Radio Propagation Prediction Software for Complex Mixed Path Physical Channels

"Predicting the radio signal levels and coverage areas for Information Warfare System communication channels between base stations, vehicles and warfighters is a challenging problem. The channel may involve radio frequency interactions with hills, foliage,and buildings. The paths may involve long distances over hilly terrain or shorter distances involving interaction with urban building features. Many propagation paths may simultaneously involve hills, foliage, and urban areas. For example, a warfightersheltered in a doorway in an urban area may need to communicate with a command station located in a rural forested area outside of the city. These mixed path links involving both urban (including indoor) features and rural (including foliage) terrain arebeyond the capability of any existing physics-based propagation model. Currently available models, including those developed by Remcom Inc., are applicable to paths where both the transmitting and receiving antennas are located in an outdoor urbanenvironment, or indoors, or in rural areas. Development of fast and reliable mixed-path models valid over a wide range of communication frequencies will be the focus of the proposed SBIR effort The ultimate goal will be a very general propagation prediction tool for mixed propagation paths including terrain, indoor and outdoor urban features, foliage, and atmospheric effects. The tool will also include effects of structures near thetransm