Terrain Characterization for Modeling RF Propagation
Abstract
This IDA-sponsored project had two related objectives: (a) to gain insight into current practice in terrain modeling to predict RF propagation; and (b) to identify opportunities to exploit contemporary geospatial data sources to advance the state-of-the-art in RF propagation modeling. Discussions with technical staff at the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) and the Defense Spectrum Organization (DSO) identified that current practice for RF propagation modeling in the coterminous United States has relied on use of elevation data from the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM). SRTM used interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IFSAR) technology with inherent noise characteristics. For the coterminous United States, higher fidelity and higher resolution data derived from aircraft is available as USGS National Elevation Data (NED). Experiments were conducted with the ITS Irregular Terrain Model (ITM) using two resolutions of SRTM terrain and two resolutions of NED terrain for comparison to ITS field measurements. For a 3.5 GHz transmitter located in Boulder, Colorado, a vehicle-mounted receiver had been driven across the Table Mountain plateau near Longmont, Colorado. Inconsistencies in predicted returns at Table Mountain reflected SRTM elevation anomalies. In the future, field measurements taken at multiple frequencies would help to determine where dominant multiple scattering occurs, and this could help inform model improvements. A Primer for Digital Elevation Data, based on presentations to ITS and DSO technical staff, is included as an appendix.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1223048
Entities
People
- Frank Rotondo
- George E. Lukes
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses