Forensic Cell Site Analysis: Unveiling the Technology Behind It - Essay Sample

Introduction

Forensic Cell Site Analysis

The earlier E911 invention dating back in the mid-1960s made it possible to track down the subscriber's digital location over BA cellular network transmission carriers. Cell Site location information (CSLI) is contained within the Call Detail Records (CDR), which makes evidence production easier through various acts such as ECPA, 911, And CALEA. Towards the end of 1960, most cellular transmission carriers started producing digital evidence for litigation and investigation reasons. Since then, most companies dealing with mobile networks rely on CSLI and CDR for digital evidence in court. This research report focuses on creating validation methods for cellular network transmitters to ensure accurate data and preventing errors using mitigation strategies in the cell site analysis environment. The process defined in this research paper forms the necessary foundation for the satisfactory primary keys to essential requirements for future cell site analysis.

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Project Aims

The objective of the project is to come up with a defined structure of how future cell Site analysis should be conducted by investigating the current investigative means.

Project Objectives

• Create an in-depth analysis of the current system used in estimating cell site location
• Come up with the best convention to be adopted in the future for presenting digital evidence for cell subscribers
• Analyse the currently used measures and try to identify the existing faults which may lead to failure of digital evidence
• Provide a compressive analysis on Cell Site analysis to form the basis for the future research

Project Themes

Analysing How a Mobile Phone Works

A mobile phone works through defined interconnection within the next available network carriers for data transmission. Therefore, cell Site analysis refers to a methodology used to determine the next possible connection cell a particular mobile telephone is likely to connect within a specific geographical location or any arbitrary location of interest. The information gained by the cell Site expert can then be correlated to call data information provided by a given network to establish the possible location of a specific mobile phone. A series of past connection is used to determine the possible location of a phone. Several factors are used to determine the geographical coverage of a particular cell. These factors include physical location features, network usage, another cell arrangement, transmission strength or power, cell type, and cell orientation. These defined factors are dynamic hence crucial factors while conducting cell Site analysis. Useful information produced by most police forces such as Radio Frequency Propagation Surveys (RFPS) and cell site mapping is presented as a Statement for digital evidence. The factors presented in this case may not give all the required analysis basis due to the general complexity involved in establishing carrier paths. Due to other possibilities, other preceding activities such as prosecution may be inappropriate since they need high consistency. It essential during a digital presentation to consider the defendant's account on their movement patterns.

Analyzing the Earlier Cell Site Analysis Basics

In the late 1990s, an order was issued by the Federal communication commission on Enhanced 911 act. The initial phase involved documenting the site location of the subscriber device to be registered during communication for information storage and record keeping. Early 1999, the production of CDR (call detail records as well as its counterpart, CSLI) was being produced as part of digital evidence. The information collected was used for a search warrant, court orders, and subpoena. The primary purpose of such action was for the recipient from the subscriber. The news was also essential for establishing the location of the subscriber during the communication time (Goel Tyagi and Agarwal 2012). As a result, Forensic Cell Site analysis rose by demanding prior knowledge of how cell carriers operate. Advanced understanding on how to interpret the cellular network physical And logical infrastructure as well as how the earlier intervention such as CDR and CSLI work to establish a clear and substantial digital evidence to be used for subscriber prosecution.

In-Depth Analysis of Forensic Cell Site

Cell Site location (CSLI) majorly containing the subscriber cell location is included within the CDR records forming the cell Site foundation as well as other fields related to Cell operation. The current location of the subscriber during the active communication session can be determined by analysing the current Site Location information. Maps can be created by the cell site analyst showing the cell coverage as well as the site location. The information obtained by the cell cites expert may contain varying accuracy levels leading to the production of unreliable data for interpreting the real digital evidence.

The Cite analysis mostly plot GPS coordinates consisting of several cell sites such as future 5G access points, eNodeB, transceiver Station and NodeB as provided by the respective cellular carriers. The analysts then try to estimate the geographical communication coverage without establishing an estimate basis. All the analyses made should readily meet the Daubert Cell Site requirements. In case a challenge arises due to inadequate or absence of evidence validation or error mitigation, the evidence results may feel to meet the expected needs. The results from cell site analysis have diverse applications in criminal cases in most countries globally. For example, in the United States, the law holds that the geographical location of the defendant if of utmost importance during prosecution hence the need for a b good foundation in cell site analysis. In other cases, such as civil cases, cell site information from CSLI/CDR is crucial to determine faults resulting due to driver misconduct.

