spm calibration guide jan04

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Atoll SPM (Standard Propagation Model)

calibration guide

January 2004

- Confidential - 2/21

CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................... 3 2 GUIDELINES FOR CW MEASUREMENT SURVEYS .......................................................................... 4 3 CALIBRATION PROCEDURE.................................................................................................................. 6

3.1 OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 STANDARD PROPAGATION MODEL: DEFINITION ...................................................................................... 6

3.2.1 SPM formula ................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2.2 Calculations in Atoll........................................................................................................................ 6

3.3 PREREQUISITE ACTIONS ......................................................................................................................... 13 3.3.1 Data validation.............................................................................................................................. 13 3.3.2 Signal strength filter...................................................................................................................... 13 3.3.3 Distance filter................................................................................................................................ 13 3.3.4 Points density filter........................................................................................................................ 13 3.3.5 Other filters ................................................................................................................................... 14

3.4 CALIBRATION METHOD .......................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.1 Calibration and verification stations............................................................................................. 14 3.4.2 Effective antenna height method ................................................................................................... 14 3.4.3 Clutter parameters ........................................................................................................................ 15 3.4.4 Calibration steps ........................................................................................................................... 16


1 Introduction To find an accurate model for propagation losses is a leading issue when planning a mobile radio network. Two strategies for predicting propagation losses are in use these days; one is to derive an empirical propagation model from measurement data, and the other is to use a deterministic propagation model. Atoll proposes a macrocell propagation model, the Standard Propagation Model (SPM), based on empirical formulas and a set of parameters. When Atoll is installed, the SPM parameters are set to their default values. However, they can be adjusted to tune the propagation model according to actual propagation conditions. This calibration process of the Standard Propagation Model facilitates improving the prediction reliability. This document is a guide describing the method and the steps to calibrate SPM. The ensuing tuned model is an additional model directly usable in Atoll.


2 Guidelines for CW measurement surveys The CW measurement survey part is very important in the calibration process. Inaccurate measurements lead to an inaccurate calibration and, hence, to an inaccurate model. The measurement provider must abide by the following rules:

• The area under test must be scanned before performing the drive test to ensure no interference exists.

• The transmit frequency must have a clearance of 400kHz from radio interference (i.e. 1 GSM channel on either side of the transmit channel must not be in operation). This can be verified by checking if the reception level is at zero when the transmitter is off.

• Only one frequency must be measured. • The GPS of the CW measurement equipment should be configured to that of the

mapping data. • All maps used must be have the same projection as that of the Atoll mapping

data. • A minimum of about 8 stations should be measured for each model calibrated (the

exact number is terrain dependent i.e. what route length can be traversed). • Stations should be chosen to meet the following conditions:

� Good RF clearance (no nearby obstructions). Prefer an omnidirectional antenna on stations without surrounding obstacles. Use a sectored antenna if obstructions are present in the neighbourhood to decrease the reflections from the backside.

� Varied antenna height (20m to 50m). � Varied terrain around each station (flat, hilly) - within a 10km radius. � Varied clutter around the station (open, urban, suburban, dense urban etc.)

within a 10km radius from the station. Clutter categories should all be represented roughly equally with a minimum of 300 measurement bins in each category.

� Sufficient roads/motorways available to perform measurements. • Panoramic photographs should be taken from each station (rooftop) starting from

north in a clockwise direction. The photographs should show the surroundings in each direction. Orientations and station number should be written on the back of each photograph.

• A rooftop sketch must be provided. The sketch must indicate the locations of: • The transmitting antenna • Any rooftop obstacles (precise location, distance from transmitter, height) • Any nearby obstacles (other buildings) within 400m of the transmitter (precise

location, distance from transmitter, height, width) • 2 measurements per mapping data pixel should be taken (defined by the mapping

data resolution e.g. 25m, 100m or 200m as appropriate). • Measurement surveys should be obtained for distances up to 10km (or until the

noise floor of the receiver has been reached). • Measurement routes must be targeted to have an equal number of samples near

as well as far from the transmitter. • Stored measurements should be averaged between samples and the mean signal

level (50th percentile) must be stored. • Antenna patterns (tilt and orientation) must be supplied in Atoll format. • CW measurement surveys should be well documented with a ‘Station

Measurement Form’ (position, antenna height, transmit power, gains and losses) and ‘Path Measurement Form’ (1 form completed per measurement file).

