CYFOR’s in-house cell site professional and industry expert James Matthews, details the specifics of Cell Site Analysis. A specialist technique, which can provide vital digital evidence within a criminal investigation.
What is Cell Site Analysis?
Historic Cell Site Analysis, more commonly known as Cell Site Analysis, is the process through which the Call Data Records (CDRs) for a phone are used to identify the potential location of the phone. Call Data Records detail phone information such as the date,time, duration and origin of a call.
How does Cell Site Analysis work?
Each time a phone connects to the network, for a call or text message, one of the many antennas attached to telecommunication masts around the country are used. Each antenna, or cell, is identified by the network and this cell ID appears in the requested CDRs, with the exception of Vodafone who do not record cell IDs for received calls.
In addition, data services, such as internet, email, video calls and downloads, can result in a connection between the phone and network. Movement of the phone generates new entries in the CDRs and can enable the phone to be tracked.
Cells have service areas and these areas overlap to enable phones to move without disconnecting from the network. In many locations multiple cells are available and the circumstances will determine which of these cells will be used and appear in the CDRs.
Large-scale movements can be mapped using just the mast locations associated with the cells used. With significant activity during the journey, it is possible to determine the route taken and probable means of transport. This may prove sufficient.
A phone’s location can be determined through the cells used at or directly before and after the time of interest
Drive Surveys
A phone’s location can be determined through the cells used at or directly before and after the time of interest. A drive survey can measure the service area of a cell. Specialist equipment is used to generate measurements of the cells providing service and the service area of the cell identified. This will show the potential location of phone, either at the time of interest or directly before and after. This can show that the CDRs are consistent, or inconsistent, with the possibility that the phone was at the location of interest at the time.
Location Surveys
Alternatively, a location survey can determine the activity of the phone in relation to specific locations, rather than specific times. This survey makes measurements on the appropriate network in the vicinity of the location of interest. These measurements are used to determine the cells that could be used by a phone when located at, or close to, the address and when the phone may have been in the vicinity. It should be noted that use of surveyed cells does not prove that the phone was near the address and a drive survey to determine the extent of the service area of the cells used may be appropriate.
Finally, a location survey can also be used to aid in determining whether the site is the home address of the user of the phone. This process identifies the quiet periods within the CDRs consistent with the user having gone to sleep and then uses the CDR entries either side of these to determine the cells that provide service at the home location. These cells can be compared to the survey measurements to determine whether the CDRs are consistent with the surveyed address.
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