Radio propagation

Using Flightgear as a general purpose, 3D, radio signal propagation and terrain analysis tool

The purpose of this document is to evaluate the possible usage of the Flightgear engine as a tool for RF signal loss prediction over a rough terrain, using geographical features embedded inside terrain data and well know propagation prediction algorithms.

There are currently a number of freeware and open-source applications that perform RF signal loss analysis using data available to the general public (elevation data, landcover etc.). Well known and used are Radiomobile , a Windows only application by Roger Coudé, VE2DBE and Splat! (multiple platform) by John A. Magliacane, KD2BD.

A common point of these applications is the usage of the Irregular Terrain Model (also known as Longley-Rice) which is a propagation model developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce NTIA/ITS - Institute for Telecommunication Sciences and improved by several others (notably ITWOM by Sidney E. Shumate, code available to the public on a limited usage license, copyright Givens-Bell ).

It is a general purpose model that can be applied to a large variety of engineering problems. The model, which is based on electromagnetic theory and on statistical analysis of both terrain features and radio measurements, predicts the median attenuation of a radio signal as a function of distance and the variability of the signal in time and in space. It is currently used among others by NASA, Alcatel-Lucent, US Army, University of Massachusetts and amateur radio operators around the world, and is widely considered the best propagation model for frequencies between 50 - 5000 Mhz freely available to the public.

Rationale

The implementation of radio propagation analysis is currently underway inside Flightgear. Since the terrain used by this open-source flight simulator contains both elevation information and landcover data, it seems especially suited for a 3D tool to predict RF signal levels, both for aviation navigational aids and radio communications, and standalone as a point-to-point radio link analysis between two radio stations. Flightgear allows the user to place models on the terrain at specific locations, and to setup internal properties via a simple XML format. Simple radio receivers and transmitters could be implemented using the Nasal scripting language, together with an UI to perform signal level reading and modify receiver and transmitter physical characteristics. The 3D aspect is also interesting, since it would allow one to perform predicted signal level reading at different locations while inside the simulator, using visual cues to place the radio equipment on the terrain. Since this open-source flight simulator is capable of running on multiple platforms, including GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows and MacOS, its availability is not limited to one operating system.

Data

Most of new generation Flightgear terrain uses NASA SRTM v3 elevation data, which has a distance of 90 meters between elevation points. This is considered accurate enough for most signal analysis, although more detailed elevation data from topographical maps, ASTER DEM or other sources can be acquired. Default landcover in Flightgear comes from VMAP0 layers, with more accurate geodata being available from national and international programs, such as the Corine landcover project. Landcover data could be used to analyse path loss and improve prediction algorithms over specific types of terrain, in combination with real-world RF signal readings took at the same locations. Also, data from Flightgear's realistic atmospheric and weather simulation could be taken into account when path loss analysis is perfomed.

Implementation details

In order to use the point-to-point routine of the Longley-Rice model, a terrain profile between the two radio stations is generated by sampling the terrain with a configurable distance between points (default is 90 meters, which is equal to SRTM 3 arcsec precision). This terrain profile is fed to the ITM routines, together with some other parameters: transmitter output power, receiver sensitivity, antenna heights above terrain.

The result is signal attenuation in dB along the direct path. The ITM functions will determine for us if the radio propagation is line-of-sight, diffraction dominant or tropospheric scatter. For diffraction propagation, it also determines if it's single horizon or double horizon. With a slight modification of the point-to-point function, we also get back the horizon distances. This information will further be used in calculating ground clutter obstruction for different terrain types. The most frequent obstructions that affect radio signals are built-up areas and tall vegetation. By calculating the interference of ground clutter inside the first Fresnel zone, we can determine signal losses with average precision. In order to do so, we need two more factors in the equations: clutter height above terrain, and clutter density. These could be stored in the material database in the future, but are hardcoded for now, at least for a number of terrain types. The aim is to make these two factors as configurable as possible to the user, in order to be able to adapt them to local measured conditions.

The radio stations parameters should also be made completely configurable by the user, including exposure via Nasal wrapper. At the current state, some basic assumptions are made about transmitter power, receiver sensitivity and antenna heights: these are based on standard ATC interactions, but this will be changed in the future to support a wider variety of signals.

Known limitations

• The loading distance of terrain. For stations which are beyond the maximum configured terrain distance, path profiles will not be accurate and some errors are likely to occur in the signal loss figures.

• The current model does not take into account signal reflection from objects or terrain features, nor refraction caused by atmospheric conditions.

• The diffraction calculations within the ITM library are not very precise and are likely to overestimate losses caused by diffraction over a sharp edge, or when take-off angles are beyond a certain limit. This has been corrected in the new ITWOM, which is available to the public with commercial restrictions.

• Clutter loss calculation are only estimative and should only be taken into account after careful calibration done with measurement equipment at the sites.

Currently implemented features within the Flightgear engine

Radio signal analysis

Antenna far-field gain plot

• the code has been transitioned to a more efficient and performance-friendly subsystem structure
• point-to-point path loss calculations over rough terrain using the ITM library for air traffic control stations to pilot communication
• path loss over a smooth round earth using alternative free space signal attenuation equations
• RF link budget calculations using transmitter power, receiver sensitivity, antenna gain and height above terrain, taking into account typical values from various specifications
• experimental feature: usage of detailed landcover in RF propagation prediction (ground clutter path loss)
• signal loss due to polarization mismatch
• simple signal strength indicator (Instrument for signal level reading)
• far-field antenna radiation patterns generated with 4nec2
• placing a radio transmitter beacon with the model tool inside 3D space
• using the property tree, a radio station can be defined with Nasal scripts

Features which still need to be implemented

• point-to-point path loss calculations using the ITM library for VOR/Localizer and glideslope equipment
• usage of weather simulation and atmospheric conditions which affect radio propagation: tropospheric ducting, cloud backscatter etc.
• realistic ground-to-air radar