• Maps should accompany each drive test that should indicate the route surveyed. The map should be annotated to indicate: � The location of the test transmitter


� Locations of any spurious measurements � Where the physical clutter data does not coincide with the mapping data


3 Calibration procedure 3.1 Objective The overall objective is to minimize the error between the propagation model predictions and the CW survey data. The metrics used to quantify the error are the mean and the standard deviation of the error. The aim during the calibration process is to reach a null mean error and a low standard deviation for all the measurement data taken as a whole and to minimize these two criteria for each single measurement path. A common target value for standard deviation is 8. The Atoll Standard Propagation model (SPM) has a large number of parameters and options, which may be selected or calibrated by the user in order to obtain a close representation of measured propagation data.

3.2 Standard Propagation Model: Definition 3.2.1 SPM formula SPM is based on the following formula:

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )clutterfKHKHdKlossnDiffractioKHKdKKL clutterRxeffTxeffTxeffel ++×+×+++= 654321mod loglog loglog

with, K1: constant offset (dB). K2 : multiplying factor for log(d). d : distance between the receiver and the transmitter (m). K3 : multiplying factor for log(HTxeff). HTxeff : effective height of the transmitter antenna (m). K4 : multiplying factor for diffraction calculation. K4 has to be a positive number. Diffraction loss : loss due to diffraction over an obstructed path (dB). K5: multiplying factor for log(HTxeff)log(d). K6: multiplying factor for HRxeff.HRxeff: effective mobile antenna height (m). Kclutter: multiplying factor for f(clutter). f(clutter): average of weighted losses due to clutter.

3.2.2 Calculations in Atoll 3.2.2.1 Visibility and distance between the transmitter and the receiver For each calculation bin, Atoll determines:

- the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. If the distance Tx-Rx is lower than the maximum user-defined distance (break distance), receiver is considered to be near the transmitter. Atoll will use the set of values marked “Near transmitter”. If the distance Tx-Rx is greater than the maximum distance, receiver is considered to be far from the transmitter. Atoll will use the set of values marked “Far from transmitter”.

- whether the receiver is in the transmitter line of sight or not. If the receiver is in the transmitter line of sight, Atoll will take into account the set (K1,K2)LOS. If the receiver is not in the transmitter line of sight, Atoll will use the set


(K1,K2)NLOS.

3.2.2.2 Effective transmitter antenna height Effective transmitter antenna height (HTxeff) may be calculated in six different ways.

• Height above ground The transmitter antenna height is above the ground (HTx in m).

HTxeff = HTx

• Height above average profile The transmitter antenna height is determined relative to an average ground height that is calculated along the profile between a transmitter and a receiver. The profile length depends on distance min and distance max values and is limited by the transmitter and receiver locations. Distance min and Distance max are respectively minimum and maximum distances from the transmitter.

( )00 HHHH TxTxTxeff −+=

where, TxH0 is the ground height (ground elevation) above sea level at transmitter (m).

0H is the average ground height above sea level along the profile (m).

Note: If the profile is not located between the transmitter and the receiver, HTxeff equals HTx.

• Slope at receiver between 0 and distance min The transmitter antenna height is calculated using the ground slope at receiver.

( ) ( ) dKHHHHH RxRxTxTxTxeff ×++−+= 00

where, RxH is the receiver antenna height above the ground (m).

RxH0 is the ground height (ground elevation) above sea level at receiver (m). K is the ground slope calculated over a user-defined distance (Distance min). In this case, Distance min is a distance starting from the receiver. Notes: 1. If mHTxeff 20< then, Atoll uses 20m in calculations. 2. If mHTxeff 200> then, Atoll takes 200m.

