Rural wireless network tower site location and optimization using web-based constrained optimization techniques

Increased telecommuting, innovations and inventions coming from small, often remotely located businesses and individuals, modern agricultural technologies, and the advanced data communication demands of emergency responders have accelerated the need for reliable Internet service in rural America. This project proposes to develop a viable, flexible, and affordable means to extend reliable internet service to rural Americans. Streamlining the optimal placement of antenna/radio clusters (factoring in data-dense constraints such as property ownership, radio capabilities, complex topography, backbone access points and build-out expense), into network plans of low-cost, fixed-site, wireless relay stations could pave the way for high data rate coverage to much of this underserved population. The solution proposed here will determine the feasibility of applying mathematical techniques (adapted from economics research) to topographical and property ownership data, within the context of a user-friendly web site, to suggest mathematically optimal network plans.