Algorithm for Parametric Accounting of the Underlying Surface Effect on Radio Wave Propagation Loss Based on Experimental Data
Abstract
The accuracy of radio wave propagation loss estimation
is limited by the fact that empirical models describe the environment
through an averaged terrain category and do not distinguish
open terrain, vegetation cover and water surface. The transition from
heterogeneous field measurements to a set of parameters suitable for
further modelling remains insufficiently formalized. The aim of this
work is the development and experimental-statistical substantiation of
an algorithm for parametric accounting of the underlying surface type
effect on radio wave propagation loss based on field measurement data.
Primary numerical series of signal level measurements in the 900 and
1800MHz bands along seven paths were used (open terrain: 175 and
130 points; rural single-storey built-up area: 215, 108 and 78 points;
fresh-water surface: 103 and 94 points), together with arrays of 893 and
359 measurements in vegetation cover. The algorithm comprises data
pre-processing, classification of paths by the type of underlying surface,
statistical processing of the samples with regression approximation and
residual calculation, determination of quantitative propagation parameters,
testing of their statistical significance with possible refinement,
and formation of the output parameter set. It was established that the
path loss exponent equals 2.32 and 2.33 for open terrain, 1.45–2.05 for
single-storey built-up areas and 3.22 and 3.23 for the fresh-water surface,
with a standard deviation of residuals of 3.25–9.50 dB. The result of the
algorithm is a parameter set differentiated by surface type and suitable
for the subsequent construction of a surface-conditioned loss correction.
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