• Spot HtIf RxTx HH 00 > then, ( )RxTxTxTxeff HHHH 00 −+=

If RxTx HH 00 ≤ then, TxTxeff HH =

• Abs Spot Ht

RxTxTxTxeff HHHH 00 −+=

• Enhanced slope at receiver Atoll offers a new method, called “Enhanced slope at receiver”, to evaluate the effective transmitter antenna height.


•

HRx

HTxeffH0+

H0Tx

30m

R

d

LOS line

regression lineterrain

profile

Let x-axis and y-axis respectively represent positions and heights. We assume that x-axis is oriented from transmitter (origin) to receiver. This calculation is achieved in several steps: 1st step: Atoll determines line of sight between transmitter and receiver. The LOS line equation is:

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )isdHHHHHHiLos RxRxTxTx

TxTx Re000

+−+−+=

where, i is the point index. Res is the profile resolution (distance between two points).

2nd step: Atoll extracts the transmitter-receiver terrain profile. 3rd step: Hills and mountains are already taken into account in diffraction calculations. Therefore, in order for them not to unduly influence the regression line calculation, Atoll filters the terrain profile. Atoll calculates two filtered terrain profiles, one established from transmitter and another from receiver. It determines filtered height of every profile point. Profile points are evenly spaced on the basis of profile resolution. To determine filtered terrain height at a point, Atoll evaluates ground slope between two points and compares it with a threshold set to 0.05; three cases are possible. Some notations defined hereafter are used in next part.

filtH is the filtered height. origH is the corrected original height. Original terrain height is determined from extracted

ground profile and corrected by considering Earth curvature.

- Filter starting from transmitter Let us assume that ( ) ( )TxHTxH origTxfilt =−

For each point, we have three different cases: 1st case: If ( ) ( )1−> iHiH origorig and ( ) ( ) 05.0Re

1 ≤−−s

iHiH origorig ,


Then, ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( )11 −−+−= −− iHiHiHiH origorigTxfiltTxfilt

2nd case: If ( ) ( )1−> iHiH origorig and ( ) ( ) 05.0Re1

>−−

siHiH origorig

Then, ( ) ( )1−= −− iHiH TxfiltTxfilt

3rd case: If ( ) ( )1−≤ iHiH origorig Then, ( ) ( )1−= −− iHiH TxfiltTxfilt If ( ) ( )iHiH origfilt > additionally Then, ( ) ( )iHiH origTxfilt =−

- Filter starting from receiver Let us assume that ( ) ( )RxHRxH origfilt =

For each point, we have three different cases: 1st case: If ( ) ( )1+> iHiH origorig and ( ) ( ) 05.0Re

1 ≤+−s

iHiH origorig ,Then, ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( )11 +−++= −− iHiHiHiH origorigRxfiltRxfilt

2nd case: If ( ) ( )1+> iHiH origorig and ( ) ( ) 05.0Re1

>−−

siHiH origorig

Then, ( ) ( )1+= −− iHiH RxfiltRxfilt 3rd case: If ( ) ( )1+≤ iHiH origorig

Then, ( ) ( )1+= −− iHiH RxfiltRxfilt If ( ) ( )iHiH origfilt > additionally Then, ( ) ( )iHiH origRxfilt =−

Then, for every point of profile, Atoll compares the two filtered heights and chooses the greater one.

( ) ( ) ( )( )iHiHiH RxfiltTxfiltfilt −−= ,max ( ) ( ) ( )( )iHiHiH RxfiltTxfiltfilt −−= ,max

4th step: Atoll determines the influence area, R. It corresponds to the distance from receiver at which the original terrain profile + 30m intersects LOS line for the first time (when beginning from transmitter). The influence area must satisfy additional conditions:

� mR 3000≥ ,� dR ⋅≥ 01.0 ,� R must contain at least three bins.

Notes:1. When several influence areas are possible, Atoll chooses the highest one. 2. If d < 3000m, R = d.5th step: Atoll performs a linear regression on the filtered profile within R in order to determine a regression line. The regression line equation is:

baxy += ( )( ) ( )( )

( )( )∑∑

−−−

=

im

imfiltm

didHiHdid

a 2 and mm adHb −=

where,


( )∑=i

filtm iHnH 1

i is the point index. Only points within R are taken into account. 2Rddm −=

d(i) is the distance between i and transmitter (m). Then, Atoll extends the regression line to the transmitter location. Its equation is:

( ) ( ) bsiairegr +⋅⋅= Re

6th step: Atoll calculates effective transmitter antenna height, TxeffH (m).

abHHH TxTx

Txeff 20

1+

−+=

If HTxeff is lower than 20m, Atoll recalculates it with a new influence area, which begins at transmitter. Notes:1. In case mHTxeff 1000> , 1000m will be used in calculations. 2. If TxeffH is still lower than 20m, an additional correction is taken into account (7th step). 7th step: If TxeffH is still lower than 20m (even negative), Atoll evaluates path loss using

mHTxeff 20= and applies a correction factor. Therefore, if mHTxeff 20< ,

( ) KfdmHLL lowantTxeffelel +== ,,20modmod where,

( ) ( )( )

+⋅

+

−−⋅−−⋅−=

100093.6100063.920120203.0

105 ddHHdK Txeff

Txefflowant

3.2.2.3 Receiver effective antenna height ( ) TxRxRxRxeff HHHH 00 −+=

where, RxH is the receiver antenna height above the ground (m).

RxH0 is the ground height (ground elevation) above sea level at the receiver (m). TxH0 is the ground height (ground elevation) above sea level at the transmitter (m).

Note: The calculation of effective antenna heights ( RxeffH and TxeffH ) is based on extracted DTM profiles. They are not properly performed if you have not imported heights (DTM file) beforehand.

3.2.2.4 Correction for hilly regions in case of LOS An optional corrective term enables Atoll to correct path loss for hilly regions when transmitter and receiver are in LOS. Therefore, if receiver is in transmitter line of sight and the Hilly terrain correction option is active, we have:

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) KclutterfKHKdHKHKdKKL LOShillclutterRxTxeffTxeffLOSLOSel ,653,2,1mod loglogloglog ++⋅++++=

When transmitter and receiver are not in line of sight, the path loss formula is: ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )clutterfKHKdHKnDiffractioKHKdKKL clutterRxTxeffTxeffNLOSNLOSel +⋅+++++= 6543,2,1mod loglogloglog


K LOShill , is determined in three steps. Influence area, R, and regression line are considered available. 1st step: For every profile point within influence area, Atoll calculates height deviation between the original terrain profile (with Earth curvature correction) and regression line. Then, it sorts points according to the deviation and draws two lines (parallel to the regression line), one which is exceeded by 10% of the profile points and the other one by 90%. 2nd step: Atoll evaluates the terrain roughness, ∆h; it is the distance between the two lines. 3rd step: Atoll calculates K LOShill , .

We have KKK hfhLOShill +=,

If mh 200 ≤∆< , 0=Kh

Else ( ) ( ) 746.6log29.15log73.7 2 +∆−∆= hhKh

If mh 100 ≤∆< , ( )( )iregrHHK RxRxRxhf −+⋅⋅−= 01924.02Else ( ) ( )( ) ( )

hiregrHHhhK RxRxRx

hf ∆−+⋅−∆+∆−⋅−= 02 21.11log75.14log616.12

iRx is the point index at receiver.

3.2.2.5 Diffraction Four methods are available to calculate diffraction loss over the transmitter-receiver profile. They are not detailed here.

• Deygout • Epstein-Peterson • Deygout with correction • Millington

You may take the following into account along the transmitter-receiver profile :

� Either ground altitude or clutter height In this case, Atoll takes clutter height information in clutter heights file if available in .atl document. Otherwise, it considers average clutter height specified for each clutter class in the clutter classes file description.

