Path Loss Predictions in the VHF and UHF Bands Within Urban Environments: Experimental Investigation of Empirical, Heuristics and Geospatial Models

Abstract

Deep knowledge of how radio waves behave in a practical wireless channel is required for effective planning and deployment of radio access networks in urban environments. Empirical propagation models are popular for their simplicity, but they are prone to introduce high prediction errors. Different heuristic methods and geospatial approaches have been developed to further reduce path loss prediction error. However, the efficacy of these new techniques in built-up areas should be experimentally verified. In this paper, the efficiencies of empirical, heuristic, and geospatial methods for signal fading predictions in the very high frequency (VHF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands in typical urban environments are evaluated and analyzed. Electromagnetic field strength measurements are performed at different test locations within four selected cities in Nigeria. The data collected are used to develop path loss models based on artificial neural network (ANN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and Kriging techniques. The prediction results of the developed models are compared with those of selected empirical models and field measured data. Apart from Egli and ECC-33, the root mean squared error (RMSE) produced by all other models under investigation are considered acceptable. Specifically, the ANN and ANFIS models yielded the lowest prediction errors. However, the empirical models have the lowest standard deviation errors across all the bands. The findings of this study will help radio network engineers to achieve efficient radio coverage estimation; determine the optimal base station location; make a proper frequency allocation; select the most suitable antenna; and perform interference feasibility studies.INDEX TERMS ANFIS, artificial neural networks, backpropagation, path loss, Kriging, radio propagation. I. INTRODUCTIONA study of the characteristics of radio waves in different propagation environments is needed for an effective network planning, and for the deployment of wireless communication systems [1], [2]. The magnitude and direction of electromagnetic waves in a practical wireless channel is usuallyThe associate editor coordinating the review of this manuscript and approving it for publication was Mauro Tucci.random and highly unpredictable [3]. Meanwhile, a good understanding of this phenomenon is needed to guarantee good Quality of Service (QoS) and high data transmission rate in radio access networks.The efficiency of a wireless communication system depends on the physical constituents of the propagation environment. The presence of buildings, mountains, bill boards, foliage, vehicles and other physical objects in a practical propagation environment usually obstructs the direct

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