Automated Performance Evaluation Technique

The U.S. Navy operates a number of radio receiving and signal collection sites throughout the world. These sites have been modified and upgraded a number of times to incorporate new equipment technology and advanced receiving and data processing systems. In addition, the encroachment of other activities near the sites has increased the levels of radio and electrical noise to harmful levels. The impact of some site modifications and increased noise levels on the ability of the sites to receive and process data from signals-of- interest SOIs is a major concern. A means to evaluate the positive or negative impact of site improvements, site upgrades, and site encroachment on the performance of a site has not been available in past years. To fill this void, a performance evaluation technique PET was developed by the staff and students of the Naval Postgraduate School. PET has gradually evolved into a useful analytic tool used during field surveys conducted by the Signal-to-Noise Enhancement Program SNEP. SNEP teams visit selected sites to assess the impact of site modifications and man-made ratio noise on the reception of SOIs. The primary tool used to quantify the impact of factors affecting SOI reception is the PET curve. This thesis describes the steps involved in the PET, the construction and interpretation of PET curves, and new techniques employing a computer to generate PET curves. Examples of curves produced by the new automated process are presented using data from a recent SNEP survey at the Sabana Seca CDAA site.