� Or only ground altitude

3.2.2.6 Losses due to clutter Atoll calculates f(clutter) over a maximum distance from receiver.

( ) ∑=

=n

iiiwLclutterf

1

where, L: loss due to clutter user-defined in the Clutter tab (dB). w: weight determined using the weighting function. n: number of points taken into account over the profile. Points are evenly spaced depending on the profile resolution.

Four weighting functions are available: • Uniform weighting function: nwi

1=


• Triangular weighting function: ∑

=

= n

jj

ii

ddw

1'ii dDd −= , where d’i is the distance between the receiver and the ith point, and D is the

maximum distance (user-defined).

• Logarithmic weighting function: ∑

=

+

+= n

j

j

i

i

Dd

Dd

w

11log

1log

• Exponential weighting function: ∑

=−

−=n

jDd

Dd

i j

i

eew

11

1

3.2.2.7 Precautions Be careful that the clutter influence may be taken into account in two terms, Diffraction loss and f(clutter). To avoid this, we advise:

1. Not to take into account clutter heights to evaluate diffraction loss over the transmitter-receiver profile if you specify losses per clutter class. This approach is recommended if the clutter height information is statistical.

2. Not to define any loss per clutter class if you consider clutter heights in the diffraction loss. In this case, f(clutter)=0. Losses due to clutter are only taken into account in the Diffraction loss term evaluated. This approach is recommended if the clutter height information is either semi-deterministic or deterministic.

In case of semi-deterministic clutter information, specify receiver clearance (m) per clutter class. Both ground altitude and clutter height are considered along the whole transmitter-receiver profile except over a specific distance around the receiver (clearance), where Atoll proceeds as if there was only the DTM map. Atoll uses the clearance information to model streets.

Tx

Rx

clearance

clutter

DEM

Tx-Rx profile. Ground altitude and clutter height (here, average height specified for each clutter class in the clutter classes map description) are taken into account along the profile.

In case of deterministic clutter height information, clearance definition is not necessary. Clutter height information is accurate enough to be used directly without additional


information such as clearance. Here, losses due to clutter are taken into account in the Diffraction loss term evaluated.

3.3 Prerequisite actions 3.3.1 Data validation A quick means of data validation is to import the measurement files and a set of vector files that represent roads in Atoll, in order to check that the data correspond. You can also check that the measurement path starts and/or ends approximately at the station location. If some pictures from the station neighbourhood are available, you can check that no close obstacle disturbs the propagation. If an obstacle is present in one direction, it is possible to filter the measurement data according to the orientation by fixing a negative and a positive angle for which the data will be taken into account.

3.3.2 Signal strength filter The calibration process aims at producing an accurate model that will represent the station’s propagation within the validity region of the model itself. For this reason, the model’s own constraints with respect to signal levels need to be taken into account. There are limitations in the measurement equipment with dynamic range capability, which also need to be taken into account.

Generally, signals above –40dBm are filtered out as they would be inaccurate due to receiver overload. For the minimum signal filtering, the sensitivity of the receiver and the tolerance have to be considered. So, signals below ‘receiver sensitivity + target standard deviation’ have to be filtered out to avoid the effect of noise saturation in the statistical results.

3.3.3 Distance filter Measurement data at a distance less than 200m from the base station are discarded because these points are too close from the station to properly represent the propagation in the whole area. A common limit for the maximum distance is 10km.

3.3.4 Points density filter Another filtering can be done according to the project related to the clutter classes. If only a few measurement paths contain a specific clutter class or only a few points are located in this class, then this clutter class can be filtered out. Keeping this class can, in fact, generate some bad statistical results or affect the calibration process incorrectly. For example, in the following case, the water class can be filtered out. This class would influence the prediction only in areas with large surfaces of water. Number of points per clutter class – measurement


3.3.5 Other filters Some points can also be filtered out in different clutter classes because of a huge diffraction effect which would not be representative of the propagation in the whole area. For example, several peaks in the profile between the station and some measurement points can introduce errors because of the nature of signal received there and may influence the calibration in a wrong way.

