A technosignature toolbox - affinity, autonomy, and design

Given the many scenarios possible that could present us with evidence of an extraterrestrial intelligence, a remote technological beacon or discovered communication seems our most likely. But how can we identify such a technomarker, beacon, or communication? And given the full search space of possibilities is unknown, what measurable properties provide the scientific evidence that will differentiate it from the abundance of other phenomena present in the ‘signal universe’?

To establish initial capabilities, comparing and understanding our own planetary technosignatures and communication strategies can help provide useful baselines for mapping these structures and evolving technologies. A resource providing an underpinning matrix for recognition and affinity that complements searching for anomalies that fall outside of naturally occurring phenomena.

We explore an array of tools, models and methodologies, which also includes ‘black box’ [AI] methods, to develop a facility for recognising technosignatures and calculating structural affinity to known phenomena, which must form part of our core capabilities, otherwise we risk compromising our potential for detection and decipherment.