Subsequent case study and regular review of the cell site working has resulted in a statement of compliance of all digital evidence being presented to s court of law. Any testimony staged on unsubstantiated and unreliable techniques will be precluded. There are several publications from the national institute of Standards and technology guiding analysis, acquisition, and validation of mobile cell site evidence. However, the books do not necessarily include the proper mitigation strategies on how to deal with resultant errors while collecting CDR/CSLI information. Other agencies are addressing the digital evidence forensic fields such as the United Kingdom through the creation of Cell Site analysis practice code and presentation of digital evidence throughout the United Kingdom forensic science regulator department. Apart from extensive laboratory practices, the United Kingdom has also developed a Cell Site analysis program. Nevertheless, the issue of validation is also included within the United Kingdom standards and specification document. The agency does not give any other methods for forensic computer cell site analysis regulatory rules. Since there is no other country that has established itself on the quality concerns of digital evidence on mobile cellular carriers, the UK remains the leading country using a Cell Site analysis program for forensic cell site analysis. The program developed by the United Kingdom department has been the primary source of proceeding scientific research on forensic Cell Site analysis.

Error Rates

There are unpredictable results on natural and conventional methods of obtaining the correct cell coordinate, especially using trilateration and multilateration devices. The resulting location establishment technique of analysis using the 911 call gives uncertain results. It is also unpredictable to establish the current location using authorized wiretapping for (C/U) data. The evidence produced in such manners is widely used in the criminal department where C/U data is considered the only metric for establishing the error rate given by cellular carriers or acknowledged in real-time device tracking. Due to the absence of reliable evidence on statistical data concerning CDR/CSLI, information presented error rates realized during analysis and research basis of growing interest infallibility in the increased cellular carrier recording for digital evidence.

There is existing evidence supporting the existence of errors within the CDR/CSLI recorded information. In different areas, relying on CDR/CSLI information for forensic Cell Site analysis has been considered not a sufficient way of accusing the defendant. Theirs exist no validation methodologies in CDR/CSLI record-keeping methods. The evidence produced using these cellular recordings does not necessarily give sufficient information since it does not address issues like error rates or validation mechanism means. There are three distinctive means which need to be adequately addressed: the Carrier cell site location database records, the network topology documentation, and CDR/CSLI information records.

Methodology

In the first place, it is essential for the forecaster first to consider comparing the terrestrial lockup site scenes with the cellular carrier produced geographic cell site location records. Performing this step encompasses an onsite gathering of the real topographical cell position locations using a Worldwide Putting System (GPS) accomplished expedient, disbursement of the Internet.

Primary Research

Radio Examination Authentication of Real Sector Attention Degrees

To maintain the cellular carrier network, the collection of the "onsite wireless cellular service test data" or also may be commonly referred to as the "drive test or also the radio survey data" is a crucial requirement. The above "Radio Survey do aid in helping or assist the carrier engineering as well as the processing departments in defining not only the analysis degrees of respectively cell spot but also as an indicator/handoff recital as well as other recital physiognomies of the system or the network. The operation of the "radio survey data," in the framework of this training, is mainly to approximation the radio regularity spread. Exposure degrees for each Cellular transporters preserve "drive test/radio survey data" Nevertheless, summonses or courtyard orders are presently mandatory to get hold of the information or the data.

Topographic Examination for Annulled Reporting Zones

Another tool is known as the topographic investigation or investigating instrument or device, ought to be exploited to regulate the existence or absenteeism of radio incidence. Broadcast reporting as a result of morphologies that familiarize fascination, deflection, diffraction, toss or likeness of the lockup location indication "(NASA, 2016)". The investigation result is a preclusive or overall verdict cellular subscriber ploy was positioned in the interior of an area close to the site of dangerous actions. Other illustrations of wireless frequency broadcast reporting alteration features, comprises watercourses, roads, forestation, and multistory edifices, and ought to likewise be examined for reforming of indication coverage.

Subscriber Combining Occasion Investigation

The forecaster must embark on further investigation for subscriber combining proceedings happening in the over-all surrounding area of main lockup places and close to the period of serious incidents. Instances of subscriber combining processes that result in a gathering of cellular subscribers would be a stream of traffic congestion, traffic coincidences, as well as decent or added public processes. Subscriber public services traffic mobbing possibly will end in the registering of a cellular subs...