3.4 Calibration method 3.4.1 Calibration and verification stations The choice of the stations used for calibration and for verification is very important in order to correctly calibrate the model. For that, you have to visualize the different measurement paths on the map: - For calibration, you have to choose the paths that cover the whole area so that all the area characteristics be taken into account during the calibration process. - For verification, you have to choose several paths (the number depends on the total number of available paths) that are inside the covered area, and not at the extremity, so that these paths have no limitations in comparison to paths used for calibration. If enough measurement paths are not available, all of them have to be used for the calibration process. The verification is then performed individually with the same measurement paths.

3.4.2 Effective antenna height method An effective antenna height method has to be chosen according to the properties of the terrain. This model parameter is very important since the calculated antenna heights may differ and this greatly influences the propagation. That is why it is useful to split the entire zone into several areas according to the relief. For hilly area, it is advised to use the “Enhanced slope at receiver” method and to activate the “hilly terrain correction” .


Whereas for a plain, it is advised to use the “Height above average profile” method and to deactivate the “hilly terrain correction”.

3.4.3 Clutter parameters Clutter heights must not be used with a statistical clutter because data, in this case, are not precise enough. It is advised to set all the clutter heights to 0 in the clutter properties window and to use the losses per clutter class in the model properties. For this, you have to set the Kclutter to 1 in the Parameters tab. Then, in the Clutter tab, you must provide a max distance for which the loss per clutter will be applied (500m is a common value). You have to choose a weighting function and set all the clearances per clutter class to 0, given the fact that the clutter heights are not used.


3.4.4 Calibration steps Now your model has the initial parameters necessary to start the calibration. It is advised to duplicate this modified model as it is rare to get a good calibration in the first attempt.


3.4.4.1 Step 1 Set the filters in the measurement path properties window.

The filters about the field and the distance are defined and applied in the measurement


and in the model properties at the same time. Remember, when using filters in the measurement properties window, that these filters will be applied during calibration even if the corresponding filters in the model properties are modified. In the calibration tab, select the calibration paths, set the filters and check the LOS (Line Of Site) and NLOS (Non Line Of Site) boxes.

3.4.4.2 Step 2 Press the calibrate button and find the variable having the highest correlation with error. You can see the regression line when you select this variable.

Press Identify, so that Atoll calculates the necessary correction to apply to its related constant thus decreasing the correlation of this variable with error.


3.4.4.3 Step 3 If the most correlated variable is log(D), then you have to calibrate K1 and K2 separately in case of LOS or NLOS. For that, press Cancel and successively calibrate these constants in LOS and NLOS by selecting only the log(D) variable in the calibration window and pressing Identify then press OK after having checked Step 4.

After that, check LOS and NLOS boxes again to calibrate the other variables.

3.4.4.4 Step 4 Check that the calculated correction does not make the related constant cross the physical limits given below (recommended values).


Constant min typical max K2 20 44.9 70 K3 -20 5.83 20 K4 0 0.5 0.8 K5 -10 -6.55 0 K6 -1 0 0

If the constant with the suggested correction respects the given limits, press OK. If the constant with the suggested correction doesn’t respect the given limits, manually set the constant to the limit after pressing Cancel.

3.4.4.5 Step 5 Repeat the process from Step 2. The correction should have made the statistics better. When the statistics are stabilizing, calibrate the Clutter variable so that the losses per clutter class are calculated. Then you can try again to calibrate the other variables.

When the statistics are stabilizing, the calibration has finished. If the results do not achieve the aim you can start again from the initial model by changing parameters such as the effective antenna height method or the using of zones near the transmitter and far from the transmitter, etc.

3.4.4.6 Step 6 When the calibration has finished, you have to check its quality with the verification paths. In the Calibration tab, select the corresponding paths and press Statistics.


You can study the statistics report to check the model accuracy.

spm calibration guide jan04

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