C H A P T E R

N ° 22

Space Weather and The Road Transport Sector

When investigating space weather impact on critical infrastructure, the road transport sector is one of the least discussed and researched sectors. Despite this, effects from this natural hazard can occur on this part of critical terrestrial (ground-based) infrastructure. Furthermore, with the advancement of vehicle design, construction, and implementation of various technology, the risk and vulnerability to space weather impact will increase.

In today’s article we will, therefore, look closer at the relation between space weather, the road transport sector, and ground transportation systems. Moreover, we will discuss the effects from this natural hazard on the energy sector and satellite industry, and the consequential cascading effects on ground transportation systems like roads, traffic signals, and ground-based communication networks.

Additionally, we will present and discuss the relation between space weather and today’s electrical vehicles (EVs) and vehicles of the future, that is; autonomous artificially intelligent (AI) 5G vehicles (i.e., self-driven cars). Lastly, mitigation measures will be presented and discussed.

This article will build on a fundament of knowledge created through other articles published by SR Hoplon. In order to fully understand this article, the reader may wish to read those articles beforehand or afterwards. Relevant articles recommended to read will be provided under each section discussing the related topic. An article recommended to be read beforehand is, however: C H A P T E R N ° 1 Space Weather Basics.

Space weather and the energy sector

The type of critical infrastructure that society has become the most reliant on is the energy sector. Power networks play a vital role in everyday life. It can be a standalone critical infrastructure providing electrical power but it can, additionally, be a service provider to other critical infrastructures that rely on electricity from a power grid.

The energy sector has been aware of the impact of space weather on power grid systems for years. Many studies have shown that space weather can affect power systems through geomagnetically induced currents (GIC). Geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) are exceedingly low frequency field (i.e., quasi-DC) currents. These can induce electric currents that can get into the power transmission lines and flow to and from the ground through the windings of power transformers. These currents can cause numerous issues when entering a power grid.

In extreme cases, effects from space weather can lead to blackouts or complete collapse of power grid systems. An example of such impact has been experienced in Hydro-Québec in Canada. Once a power grid experiences a blackout or complete collapse, it increases the risk of cascading effects (i.e., a ripple effect) leading to impact on sectors dependent on electricity, such as the transportation infrastructure.

* To learn more about the relation between space weather and the energy sector, please read: C H A P T E R N ° 14 Space Weather and The Energy Sector, C H A P T E R N ° 15 Space Weather and The Power Grid, and C H A P T E R N ° 16 Space Weather, Power Grid Systems and Mitigation Measures. *

**Image Credit:** Popular Mechanics: *Cartoon illustrating a power grid system.*

The satellite industry and the energy sector

No system or society has ever been as dependent on satellites as the society we live in today. This dependency will only increase with increasing development of new technologies. Satellites offer multiple services, helping different sectors to provide their services in order for the well-functioning of society. The energy sector is no exception.

The modern-day power grid system gets increasingly more dependent on satellites in order to function as efficiently as currently possible. Power system owners and operators for example uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) which is a part of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for navigation, position, and timing. This is done in order to monitor local grid conditions down to the microsecond, and for system protection measures such as to activate control operations for line trips (i.e., shutdown/closes down).

Additionally, power systems use a lot of telecommunications which is a service provides by Telecommunication satellites, and IT network which rely on timing delivery services. If issues or a loss of these services occur, it would, therefore, complicate grid operations. Space weather can, thus, impact power systems directly or indirectly.

*To learn more about the interdependencies between critical infrastructure, please read: C H A P T E R N ° 13 Space Weather and The Terrestrial Environment. *

Space weather and satellites

Most critical terrestrial infrastructures are (in)directly dependent on satellites to function. Likewise, satellites dependent on the energy sector - which is a critical terrestrial infrastructure – in order for mission control centers based on Earth to manage their satellites. This interdependency increases the vulnerability to space weather impact within the overall category of Critical Infrastructures (CI).

Satellites have shown to be the most at risk of impact from space weather. Satellites like the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) - Global Positioning System (GPS) being part of that -, Telecommunication Satellites, and Earth Observation (EO) Satellites all enable things and services such as; long-distance communication, localization, navigation, cyber security, financial security, and prediction, prevention, and management of emergencies and disasters. Thus, satellites contribute to the well-being of citizens and makes it possible for society to meet many important needs and challenges on Earth.

During space weather events, there is a chance for a rapid increase of the energy level of particles within the near-Earth space environment. This quick acceleration of particles to very high energy levels, increases the intensity level of the radiation that objects in the near-Earth space environment are exposed to. However, space weather does not only increase the energy level of electrically charged particles but, additionally, causes an income of magnetically charged particles. This combination of incoming electrically and magnetically charged particles and the increasement of energy levels of already existing particles in the environment, creates a highly complex and hazardous space radiation environment. Thus, during severe and extreme space weather events, the particles can reach energy levels and a level of complexity to such a degree, that current engineering-based mitigation measures are not always sufficient, consequently leading to impact on the functioning of satellites.

Furthermore, space weather does not only interfere with the satellites themselves. It can, additionally, interfere with the transmission of the data from the satellite to the receivers on Earth. Satellites use a wide range of radio and microwave frequencies to send and receive data. These have to travel through the Earth’s atmosphere. However, during severe and extreme space weather events, parts of the atmosphere can turn into a very hazardous environment for radio and microwaves, and can cause complete blockage of transmissions.

*To learn more about the relation between space weather and the satellite industry, please read: C H A P T E R N ° 5 Space Weather and Critical Space Infrastructure (CSI). *

**Image Credit:** ESA: *Showing space weather, Earth’s magnetic field, and satellites orbiting around Earth.*

Space weather, the road transport sector, and ground transportation systems

Compared to other sectors, space weather has the least amount of impact on ground transportation such as cars, trucks, and buses, due to their limited dependency on space infrastructures. The ground transportation systems have a limited dependency on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and communication systems, as they can operate effectively with traditional methods and infrastructure. Instead, they primarily rely on terrestrial (ground-based) infrastructure like roads, traffic signals, and ground-based communication networks.

The transportation sector is, however, not completely resilient. The critical infrastructures in the modern-day society are more or less interdependent. Issues with one sector, therefore, increases the risk of impact on another. Modern vehicles rely on satellite-based navigation systems for route guidance and positioning. A failure of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and, thus, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), can, therefore, lead to a loss of accuracy and reliability in navigation information. This could result in misinterpretation of routes and delays, and be a potential safety hazard for drivers and passengers. Space weather impact on critical space infrastructure, thus, significantly impede vehicle operation, consequently leading to safety, efficiency, and reliability issues. A sector that would particularly experience significant impact from a failure in the Global Positioning System (GPS) is the emergency responders that uses the services to quickly navigate to incident locations.

Furthermore, the effects on space infrastructure causes cascading effects down to terrestrial infrastructures like the energy sector. An impact on the energy sector can lead to effects on traffic management systems, such as traffic lights and road signage, leading to traffic congestions and safety hazards on road networks.

With the rise and implementation of more advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and the increasing electrification of transportation, power grid disruptions will increasingly have profound effects on vehicle operations. Today, electrical vehicles (EVs) rely on an uninterrupted power supply to recharge batteries and sustain operation. During power grid disruptions, charging capabilities may become unavailable, limiting the ability to charge electrical vehicles, consequently stranding them without power. This could result in disruption to transportation services, effecting individual drivers and commercial fleets.

However, in future societies, the definition of an electrical vehicle may be redefined by the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and the 5G mobile network. The impact from space weather on autonomous artificially intelligent (AI) 5G vehicles may differ substantially compared to today’s electrical vehicles (EVs). Autonomous vehicles use artificial intelligence (AI) to process data from multiple sensors (e.g., LiDAR, radar, and cameras) and makes decisions based on real-time analysis supported by 5G networks for instant communication.

**Image Credit:** Simon Ramsdale; Diodes: *Cartoon showing autonomous vehicle communication.*

Autonomous vehicles work on four primary sensors; camera, ultrasonics, radar, and lidar. However, each sensor has its own limitations. Camera-based sensors are unable to detect objects in foggy areas, rain, or in the night. Radar uses radio waves to detect vehicles and objects, and is accurate in all conditions of visibility. However, it is unable to differentiate the objects’ type without a human driver due to its longer wavelength. Lidar is a sensor with higher resolution and used to detect any object around the car’s surroundings. Laser beams do, however, not provide accurate results in weather conditions like snow, smoke, fog, or smog. By the use of ultrasonic waves and transmitter-receiver pair, ultrasonic sensors (i.e., short range sensors: ~2 meters) sends detects echoes from objects and obstacles. These are used for low-speed Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) modules to detect obstacles in traffic congested areas, and for parking space detection and assistance. However, they do have limitation in range capacity. Furthermore, autonomous cars rely on maps to navigate. These are created by using cameras and lidars to map the territory in detail.

All these sensors are interdependent in order to maintain safety. In addition, they all dependent on services provided by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) constellation - the Global Positioning System (GPS) being a part of that - and Telecommunication Satellites, and receivers on Earth. Yet, the space infrastructure is the most at risk of space weather impact. Autonomous vehicles reliant on things such as precise satellite data for localization and path planning could, therefore, experience disruptions in their autonomous functions. This would increase the risk of a potential compromise in the vehicles ability to navigate safely. A vehicle like a self-driven car depending on satellites is, thus, highly vulnerable to space weather impact compared to a non-autonomous car. The current and future changes in the automotive industry’s way of designing and constructing vehicles will, therefore, determine the level of risk and vulnerabilities posed on future vehicles when discussing space weather impact.

**Image Credit:** McKinsey & Company: *Cartoon showing autonomous vehicles and direct vehicle communication.*

Mitigation measures

Ground transportation in the form of cars, trucks, and buses with current capabilities are the most resilient infrastructure. They rely more on terrestrial navigation and communication systems and, therefore, experiences the least amount of direct impact from space weather. However, despite this, the natural hazards still cause some safety hazards and issues. In order to reduce these, certain measures can be taken.

Mitigation measures targeting the ground transportation system could be the implementation of traffic management strategies, as these can significantly enhance the resilience of transportation systems. Two examples are: 1) The use of advanced traffic control systems equipped with predictive analytics. These can optimize the flow of ground traffic, consequently reducing congestion and minimizing delays caused by disruptions; and 2) The use of a space weather forecasting and warnings system. The integration of space weather alerts into traffic management systems would allow for timely decision-making and coordinated responses.

Furthermore, additional mitigation measures for critical systems such as communication, navigation, surveillance, signaling, and power grids should be strengthened to adverse effects from space weather on the transportation networks. Examples of mitigation measures for some of these can be found in previous articles published by SR Hoplon.

*To learn more about space weather mitigation measures for the energy sector and satellite industry, please read: C H A P T E R N ° 16 Space Weather, Power Grid Systems and Mitigation Measures and C H A P T E R N ° 9 Space Weather and Satellites. *

The invention and implementation of mitigation measures for artificially intelligent (AI) 5G vehicles against space weather impact will, however, be much more demanding and complex. Even if mitigation measures were created and implemented for the satellites and vehicles used – which is a highly complex and challenging task in itself -, risks remain.

Space weather does not only interfere and effect satellites. It, additionally, interferes with the transmission of the data from the satellites to the receivers on the ground, potentially leading to complete blockage of transmissions. Creating mitigation measures for such challenges demands more than current capabilities can offer.

Research and investigations are being made on creating a space weather forecasting and warning system focusing on changes in the ionosphere. The ionosphere is an atmospheric layer within the thermosphere that is highly dependent on the Sun’s activity cycle. During space weather events, the density of the ionosphere increases, enabling it to bend the path of radio waves or scatter them completely. This can cause the loss of Global Positioning System (GPS) and telecommunication signals, and cause satellite data anomalous.

*To learn more about the relation between space weather, the ionosphere and the rest of Earth’s atmospheric layers, please read: C H A P T E R N ° 11 Space Weather and Earth’s Atmospheric Layers.*

However, creating a forecasting and warning system for the ionosphere is challenging, as it is very difficult to measure the ionosphere. Satellites cannot stay in the ionosphere, as it is too dense and would make the satellites re-enter the atmosphere, consequently causing them to burn up or land on terrestrial infrastructures. This means, that measurements are made by radar or rockets. Yet, these are difficult to move. We, therefore, only know a lot about the ionosphere at the locations of the radar and rockets, and not globally. Furthermore, we can measure the ionosphere, but we cannot measure or see all the small and fine structures, which makes a lot of things remain unknown.

A space weather forecasting and warning system focused on the ionosphere would provide localized warnings on potential satellite service interferences and data anomalous in the location of a non-moving establishment. Sectors within critical infrastructure would then proceed to navigate and act according to the warning provided. However, this may not be sufficient enough when discussing mitigation measures for things in movement, like autonomous vehicles, as they would not be situated in one place or area but moving around in the landscape. Mitigation measures for such creations would, therefore, additionally have to focus on the construction of the vehicles, and the environment and process between the satellites and the receivers.

Effective mitigation measures against space weather impact on the ground transportation sector currently - and in the future -, thus, requires a balance between research, improving space weather monitoring and forecasts, strengthening critical system resilience, optimizing operational measures, and novel and new innovative engineering solutions.

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