collect annual and semi-annual feedback from all our members to continuously improve and enhance our projects and collaborations. Your insights and suggestions are essential for our growth and success. Please take a moment to share your thoughts with us. Thank you for your ongoing support and contributions.