FINAL YEAR PROJECT PROPOSAL 2018-2019

University of Engineering & Technology Mardan

Department of Telecommunication Engineering

Final Year Project Proposal

Investigating Vertical Profile of Atmospheric Refractivity Using

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

Students Particulars Supervisor

Arsalan Azeem Name: Dr. Naveed Mufti
2015-MD/TLC-0740 Department of Telecommunication
arsi.azeem0313@gmail.com Engineering UET Mardan
+92-340-0598029
Signature: ____________________
Waleed Saeed
2015-MD/TLC-0743
waleed.ahmed1457@gmail.com
+92-348-9001256

Abdullah Shah
2015-MD/TLC-0713
engabdullah838@gmail.com
+92-340-0740168

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Table of Contents

1 Problem Statement............................................................................................................3

2 Aims and Objectives of the Research/Project....................................................................3

3 Approaches and Methodology...........................................................................................4

4 Contribution to the Field /Utilization of Results................................................................5

5 Literature Review...............................................................................................................5

6 References..........................................................................................................................9

7 Work Plan.........................................................................................................................10

8 Expected Start Date..........................................................................................................11

9 Expected Completion Date...............................................................................................11

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 FINAL YEAR PROJECT PROPOSAL 2018-2019

1 Problem Statement

Among the different layers of the atmosphere, the troposphere layer is the nearest layer to
Earth. A radio signal can propagate through the troposphere layer by adapting one of the
propagation mechanisms i.e. reflection, refraction, scattering and diffraction, refraction
being the prevalent mechanism. The extent of refraction of the radio signal, propagating
through the Troposphere can be analyzed by the “Effective Earth Radius Factor”, also called
k-factor. As most of the weather changes take place in Troposphere, its refractive index (and
in turn its refractivity) changes. This also changes the k-factor. According to the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), the sites for which the precise value of k-factor is not
present, standard atmospheric conditions can be assumed and a value of “4/3” can be used
for the k-factor. ITU has also published values for refractivity gradients throughout the world,
based on two years’ data from 1992 and 1993. However, much confidence cannot be placed
on this datasheet, since the weather conditions for a particular site can change with time
and altitude. The classical method of obtaining the refractivity data is via radiosondes. In its
absence, data from the weather stations has been used historically. However, the weather
radar stations might not be collected with the radio sites, as they are mostly located outside
the city. There is a lack of research work on the investigation of the behavior, statistics and
variations in k-factor in Pakistan, sans a few studies in and around Karachi and Islamabad.

2 Aims and Objectives of the Research/Project

The main aim of this project is to acquire and record data of different metrological variables
that affect the refractivity behavior of the atmosphere. For this, values will be recorded at
different sites and heights, in different seasons. This will be compared with relevant previous
data, if available. It is expected to assist in radio and telecommunication network planning.

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3 Approaches and Methodology

A quadcopter will be used as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to mount the sensors that will
record weather variable values i.e. humidity, temperature and pressure. The sensors will be
connected to the Arduino UNO Microcontroller. GSM Sim 900 module will be used to
connect to the UAV through mobile phone and access and transfer data. Global positioning
System (GPS) module will be used to track and locate the UAV, as well as record the height
data. The target is to collect the relevant data at different sites, times, seasons, and heights.
Once the data is collected it will be analyzed by using MATLAB software to get seasonal,
monthly and CDF (cumulative distribution function) graphs of k-factor for different sites of
Pakistan.

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION

1. DRONE (UAV) QUAD COPTER (With a height range of

100m)

2. MICROCONTROLLER ARDUINO UNO

3. PRESSURE SENSOR BMP 180

4. TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY DHT 11 / DHT22

SENSOR

5. GSM MODULE GSM SIM 900 SHIELD FOR ARDUINO

6. GPS MODULE NEO-6m

4 Contribution to the Field /Utilization of Results

This research has the potential contribution in:

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1. Improving the link budget management and link planning.

2. Providing high resolution, localized metrological data for different sites, heights,
seasons.

3. Making available latest status of radio refractive behavior of Troposphere, which will
aid in understanding of Radio propagation in such areas.

4. Improving the accuracy of prediction of network planning software/simulators.

5. Identifying potential interference related to refractive anomalies of atmosphere.

5 Literature Review

i. Troposphere Layer:

Amongst the different layers of the atmosphere the troposphere layer is nearest to the
earth. The average height of the troposphere layer is 18km in the tropics and 17km in the
middle latitudes. At the top of troposphere layer is tropopause which is the border between
the troposphere and stratosphere layer. The temperature and pressure of the troposphere
layer decreases with height i.e. 7 °C/km. As the weather variables i.e. Humidity, Temperature
and Pressure changes at different heights of troposphere layer its refractive index and K-
factor also varies.

ii. K-Factor “Effective Earth Radius Factor”:

As the weather variables i.e. Humidity, Temperature and Pressure changes at different
heights of troposphere layer its refractive index and K-factor also varies. K-factor depends
upon the weather variable that is given by the equations below:

Refractivity that is the variant of refractive index is given by equation (1): [1]

Refractivity is also related to weather variables by the equation (2): [2]

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Where ‘T’ is the absolute temperature (kelvin)

‘P’ is the pressure (hectopascal)

‘ℯ’ is the water vapor pressure (hectopascal)

The water vapor pressure is calculated form relative humidity and saturated water vapor
using equation (3): [3]

Where ‘H’ is the relative humidity and ‘t’ is the temperature in Celsius.

