Atoll 312 General Features Radio

ATOLL GENERAL RADIO FEATURES

Training Programme
1. Atoll General Concepts
2. Atoll Working Environment
3. Geographic Data
4. Radio Data
5. Predictions
6. Prediction Analysis, Reports and Exports
© Forsk 2012 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 2 of 95

Atoll General Concepts (1/2)
Multi-Technology Tool
Several technologies modelled:

• 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE),
• 3G (UMTS/HSPA, CDMA2000 1xRTT 1xEV-DO, TD-SCDMA),
• 4G (LTE),
• Wi-Fi (802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac),
• WiMAX (802.16e),
• Microwave radio links
3GPP Multi-RAT document available

• Possibility to model GSM, UMTS and LTE in the same Atoll document
Open, Scalable and Flexible Architecture
Core structure + Technology modules (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
API available (Application Programming Interface)

• Allows to create Add-ins and Macros
• Allows third-parties to develop tools that will be compatible with Atoll (such as ACPs, AFPs,
Propagation models, etc.)

Atoll General Concepts (2/2)
Ergonomic and User-friendly GUI
Windows-based tool
• Easy copy-paste and import-export of data from-into standard applications
Flexibility in Data Management
Possibility to choose what to display, what to filter, etc.
Possibility to add user-defined columns in the tables

Training Programme
3. Geographic Data
4. Radio Data
5. Predictions

How to Create a New Atoll Document
Atoll General GUI
Tabs of the Menu Bar
Toolbars and Explorer
Workspace
Open and Save an Atoll Document
Archive and Refresh in Multi-User Mode

How to Create a New Atoll Document (1/2)
“File → New”
2 Ways of Creating a New Atoll Document

From a document Template
From an existing Database Available Templates
Supported formats

How to Create a New Atoll Document (2/2)
Atoll documents / ATL Files
Data are saved in an Atoll document , which is a file with an ATL extension
ATL files can contain one or several technologies
ATL files can be duplicated, opened under any workstation and can only be read by Atoll
Working Modes
Database
.atl User 1
2 working modes with Atoll:
Archive
.atl User 2
Stand-alone: .atl or Multi-user:

Refresh
.atl User i
Document created from a template => Stand-alone document
Document created from an existing database => Multi-user document

Atoll General GUI

Document’s technologies Document’s name
Menu bar
Toolbars
Event viewer
Explorer
(Network / Geo Workspace
/ Parameters) (Maps / Tables
/ Reports)
Other windows
(Legend /
Panoramic)
Site
Configuration
Window
Status bar Point Analysis

Tools

Tabs of the Menu Bar (1/4)
“File” and “Edit” tabs
Create a new document
Open an existing / recent document
Close the active document Undo / Redo last actions
Save the active document

Cut / Copy / Paste data
Save an area of the map as a into / from the tables
graphic image
Import data in the active

document
Printing functionalities
Quit Atoll

“View” and “Document” tabs
Reload map and folders
Select elements on the map
Move the map
Zoom functionalities Calculate predictions
Show the workspace on full Database functionalities

screen
for the multi-user
Explorer documents
(Network/Geo/Parameters)
Audit tools
Event viewer
Other windows XML import / export

(Panoramic/Legend/Site
Configuration) Co-planning
functionalities for Single-
List of toolbars RAT documents
Display or hide the status bar

Properties of the active
Measure distances on the map document
Information about elements on

the map
Display or hide the coordinates

rulers/scale on the map

“Tools” tab
Locate an element on the map
Interactive Frequency Planning tool
Site Configuration tool
Profile between two points on the map
CW Measurement analysis tool
Drive tests analysis tool
GSM Interference tool
Point Analysis tool
Microwave link analysis tool
Tool for 360° view (MW only)
Load / Save user configuration files
Configure distributed calculations
List of available Add-ins and Macros
Configure backups of active document

“Window” and “Help” tabs
Open a new map window for

the active document
Atoll Help topics
Rest default layout Atoll information

and version
number
Switch between all windows
opened in the workspace

Toolbars and Explorer
Toolbars
Radio Planning toolbar Standard toolbar Map toolbar Addins toolbar
Microwave Link Planning toolbar Windows toolbar Vector Editor toolbar
Network / Geo / Parameters Explorer

