NSF Org:	CNS Division Of Computer and Network Systems
Recipient:	ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Initial Amendment Date:	August 24, 2007
Latest Amendment Date:	July 27, 2009
Award Number:	0722003
Award Instrument:	Continuing Grant
Program Manager:	Min Song CNS  Division Of Computer and Network Systems CSE  Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Start Date:	September 1, 2007
End Date:	August 31, 2010 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$0.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$316,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2007 = $100,000.00 FY 2008 = $100,000.00 FY 2009 = $116,000.00
History of Investigator:	Dennis Roberson (Principal Investigator) dennis.roberson@iit.edu Gordon Stuber (Co-Principal Investigator) Hui Liu (Co-Principal Investigator) Cynthia Hood (Co-Principal Investigator) Kenneth Zdunek (Co-Principal Investigator) Joseph LoCicero (Former Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Illinois Institute of Technology 10 W 35TH ST CHICAGO IL  US  60616-3717 (312)567-3035
Sponsor Congressional District:	01
Primary Place of Performance:	Illinois Institute of Technology 10 W 35TH ST CHICAGO IL  US  60616-3717
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	01
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	E2NDENMDUEG8
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Networking Technology and Syst
Primary Program Source:	app-0107  01000809DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01000910DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	7363, 7389, 9178, 9218, 9251, HPCC
Program Element Code(s):	736300
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.070

ABSTRACT

This research project establishes a permanent Spectrum Observatory in Chicago to monitor and support the analysis of spectrum usage for a three-year period. This observatory is supplemented by a mobile spectrum occupancy platform to nomadically examine various target cities to both explore "unused spectrum" and in Chicago to validate the fixed observatory readings as representative measurements for the city. Selected suburban and rural measurements are performed to expand the understanding of the differences in spectrum usage in these environments. The research focuses on: 1) obtaining the occupancy data, 2) analyzing the anomalies and trends in the data, and 3) examining the opportunities for improved spectral utilization suggested by the observed usage patterns.

This grant supports collaborative research across and between academia, industry, and government entities. The research impacts: 1) transceiver designers, 2) cognitive radio researchers, 3) spectrum owners and stakeholders, 4) engineering students and faculty, and 5) regulators. The greatest impact of this information may be to U.S. government communications policy. Currently, information on spectrum occupancy is spotty at best, leading to worst-case analysis, conservative policies, and poor utilization of the scare spectrum resource. Emerging telecommunication technologies require a vastly improved understanding of spectrum utilization and trends to be effective. This Spectrum Observatory serves as the basis for spectrum forecasting that is crucial for the successful broad scale deployment of cognitive radio systems, new wireless devices, and networks. Finally, this study provides a very useful academic platform for graduate and undergraduate courses in wireless communication networks.

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