Finally, the K-factor that depends upon the refractivity and height is given by equation 4: [4]

Where is ‘∆N’ change in refractivity at two different heights ‘∆h’.

is the Refractivity Gradient.

The value of ‘K-factor’ determines weather the radio signal will experience sub refraction,
normal refraction, super refraction or ducting.

Conclusion:

As the K-factor depends upon the rate of change of refractivity with respect to change of
height thus it is necessary to calculate the accurate value of k-factor for the different sites of

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interest. According to ITU at standard atmospheric condition the value of K-factor is given as
‘4/3’ which is not suitable in most of the cases.

iii. Previous Researches:

1. Margalla Hills Islamabad And Abbottabad:

The study of refractive index of lowest portion of troposphere

layer at Margalla hills, Islamabad was done by M.Abdullah et al [5];
the research was done by using the two years metrological data
July, 2013 to June, 2015, from the weather station around the
Margalla hills. The data for Islamabad was downloaded from
www.wunderground.com and the data for Abbottabad was taken
from National Climatic Data Center. At the end of research, it was
found the data sheets obtained from the current research were
quite different from the historic weather records provided by the
Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) and ITU. Hence it was
concluded that accurate determination of k-factor is necessary by
using the local metrological approach.

2. Karachi Arabian Sea:

The research was conducted in 2010 for Karachi to study refractive

conditions in 100m lowest region of Troposphere [6]. The
metrological data at Karachi Airport near Arabian Sea was
provided by British Atmospheric Data Center (BADC). The data was
used to determine values of different metrological parameters i.e.
Pressure, temperature, humidity and refractive gradient. The
obtained data was than compared with ITU and World Atlas of
Atmospheric Refractivity’s data. A considerable difference was
noticed.

3. Australia:

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The research was done at Melbourne, Australia in August, 2018 on

0.4 hectares land by Max Marschall et al[7]; the research was done
to update cities weather file data by custom data capture
solutions. The main objective of the research was to get rid of
weather station data and to record the onsite data using local
metrological approach. The conclusion was made that for onsite
location the weather station data is not always appreciable due to
onsite ‘Urban Heat Island Effect’, so it is necessary to capture the
data using local metrological approach in order to find accurate
value for the K-factor.

4. Russia:

The research was done at Kaunas City of Lithuania [8]. In the

research it was found that the value of ‘Vertical Gradient’ of the
radio refractivity was lower than the actual value, which was
recommended by ITU. The values of weather variables i.e.
temperature, humidity and pressure were calculated by using
probe equipped with humidity, temperature and pressure sensors
and was attached to a balloon filled with helium gas. Super
refraction and Ducting phenomena were observed in the year
2009 and 2010 at height of 100-500m and 20-90m. Moreover in
2010 Super refraction was observed at height of 170m above the
ground level and most of the variations in refractive index was
found in July.

5. Nigeria:

The research was done in Akure, South Western Nigeria [9].

Wireless weather stations were positioned at five different height

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levels beginning from the ground surface at intervals of 50m from

the ground to a height of 200m on 220m Nigeria Television Tv
tower. The metrological measurements were taken at interval of
every 30 mins. Sub-refractive conditions observed to be
prevalent between January–July while Super-refraction and
Ducting were observed mostly between August–
December.

6 References

[1] S.M. Babin, G.S. Young and J.A. Carton, “A New Model of Oceanic Evaporation Duct,”
Journal of Applied Meteorology, Vol. 36, pp. 193-204, March, 1997.

[2] ITU-R Recommendation P.453-11, “The Radio Refractive Index: Its Formula And
Refractivity Data,” Rec. ITU-R P.453-11.

[3] NOOA Internet Information source, “Actual Vapor pressure”,

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/epz/wxcalc/vaporPressure.pdf.

[4] N. Mufti, “Investigation into the Effects of the Troposphere on VHF and UHF Radio
Propagation and Interference between Co-Frequency Fixed Links,” PhD thesis,
University of Leicester, October, 2012.

7 Work Plan

Phase Schedule
1. Literature Review Oct-Nov 2018
2. Purchasing Equipment Nov 2018
3. Preparing Hardware Dec 2018
4. Testing Hardware Jan 2019
5. Purchasing Drone (According to Jan 2019
payload of hardware)
6. Collecting Data Feb – June 2019
7. Analyzing Data March – June 2019
8. Making Conclusion June – July 2019
9. Preparing Thesis May – July 2019

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8 Expected Start Date

22-October-2018

9 Expected Completion Date

25-July-2019

Recommendation by the Committee Members:

1. Name: ___________________________Signature_______________________

2. Name: _____________________________Signature_______________________

3. Name: _____________________________Signature_______________________

4. Name: _____________________________Signature_______________________

Approval by the Chairman of Telecommunication Department

Name: __________________________

Signature: _______________________

Dated: __________________________

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