Keynotes

Keynote Speakers

Laura

Laura Ruotsalainen

University of Helsinki, Finland

Machine Learning Protecting GNSS against Intentional Interference

 Abstract

As society becomes increasingly dependent on GNSS to secure critical operations, the threat of intentional interference also grows. Such interference includes jamming, which degrades or denies GNSS signals, and spoofing, which deceives the receiver into outputting false location or timing information. Machine learning, currently the most actively researched subfield of AI and a powerful computational paradigm, has been applied to navigation for decades. Recent breakthroughs, especially in deep learning, have produced highly promising results. In this talk, I will explore recent efforts to protect GNSS infrastructure and highlight the most promising applications of deep learning for interference detection, localization, and device fingerprinting to help prevent these harmful disruptions.

 Bio: Laura Ruotsalainen is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki and leads the Spatiotemporal Data Analysis (SDA) research group. The group conducts research on machine learning for forming and analyzing spatiotemporal data to advance sustainability science. She has built a long-standing research career in navigation technologies, with expertise in vision-aided navigation, GNSS sensor fusion, and the mitigation of GNSS interference. She is a member of the steering group for the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI) and the vice-chair of the ELLIS Institute Finland.

Andrea

Andrea Giorgetti

University of Bologna, Italy

Network-Centric Perspectives on Integrated Sensing and Communication

Abstract

This talk explores advancements in Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), a cornerstone of emerging 6G networks, focusing on its transformative potential for integrated mobile networks. Foundational system models for monostatic and bistatic ISAC setups are detailed, along with methodologies for target parameter estimation and system-level analyses. Cooperative ISAC is examined, highlighting multistatic configurations and data fusion strategies to enhance target detection and tracking accuracy. Emphasis is placed on the trade-offs between sensing and communication resources, presenting innovative approaches to optimize subcarrier, power, and time allocations. Case studies in urban scenarios illustrate the real-world application of these principles, showcasing the synergy of multibeam MIMO-OFDM technologies. The pivotal role of mobile radio networks in enabling ubiquitous sensing capabilities is underlined, charting a path for future research and implementation in integrated 6G frameworks.

Bio: Andrea Giorgetti (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Dr.-Ing. degree (summa cum laude) in electronic engineering and the Ph.D. degree in electronic engineering and computer science from the University of Bologna, Italy, in 1999 and 2003, respectively. From 2003 to 2005, he was a Researcher with the National Research Council of Italy. In 2006, he joined the Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi,” University of Bologna, as an Assistant Professor and became an Associate Professor in 2014. During Spring 2006, he was with the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA. He is the co-author of Cognitive Radio Techniques: Spectrum Sensing, Interference Mitigation, and Localization (Artech House, 2012). His research interests include ultra-wideband communication systems, active and passive localization, wireless sensor networks, cognitive radio, and integrated sensing and communications. He has served as Technical Program Committee Co-Chair for several symposia at IEEE ICC and IEEE GLOBECOM. From 2017 to 2018, he was the Elected Chair of the IEEE Communications Society’s Radio Communications Technical Committee. He is a former Editor of IEEE Communications Letters and IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications.

Grigorios

Grigorios Anagnostopoulos

HES-SO Genève, Switzerland

Motivating Open Science and Reproducibility in Localization Research

Abstract

Scientific research is grounded on foundational principles, such as transparency and verifiability. While these values are often taken for granted, they are increasingly challenged by systemic shortcomings in the way research is conducted, reported, and disseminated. This keynote revisits these core assumptions and examines their relationship to the frameworks of Open Science and Research Reproducibility. Particular attention is given to how questionable research practices (such as selective reporting, HARKing, restricted access to data and code, and insufficient methodological detail) undermine these principles, and to the ways they can be tackled. These crucial elements will be explicitly linked to practices within localization research. Drawing on recent meta-research and open science assessments in the field of localization research and beyond, the talk identifies critical gaps as well as concrete opportunities for methodological improvement. It is argued that the adoption of best practices facilitating open and fully reproducible workflows is not only a matter of scientific integrity and rigor but also a strategic imperative. A systemic commitment to these practices has the potential to catalyze a paradigm shift, one that can significantly accelerate innovation in the wider field of localization research.

Bio: Grigorios G. Anagnostopoulos has been a Senior Research Associate at the Geneva School of Business Administration (HEG Geneva), University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO), since 2018. He received his PhD in Information Systems from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, in 2017. His research interests include localization systems, sports analytics, Open Science, and research reproducibility.

Dr. Anagnostopoulos is an active advocate of Open and Reproducible Science and serves as the local node leader of the Swiss Reproducibility Network at HES-SO. He is a member of the expert reviewer pool for the Open Science I and II programs of Swissuniversities, the umbrella organization of Swiss universities, evaluating funding proposals submitted to these initiatives. Moreover, he has been a Technical Program Committee (TPC) member for the ICL-GNSS and IPIN conferences since 2021 and serves as a reviewer for several scientific journals.

Massimo

Massimo Eleuteri

Thales Alenia Space, Italy
Interplanetary navigation: Moon, Mars and beyond
Abstract
The talk will explore the future perspectives of navigation systems on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, discussing innovative advancements and promising projects in space exploration. Key topics will include insights into future satellite navigation system designed for lunar operations, and some of the technical challenges to be addressed. The presentation will also delve into preliminary assessments for establishing a navigation system for Mars, expanding on the concept of a space highway as a framework for deep space exploration. By focusing on technological developments, particularly the role of optical link technologies, the discussion will highlight how these advancements serve as enablers for integrated ‘system of systems’ solutions in space infrastructure for a seamless navigation from the Earth to the Moon and beyond.
Bio: Massimo Eleuteri. He received his MSc. degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Tor Vergata University in Rome in 2005. Immediately after graduating, he started to work in the GNSS field, taking on different assignments within the Business Line of Observation and Navigation at Thales Alenia Space Italy. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of contributing to the Galileo and EGNOS projects, with responsibilities in system engineering as well as system integration and verification. Currently, he leads the End-to-End Navigation System Engineering Department at Thales Alenia Space Italy, where he and his team are passionately working to develop the most advanced system solutions for European satellite navigation projects.
Marco

Marco Neri

Rohde & Schwarz, Italy
5G Overview and network testing use cases
Abstract
The deployment of 5G networks has introduced new challenges for accurate and efficient measurement and testing, for network operators, equipment manufacturers, and regulatory bodies. This presentation discusses the advantages of using passive and active equipment, specifically scanners and User Equipment (UE), to measure 5G network performance. Passive scanners offer high reliability and sensitivity, and ability to detect and analyze radio frequency signals without interfering with the network, making them ideal for drive test and walk test measurements. Active UE-based measurements, on the other hand, provide accurate and reliable data on network performance, including throughput, latency, and signal strength, allowing for detailed analysis of network behavior and optimization. This presentation highlights the benefits and trade-offs between these two approaches, and demonstrates how they can be used together to  ensure the reliable deployment and optimization of 5G networks.
Bio: Marco Neri received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from the Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy, in 2015 and 2017, respectively, and the master’s degree in business administration from the LUISS Business School, Rome, in 2023. In 2017, he joined Rohde & Schwarz, where he is currently a Staff Application Engineer for the Mobile Network Testing unit. His research interests include measurement-based and data-driven analyses of 5G and cellular IoT systems.