Refraction due to buildings

in
ICS telecom

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INDEX
1

Introduction________________________________________________________________ 3

Cartographic dataset required in ICS telecom_____________________________________ 3

2.1

The Digital Terrain Model (DTM) _________________________________________ 3

2.2

The ground occupancy layer (clutter) ______________________________________ 4

2.3

The Image _____________________________________________________________ 7

2.4

The Building layer ______________________________________________________ 7

Tuning the propagation model _________________________________________________ 8

Examples made in Paris ______________________________________________________ 9

4.1

Equipment parameters _________________________________________________ 10

4.2

Single station coverage (2.15dBi antenna) __________________________________ 11

4.3

Comparison between the 2.15dBi and 7.5dBi antennas _______________________ 14

4.4

Coverage of a network (3 stations, 2.15dBi antenna) _________________________ 18

Conclusion________________________________________________________________ 20

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1 Introduction
The refraction due to building obstacles is now taken into account in ICS telecom!
The purpose of this document is to give an overview describing how to take account of the refraction of
signals due to buildings.
The use of such a model requires specific cartographic layers that are described in section 2.
Then the tool offers accurate ways to tune the propagation conditions that depend on the kind of buildings
that are crossed by the transmitted signal. This method is described in section 3.
Finally, resulting examples are given in the last section.

2 Cartographic dataset required in ICS telecom

The cartographic dataset required is made of 4 different layers :

a Digital Terrain Model (DTM);

a ground occupancy layer (Clutter);

an image (no influence on the calculation, mainly used for printouts);

a building layer.

In order to accurately model the shape and the location of the buildings, a high resolution a few meters is
required, ideally from 1 to 2 meters.

2.1

The Digital Terrain Model (DTM)

This layer contains on each point the altitude above see level of the natural elevation of the ground. The
buildings are not included in this layer.

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Example of DTM above Paris (Extract) with 1 meter resolution

2.2

The ground occupancy layer (clutter)

This layer describes the nature of the ground by defining up to 20 different clutter classes :

Streets (open area);

Vegetation (forest and woods);

Water;

Building (up to 15 different sub-classes can be defined).

The "Building" classes are describing the main kind of materials they are made of : Concrete, brick, glass,
metal, wood, ...

"Free" classes that are not predefined but can be set for particular calculations.

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The parameters associated to each clutter class are set in the tool (not contained in the layer itself). The
way to set theses parameters is described in section 3.
Note that the different building classes have been set with example values that are not necessarily realistic.
The classes have been defined according to the height of the building.

Example of a 9 classes Clutter above Paris (Extract) with 1 meter resolution

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2.3

The Image

The image does not have ant influence on the calculation. But it is useful for printouts background and
visual localisation.

Example of Image above Paris (Extract) with 1 meter resolution

2.4

The Building layer

This layer contains the description of each individual building : contour and height above ground level.
This height can be included in a range from 1 to 255 meters above ground level.
Because buildings are now no more included in the DTM, the receivers can be located inside a building and
the coverage can be performed at any given floor level.

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Example of Building layer above Paris (Extract) with 1 meter resolution

3 Tuning the propagation model

This section describes the method to be followed to tune the propagation conditions. In this document, the
main goal is not to set the most appropriate values, but to explain how the tuning of the propagation
conditions can be made, mainly concerning the refraction coefficient.
Accurate values must be set from measurement results.
In practice, these measurements must be made just before and just after the signal has crossed the
building. Each class of building must be considered in the campaign and the higher the number of
measurements, the most accurate the results will be.
Finally, in order to get the highest signal levels, it would be easier, if possible, to locate the measurement
points in the main beam of the transmitting antenna (in both azimuth and elevation planes).

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Example of refraction parameters given in the "Attenuation" column for each clutter class
(mainly from COST 231 in dB)

4 Examples made in Paris

Using the cartographic layers and parameters described in the previous sections, different coverage and
profile calculations have been performed with one single station and three stations. The transmitting
antennas are located in the street with a height above ground level of 7 meters. Different receiving antenna
height are considered :

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the first floor (3m above ground level), the third floor (9m above ground level) and seventh floor (21m
above ground level).

4.1

Equipment parameters

The following station parameters are considered for coverage and profile calculations :

Nominal power : 250mW.

Antenna gain : 2.15dBi and 7.5dBi.

No Feeder losses.

Horizontal pattern : Omni.

Vertical patterns :

3dB attenuation for 80 aperture (2.15dBi). Alcatel Reference 4151448.

3dB attenuation for 17 aperture (7.5dBi). Alcatel Reference 4701049.

Vertical pattern for the 2.15dBi antenna

Frequency : 1885MHz.

Bandwidth : 2MHz.

Vertical pattern for the 7.5dBi antenna

For the terminal, the following parameters are considered :

Antenna gain : 0dBi.

No feeder losses.

Horizontal and vertical patterns : Omni.

Receiving threshold : -90dBm / 53dBV/m.

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4.2

Single station coverage (2.15dBi antenna)

Building environment around the station

The radius of the circle is 50m

Clutter environment around the station

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Coverage of the station filtered on buildings on the first floor

2.15dBi antenna

Coverage of the station filtered on buildings on the third floor

2.15dBi antenna
Only buildings that are made of at least 3 floors are considered

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Coverage of the station filtered on buildings on the seventh floor

2.15dBi antenna
Only buildings that are made of at least 7 floors are considered

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Profile from station1 to a receiving point located on the first floor

2.15dBi antenna
This previous figures (coverage and profile) show how, in addition to the diffraction, the signal is refracted
when crossing a building wall.

4.3

Comparison between the 2.15dBi and 7.5dBi antennas

The coverage on the 7th floor is compared between the 2.15dBi (same as previous) and 7.5dBi antennas.

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Coverage of the station filtered on buildings on the seventh floor

2.15dBi antenna
Only buildings that are made of at least 7 floors are considered

Coverage of the station filtered on buildings on the seventh floor

7. 5dBi antenna
Only buildings that are made of at least 7 floors are considered

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The coverage is reduced due to the attenuation in the vertical plane of the 7.5dBi antenna, as shown in the
following profile :

This profile shows that the vertical pattern attenuation is 12.62dB and the gain is 7.5dBi. The received
signal level is -95.8dBm / 47dBV/m. The point is not covered.

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The same profile built using the 2,15dBi antenna :

This profile shows that the vertical pattern attenuation is 1.90dB and the gain is 2.15dBi. Compared to the
7.5dBi antenna, the global gain is increased of around : (12.62-1.90) - (7.5-2.15) = 5.4dB
The received signal level is -90dBm / 52.7dBV/m. The point is covered.
Conclusion :
For coverage at high floors where the tilt and the corresponding vertical pattern attenuation might be very
important, the using the 7.5dBi antenna is not recommended.

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4.4

Coverage of a network (3 stations, 2.15dBi antenna)

As an example, the coverage of three stations around the same area is displayed for a receiving level
located at the first floor using the 2.15dBi antenna.

Composite coverage
The radius of each circle is 50m

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Best server coverage

The radius of each circle is 50m

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5 Conclusion
All required cartographic inputs and simulation parameters can now be introduced in ICS telecom allowing
the simulation of the effect of the building refraction on the received signals.
The values used in this document must be considered as examples only (mainly from COST 231). More
realistic values must be derived from measurement campaigns.
Finally, the choice of the antenna has to be made in accordance with the building environment and the floor
levels to cover, mainly due to the vertical pattern attenuation.

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