Made of Folders and Visibility boxes
Order between folders can be changed
Context menus available on each folder
• Properties
• Tables
• Additional functionalities

Workspace (1/3)
Possibility to create different tab groups

Workspace (2/3)
Possibility to place your active window anywhere in the workspace

Workspace (3/3)
Auto-Hide functionality on the Tools

Auto-Hide

Open and Save an Atoll Document
Open an existing Atoll document Save the active Atoll document

Possibility to open several ATL files in
the same Atoll platform

Archive and Refresh in Multi-User Mode (1/2)
The Atoll document is not connected all the time to the database
Modifications made in the document are not saved in real time in the database
Need to Archive your modifications to the database
Need to Refresh your Atoll document to get the database’s latest modifications
Archive command

Archive and Refresh in Multi-User Mode (2/2)
Refresh command
Options if you refresh

while still having some
pending changes not
archived

Training Programme
3. Geographic Data
4. Radio Data
5. Predictions

3. Geographic Data
Coordinate Systems and Units
Geographic Data Types
Import a Raster-format Geographic Data File
Import a Vector-format Geographic Data File
Resolution Management
Geographic Data Properties
User Configuration File

Coordinate Systems and Units
“Document→ Properties...”
Access to
Coordinate
The Projection System Systems
You need to define in Atoll which Map catalogue
Projection System has been used to

obtain your geographic maps
The Display System

You also need to define which
Coordinate System you prefer to use
for the Display in Atoll (used for the
Sites coordinates, position of a point
on the map (in status bar), rulers, etc.)
The Units System

You then need to define which Units will
be used for the Distances (m, km,
miles), the Heights and the Offsets (m,
feet) in Atoll

Geographic Data Types
Several Different Geographic Data types are used in an Atoll Document
Example of Geographic Data

Digital Terrain Model
Clutter Classes Used in Propagation calculation
Clutter Heights
Traffic Maps Used in Dimensioning
Population Maps Used in Statistics
Scanned Maps
Used for Display
Contours, lines and points representing Roads, Railways or Regions purposes
Etc.
Atoll supports Geographic Data files of 2 formats

Raster format
• Clutter classes and heights, DTM, images, some traffic and population maps
Vector format
• Polygons, lines and points for display, filtering + some traffic and population maps

Import a Raster-format Geographic Data File
The Raster-format Geographic Data files you want to import must be represented in
the same Projection Coordinate System as the one defined in your Atoll document
“File → Import”
Choose
“Altitudes” for a DTM file
“Clutter Classes” for a Clutter Classes file
“Clutter Heights” for a Clutter Heights file
“Image or Scan” for a scanned Image
Etc.

Import a Vector-format Geographic Data File
When you import a Vector-format Geographic Data file, its coordinate system can be
converted to the one used in your Atoll document
“File → Import”
Coordinate
System
conversion
You need to specify what you will use

Used when
importing a
your Vector file for:
Population a simple layer in the Geo tab
vector file
a Computation Zone
a Focus Zone
a Population map
Etc.

Resolution Management
Multi-Layer Management
Each Geographic Data file becomes one layer in the Geo tab
Display order of each layer can be changed
If for a specific map type (Clutter Classes, DTM, etc.) you have several files with different
resolutions, you will need to put the one with the highest resolution on top for Atoll to take it
into account in the calculations
Properties of each Geographic Data is accessible from its context menu

(“Right-click → Properties”)

Geographic Data Properties (1/5)
Tables of Vector maps

Possibility to edit your vector directly from Atoll through its table

Properties of Vector maps 3 types of display

Properties of DTM Maps

Properties of Clutter Classes Maps

Properties of Clutter Heights Maps
Clutter Height information provided in the

status bar

User Configuration
Possibility to Import/Export the complete Geographic Data Set from/into a User Configuration
file (.geo)

