WinProp Propagation Modelling and Network Planning Tool

ENhANCE Study Tour, 20/08/2013, COMNET Department, Aalto

Edward Mutafungwa and Beneyam B. HaileDepartment of Communications and NetworkingAalto School of Electrical Engineering, Aalto UniversityEspoo, Finland

Outline• Background• Overview of current users• Review of WinProp tools

– ProMan– WallMan– AMan

• Example case studies from research by COMNET• Tool demo

Background 1(2)• WinProp is a commercial simulation software suite

– For RF propagation modelling– For wireless network planning

• Tool produced by AWE Communications of Germany– Spin-off from University of Stuttgart

• Successful adoption of the WinProp tool at CoICT and AAiT is oneof planned deliverables in ENhANCE– Potentially used as a learning tool wireless courses (both basic and

advanced)– Used as a research tool facilitating improved results for theses

research works (Master’s and PhD) and research by staff

http://www.awe-communications.com/

Background 2(2)• WinProp Tool available in the market since 1998

(currently version 12.3)• Continuously evolving for study of new propagation

scenarios and wireless technology standards

Current Users• WinProp adopted by diverse range of industry and academia

customers (used in COMNET Aalto for 1 year)• Example user in Africa: École Supérieure Multinationale des

Télécommuications (ESMT) of Senegal

Type of Licenses Trial License PPP (Pay

Per Project) License

Annual License

Perpetual License

Teaching License

Time Limitation

30 days Annual Annual None None?

Sample Data/Demos from AWE

Included Included Included Included Included

Study Scenario Limitation

Limited to one customer-defined scenario and to demo scenarios

Limited.Customer has to pay for each scenario.

None NoneLimited to demo scenarios

Support Included, but reaction time not guaranteed

Included Included, but reaction time not guaranteed

TBC

Price Free Annual fee. Depending on scenario.

Annual fee. Depending on selected modules. Discount for multiple licences.

Depending on selected modules. Discount for multiple licences.

TBC

WinProp Tools• WinProp software suite consist of several tools

ProMan 1(2)• ProMan propagation modeling modules

– Different propagation models for study of different propagation scenarios (rural, urban, indoor etc.)

• Emprical models (Okumura-Hata, COST 231, ITU P.1546 etc.)• Deterministic models (ray tracing, Dominant Path Model etc.)

Example indoor coverage for outdoor transmitterPath loss map for transmitter in Munich

ProMan 2(2)• ProMan Network Planning Modules

– Different pre-defined technologies (GSM, WLAN, WCDMA, LTE etc.)– GUI for definition/modification of air interface parameters, cell loading etc.– Results in form of commonly used KPIs (throughput, SINR, RSRP, etc.)– Additional Network Optimizer module for optimum site selection etc.

xxx Max downlink throughput for urban LTE network

WallMan• ProMan propagation modeling requires databases of buildings,

terrains, etc. as input data for simulation • WallMan functions include:

– Generation/modification/visualisation of vector databases for buildings and cities

– Conversion of vector databases from common file formats (ArcGIS, AutoCAD, JPEG floor plans etc.)

xxx

Example urban database

Example indoor database

AMan• AMan functions include:

– Generation/modification/visualisation of vertical and horizental antenna patterns for use by transmitters in ProMan

– Interporlation algorithms for conversion from 2x2D (vertical & horizontal) to 3D patterns

– Adaptation of antenna patterns from different antenna data file formats (ASCII, *.xml, *.msi etc.)

Vertical PatternHorizental Pattern 3D Pattern

Example WinProp Usage for Research at COMNET

Hanna Nasif Case Study 1(6)• Hanna Nassif ward in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

– Population: 37000 (2012 census)– Area: 1 Sq km– Building number: est. 3050 buildings (majority single story)– Topographical difference: 19 m

Hanna Nasif Case Study 2(6)• Study network performance impact of heterogeneous deployment

small cells and macro cells in very high density urban areas

Example path loss map (for Femto 3) located indoor (left) on rooftop (right)

Hanna Nasif Case Study 3(6)• Simulation methodology/workflow (using WinProp tools only)

Hanna Nasif Case Study 4(6)• Example results from simulation study using WinProp tools only

SNIR differences for rooftop versus indoor small cell deployments

Ref: R. Rakibul, “Small Cells for Broadband Internet Access in Low-Income Suburban Areas in Emerging Market Environments” Aalto Diploma Thesis, completed 06/2013.

Hanna Nasif Case Study 5(6)• Simulation methodology/workflow (using WinProp and Matlab tools)

Hanna Nasif Case Study 6(6)• Example results from simulation study using a combination of

WinProp and Matlab toolsets

Indoor Small Cells Rooftop Small Cells0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Mea

n U

E S

erve

d by

Sm

all C

ells

(%)

Mean Percentage of UEs Served by Small Cells (5 dB selection bias)

10 Small Cells30 Small Cells60 Small Cells

10 Small Cells 30 Small Cells 60 Small Cells1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Thro

ughp

ut G

ain

Throughput Gain per Deployment Scenario

10th percentile50th percentile90th percentile

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.80

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

Fairness Index

CD

F

Fairness Index CDF

Macro OnlyMacro & 10 Small Cells(Rooftop)Macro & 10 Small Cells(Indoor)Macro & 30 Small Cells(Rooftop)Macro & 30 Small Cells(Indoor)Macro & 60 Small Cells(Rooftop)Macro & 60 Small Cells(Indoor)

etc.

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 300

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

SINR (dB)

CD

F

SINR CDF (All UEs)

Macro OnlyMacro & 10 Small Cells(Rooftop)Macro & 10 Small Cells(Indoor)Macro & 30 Small Cells(Rooftop)Macro & 30 Small Cells(Indoor)Macro & 60 Small Cells(Rooftop)Macro & 60 Small Cells(Indoor)

Indoor Pico BS Case Study 1(4)• Study improvements in indoor coverage and capacity through

operator deployed indoor pico base stations in multi-storey buildings

Example deployment of 2 pico base stations on a single floor of a building

Indoor Pico BS Case Study 2(4)• Simulation methodology/workflow (using WinProp and Matlab tools)

Indoor Pico BS Case Study 3(4)• Example definition of custom Pico BS antenna patterns and

importing to WinProp (using AMan)

Custom vertical antenna pattern

Custom horizental antenna pattern

3D antenna pattern generated in WinProp AMan tool

Indoor Pico BS Case Study 4(4)• Example results from simulation study using WinProp and Matlab

tools

Received power for Pico 1 deployed in the first floor

Pico 1 (1st Floor)

Throughput CDFs for case of Pico 1 in first floor

WinProp Tool Demo

• General overview of GUI for ProMan/WallMan/AMan• Example propagation modeling project in ProMan

– Single site simulation example– How to export results to other tools (e.g. Matlab simulators)

• Example of previously performed network planning projects– LTE network– WLAN network– Satellite/broadcast or vehicular

Thank you for your attention!

Further info:Edward MutafungwaPostdoc Researcher/Project ManagerAalto UniversitySchool of Electrical EngineeringDepartment of Communications and Networking Otakaari 5A, Espoo, Finland edward.mutafungwa@aalto.fiTel: +358 40 733 3397