PRINCE: Propagation Research on In-land Conditions and Emissions
Abstract
Existing Navy propagation models have been shown to provide an unacceptable level of error for some land-based environments. One reason for this is the existence of both foliage and variable terrain over land, which are not present in ocean environments. While ray tracing and parabolic wave equation solvers are fast and accurate for many ocean environments, it is challenging for them to accurately account for many out of plane terrain contributions as well as the diffraction, reflection, and scattering of signals due tothe presence of the terrain, trees, bushes, birds, swarming insects, etc. For this reason, it is becoming increasingly important for land-based environments to employ hybrid models that involve more detailed and accurate solutions for predicting radio frequency interactions with the more complex portions of the propagation paths. For this project, we will use the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to provide more accurate calculations of radio frequency interactions with terrain, foliage, birds, and swarming insects to support the generation of advanced hybrid models for the Navy. Additionally, radiofrequency propagation event data will beobtained using the University of Utah#s POWDER (Platform for Open Wireless Data-driven Experimental Research) to help validate the FDTD models and to support the objectives of the PRINCE work of our collaborators. Specifically, for the duration of the study period, radio equipment provided by Navy researchers will be deployed on the POWDER platform to facilitate radio frequency testing to an off-campus location. In addition, software-defined-radio (SDR) RF monitors will be deployed to allow for continuous RF spectrum monitoring, e.g., of #signals of opportunity#, in the sub-6GHz range in the study area.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 24, 2025
- Source ID
- N000142512145
Entities
People
- Jamesina Simpson
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Utah