Training Programme
3. Geographic Data
4. Radio Data
5. Predictions

4. Radio Data
Radio Data Overview
How to Create a Station (Drag and Drop / Duplicate / Import)
Create Repeaters and Remote Antennas
Sites’ Properties
Transmitters’ Properties
Radio Network Equipment
Geographic Profile
Filtering and Grouping Data

Radio Data Overview
For Any Technology

Site
• Geographical location where Transmitters are installed
Transmitter
• Radio interface built on a Site and using antennas and equipment such as TMA and feeder cables
Station
• One or several Transmitters sharing the same Site
Repeater
• Device which receives, amplifies and re-transmit the signal from a donor Transmitter
Remote Antenna
• Shifted antenna using the resources of a donor Transmitter
For GSM Documents

Subcell
• Set of TRXs of a same type (BCCH, TCH, TCH inner, TCH GPRS) in a Transmitter
For UMTS, CDMA, LTE, WiMAX and TD-SCDMA Documents

Cell
• Specifications of a Carrier in a Transmitter

How to Create a Station
A Station is a Site which has one to several Transmitters
Mains Ways of Creating a Station
Drag and Drop a station template
Duplicate an existing station
Import your lists of Sites / Transmitters / Cells in the corresponding tables

Create a Station by Drag and Drop (1/2)
Station Templates Properties

Available in the Parameters Explorer
Templates for each technology
Station Templates in a MultiRAT GSM/UMTS/LTE document Station Templates in a document containing only one technology
In a CDMA2000 document
In a WiMAX document

Create a Station by Drag and Drop (2/2)
Drag and Drop a Station Template
1. Choose a Station
Template from the list
2. Click on the icon “New Transmitter or Station”
3. Drag and Drop on the Map

Create a Station by Duplicate
Possibility to Create a new Station by Duplicating an Existing one on the Map
Duplicate of Site BRU070

Create a Station by Import
Import your Lists of Sites / Transmitters / Cells in the corresponding Tables
Sites’ list in the Sites’ table

Transmitters’ list in the Transmitters’ table
Cells’ list in the Cells’ table
Right-click inside of the table  Import
Will add new records and update existing ones
Requirements
Can import *.TXT and *.CSV files
Need to respect the following order

• 2G :  sites   transmitters
• 3G, 4G and WiMAX :  sites   transmitters   cells

Create Repeaters and Remote Antennas
Create a Repeater or a Remote Antenna
1. Click on the Transmitter that will be the Donor Transmitter for the Repeater / Remote
Antenna
2. Click on the right part of the icon “New Repeater or Remote Antenna” to choose what you
want to create
3. Click on the left part of the icon “New Repeater or Remote Antenna” and then Drag and
Drop on the Map
Repeater Remote
Antenna

Sites’ Properties (1/4)
Sites’ Properties
The properties dialogue of each Site contain several tabs
User-defined fields (all technologies)
MW-specific fields
UMTS-specific fields
Name of the site
Position and
Altitude of the site
You can enter

comments in
this field

Sites’ Table
Access all the parameters of all the Sites through the Table
Properties of the Columns Sorting Fill down/up

selected Site functionalities functionalities and Select all
Centre on the
Filtering Align left/centre/right,
Import/Export map the Statistics
functionalities Bold and Italic
selected Site

Sites’ Display options
Can be set for all the Sites or on a per Site basis
Three display types available:

• Unique - the same symbol will be used for all the Sites
• Discrete values - the display of each Site will be according to the value of a selected field
• Value intervals - the display of each Site will be according to set ranges of the value of a selected field

Sites’ Display options

Example of the “Unique” and “Discrete values” display types

Transmitters’ Properties (1/8)
In the “General” tab you can setup the name of your transmitter, the site it belongs to, a
possible shift in its antenna position, a comment, etc.

Example: “General” tab of a GSM Transmitter
Name of the transmitter This flag is used to identify the

transmitters of different
technologies, located at the
You can enter an ID for the same site, that share antennas
transmitter
Site on which the transmitter

is located
You can modify the
position of the antenna.
• Relative to Site: select
this option if you want to
enter the antenna
position as an offset with
You can enter comments in respect to the site
this field location
• Coordinates: select this
option if you want to
enter the exact
coordinates of the
antenna

In the “Transmitter” tab you can setup the activity flag of your transmitter, its type, the power
and losses, the settings of the main and secondary antennas, etc.

Example: “Transmitter” tab of a GSM Transmitter
• Intra-Network (Server and

Activity flag (only active Interferer) = Atoll will consider
transmitters are taken the transmitter as a potential
into consideration during server as well as an interferer
calculations)
• Extra-Network (Interferer
Only) = Atoll will consider the
transmitter as an interferer
only
Power and Losses definition
(Losses can be either user-
defined or calculated by
Atoll according to the
equipment specified in the
“Equipment…” box)
Settings for the main antenna
and the optional secondary
antennas

Transmitters’ Table
Access all the parameters of all the Transmitters through the Table
Properties of the Columns Sorting Fill down/up

selected Transmitter functionalities functionalities and Select all
Centre on the
Filtering Align left/centre/right,
Import/Export map the selected Statistics
functionalities Bold and Italic
Transmitter

Transmitters’ Display options
Can be set for all the Transmitters or on a per Transmitter basis
Four display types available:

• Unique - the same symbol will be used for all the Transmitters
• Discrete values - the display of each Transmitter will be according to the value of a selected field
• Value intervals - the display of each Transmitter will be according to set ranges of the value of a
selected field
• Automatic - Atoll will automatically assign a colour to each Transmitter, ensuring that each Transmitter
has a different colour than the Transmitters surrounding it.


Example of the “Unique” display type
Change the colour, type and

size of your symbols


Example of the “Automatic” display type

Radio Network Equipment
In the Parameters Explorer

Geographic Profile
Display the Geographic profile from a selected transmitter

You need to select “Profile” and “Geographic” in the Point Analysis tool
“Profile” and
“Geographic”
selected
Selected Transmitter

Filtering and Grouping Data (1/4)
Filtering
Anything outside a Filter will not be taken into account during the Calculations
Filtering applies to
Data in tables
• Records filtered out are hidden from the tables
Map
• Records filtered out are hidden from the display
Explorer window
• Records filtered out are hidden from the Explorer display
• Specific “filter” symbol on folders on which a filter is applied

Types of Filters
Graphical filter (Filtering Zone)
Filter according to Object Attributes (from the Properties or the Tables)
Filter according to Object Filter according to Object

Graphical Filter (Filtering Zone)
Attributes (from the Properties) Attributes (from the Tables)

Grouping
No effect on computations
Applies to Explorer window
• Generate subfolders for each grouping field
o Creation of a manageable table per subfolder
• Specific commands for each subfolder
o Calculations of predictions, neighbours, transmitter activation, frequency planning, etc.
Subfolders

Types of Groups
Possibility to group data according to a field
• First level grouping from the folder context menu
• Advanced grouping in the general tab of the folder properties dialogue
Possibility to group folder according to the Focus or Computation zones
Grouping according to a zone
First level grouping according to any field in this list

Training Programme
3. Geographic Data
4. Radio Data
5. Predictions

5. Predictions
How to Create a Prediction
Standard Predictions
Predictions Settings
Computation Zone
Transmitters Propagation Parameters
Path Loss Matrices Storage
Standard Predictions Properties
Calculation Process
Prediction Lists and Templates

How to Create a Prediction (1/2)
“Prediction -> New...”
Predictions grouped
by technology

How to Create a Prediction (2/2)
Definition of a Prediction
To group, sort and filter the

results of the prediction
To calculate the prediction

Standard Predictions (1/2)
Coverage by Transmitter
Need to choose the “Automatic” display type for the Transmitters

Standard Predictions (2/2)
Coverage by Signal Level

Predictions Settings
Workflow:
(1) Create a Computation Zone
(2) Define the Transmitters’ propagation settings
(3) Define the Path Loss matrices storage directories
(4) Define the parameters in the “Conditions” tab of the prediction’s properties
(5) Define the parameters in the “Display” tab of the prediction’s properties
(6) Calculate the prediction
(7) Display the prediction

Computation Zone (1/2)
Use of the Computation Zone

Define which Transmitters have to be taken into account in the calculation
Define in which area the prediction plot will be displayed
Create a Computation Zone

