Ray optical wave propagation models for the characterization of radio channels in urban outdoor and indoor environments

A deterministic approach for the prediction of path loss and channel impulse response of UHF radio links in built-up area, including building penetrating links, is presented. The wave propagation prediction is based on ray-tracing algorithms implemented in the URBAN-MICRO model, which has already been successfully applied to urban micro- and macro-cells in the field of mobile communications. A brief description of this model is given and comparisons with path loss measurements are shown. Further an extension of the URBAN-MICRO model for in-building antenna locations, resulting in the new model URBAN-MICRO-I; is presented. Both models use vector oriented building data and raster based topography data. Arbitrary outdoor base station heights can be handled by the models, which is a very important feature from a practical point of view.