Scalable Urban Network Simulation (SUNS)

Abstract

A clear and accurate understanding of communication network performance is essential, especially where all layers of the protocol stack - from physical propagation to application transport protocols - must be accounted for. While some solutions exist for RF communications over "open-terrain" areas, the urban environment is particularly challenging. To meet this challenge, a server-based, real-time solution for assessing complex communication and network effects in urban environments has been developed. By combining advanced RF ray-tracing propagation modeling and a full network simulator, the Scalable Urban Network Simulation (SUNS) software is able to provide accurate communications effects services. SUNS supports tactical modeling and simulation by predicting electromagnetic signal coverage and path loss through application of a full 3D physical knowledge of the urban environment and terrain features. The commercial OPNET network simulator is used as the core of the system, with SUNS operations supported through a custom OPNET model that functions as a modeling and simulation server. The server, in turn, communicates with other node models within the OPNET simulation. In the approach, urban propagation data are pre-computed using high performance computing (HPC) resources utilizing ray traced models of the urban scene.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA502527

Entities

People

  • Barry Perlman
  • Benjamin Epstein
  • David Rhodes

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Communication Networks
  • Communication Systems
  • Computations
  • Computer Networks
  • Computing System Architectures
  • Databases
  • Directories
  • Environment
  • Message Systems
  • Network Protocols
  • Network Simulation
  • Networks
  • Ray Tracing
  • Simulations
  • Simulators
  • User Interface

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Computer Networking
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Urban Planning and Geography.