Draw it on the map
Import specific coordinates in the Computation Zone’s properties
Use an existing polygon as the Computation Zone

Computation Zone (2/2)
Create a Computation Zone

Transmitters Propagation Parameters (1/2)
Powers / Antennas / Activity parameters

Example for a GSM Transmitter:
If not active, the

transmitter will not be
taken into account in
the prediction
Power definition
Antennas definition

Transmitters Propagation Parameters (2/2)
Propagation Model / Calculation Radius / Grid Resolution

Example for a GSM Transmitter:
Extended path loss

matrix if you want to use
different propagation
models/calculation
radius and grid
resolutions close and far
from the transmitter
List of propagation models

available in your document
Calculation radius of the

transmitter’s path loss
matrix
Grid resolution of the

transmitter’s path loss
matrix

Path Loss Matrices Storage
Path Loss Matrices Storage Directories
Directory where will

be stored the path
loss matrices you
generate
If you are loading

path loss matrices
from the shared
directory, any path
loss matrix that
needs to be
recalculated will be
saved in the Private
Used in Multi-user mode. Directory
directory
where the common path loss matrices
are stored and accessible to all users.

Standard Predictions Properties (1/4)
Conditions Tab

Conditions Tab
Can choose upper and lower thresholds for the Signal level (or Path Loss/Total Losses)
• for GSM, the lower threshold can either be user-defined (Global C threshold) or taken from the values
in the Subcell table (Subcell C threshold)
Different options to be considered as a Serving transmitter

• possibility to add a margin to the Server condition (handover margin)
GSM-related
options
Handover margin

Conditions Tab
Possibility to model Shadowing and Indoor coverage
• Shadowing modelled by adding to the link budget an additional loss according to the cell-edge
coverage probability
• Indoor coverage modelled by adding to the link budget an additional loss according to the clutter class

Display tab
Default display type for the Default display type for the
“Coverage by Transmitter” prediction “Coverage by Signal Level” prediction
Three display types available: Possibility to use the “Shading” option to create
• Unique automatically a shading of colours from a “Start colour”
• Discrete values to an “End colour”
• Value intervals
You can also use the “Shading” option to create the
different thresholds automatically with a regular interval
between them (First Break, Last Break and Interval)

Calculation Process
Requirements for a Transmitter to be taken into account in the calculation

Active
Filtered (Transmitter or Site folder)
Calculation area intersecting the rectangle including the Computation Zone
Calculation process
1) Calculate the Path Loss matrices
• Atoll will calculate the Path Loss matrices missing
• Atoll will recalculate an existing Path Loss matrix if one parameter related to the propagation has been
changed (parameters such as the antenna type / azimuth / height, the propagation model, the matrix
calculation radius, the computation zone, etc.)
2) Create the plot
3) Lock the plot

• After a prediction has been calculated, a “lock” symbol will appear on it
• This lock symbol will prevent Atoll from recalculating the prediction if you press on the “Calculate” icon

Prediction Management (1/3)

Possibility to save the definition of your predictions in a User Configuration file

Customised Predictions
Possibility to save a prediction as a Template (=Customised Prediction)
The list of templates will appear under the “Customised Predictions” folder

Predictions Folder
Possibility to group predictions in subfolders
Predictions can be moved to folders using drag and drop

Training Programme
3. Geographic Data
4. Radio Data
5. Predictions

Point Analysis
Prediction Plot
Reports
Histogram
Exports
Printing Functionality

Point Analysis (1/2)
Profile Tab
In the “Profile” tab you have access to real-time calculations (Path Loss matrices not needed)
Real-time calculation
(“Signal Level” or
“Path Loss” or “Total
Losses” based on the
Result type chosen in
the Options dialogue)

Point Analysis (2/2)
Reception Tab
In the “Reception” tab you can see the signal levels received (Path Loss matrices needed)
Links between the

location and the
Transmitters received
Signal levels received

at that location from
various Transmitters

Prediction Plot
Tip Text and Legend

The Tip text and the Legend allow the visual analysis of the plot
Tip text

Reports (1/2)
Hierarchy between Zones
Without any zone Filtering Zone Computation Zone Focus Zone
Reporting Priorities between Focus and Computation Zones

If a Focus Zone exists, the report will be based on the Focus Zone
If there is no Focus Zone, but there is a Computation Zone, the report will be based on the
Computation Zone
If there is no Focus or Computation Zone, the report will be based on the covered area

Reports (2/2)
Reporting Priorities between Focus and Computation Zones
Focus Zone (green)

Report based on the Focus Zone and Computation
Zone (red) defined
Only Computation
Report based on the Computation Zone Zone (red) defined

Histogram
Histogram
The Histogram follows the same rule than the Report when it comes to the priorities between
the Focus and the Computation Zones
You can also display the CDF and the Inverse CDF
You can select and zoom on a specific histogram part

Exports (1/4)
Image Export
Copy-Pasting into another application a selected zone (Focus Zone, Computation Zone...)
Copy the selected zone
Paste the
selected area
into another
application
Selected zone pasted into a Word document

Exports (2/4)
Image Export
Saving as an Image a selected zone from the map or the Geo tab
Available formats
Selected zone saved as a BMP file

Exports (3/4)
Prediction Export
You can export one single prediction or several predictions simultaneously (from Predictions
folder or any Predictions subfolder)
Export of several
predictions simultaneously
Export of one
single prediction
Available formats : or If raster export not supported

Exports (4/4)
Geographic Export Zone

You can define a zone that will be used to export a part of the map or a prediction in a raster-
format
Save the area of the map which is
inside of the Geographic Export
Zone as an image
Export a prediction in a raster-format

and choose to only export the area
inside of the Geographic Export Zone

Printing Functionality (1/2)
Define the Printing Zone

Printing Functionality (2/2)
Print Setup and Preview

THANK YOU!

Atoll 312 General Features Radio

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ATOLL GENERAL RADIO FEATURES

1. Atoll General Concepts

2. Atoll Working Environment

6. Prediction Analysis, Reports and Exports

© Forsk 2012 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 2 of 95

Atoll General Concepts (1/2)

Several technologies modelled:

3GPP Multi-RAT document available

Open, Scalable and Flexible Architecture

Core structure + Technology modules (32-bit and 64-bit editions)

API available (Application Programming Interface)

© Forsk 2012 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 3 of 95

Atoll General Concepts (2/2)

Ergonomic and User-friendly GUI

Flexibility in Data Management

Possibility to choose what to display, what to filter, etc.

Possibility to add user-defined columns in the tables

© Forsk 2012 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 4 of 95

1. Atoll General Concepts

2. Atoll Working Environment

6. Prediction Analysis, Reports and Exports

© Forsk 2012 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 5 of 95

2. Atoll Working Environment

How to Create a New Atoll Document

Atoll General GUI

Tabs of the Menu Bar

Toolbars and Explorer

Open and Save an Atoll Document

Archive and Refresh in Multi-User Mode

© Forsk 2012 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 6 of 95

How to Create a New Atoll Document (1/2)

2 Ways of Creating a New Atoll Document

© Forsk 2012 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 7 of 95

How to Create a New Atoll Document (2/2)

Atoll documents / ATL Files

Stand-alone: .atl or Multi-user:

Document created from a template => Stand-alone document

Document created from an existing database => Multi-user document

© Forsk 2012 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 8 of 95

Atoll General GUI

Status bar Point Analysis

© Forsk 2012 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 9 of 95

Tabs of the Menu Bar (1/4)

“File” and “Edit” tabs

Create a new document

Open an existing / recent document

Close the active document Undo / Redo last actions

Save the active document

Import data in the active

© Forsk 2012 Confidential – Do not share without prior permission Slide 10 of 95

Tabs of the Menu Bar (2/4)

“View” and “Document” tabs

Reload map and folders

Select elements on the map

Move the map

Zoom functionalities Calculate predictions

Show the workspace on full Database functionalities

Other windows XML import / export

Display or hide the status bar

Information about elements on

Display or hide the coordinates

Tabs of the Menu Bar (3/4)

Interactive Frequency Planning tool