SAI Intelligent Systems Conference 2015

November 10-11, 2015 | London, UK

Experimental Analysis of Some Radio Propagation

Models for Smart Wireless Sensor Networks
Applications
Ashish Payal, C.S. Rai, B.V.R. Reddy
USICT, GGSIP University
New Delhi, India
[email protected]

Abstract—Wireless Sensor networks (WSNs) protocols and low power signals which are more prone to noise, interference
algorithms are tested nowadays with simulations. Future WSNs and multipath distortion. The low power radio transceivers
applications require real experimental measurements and have antennas with non-ideal radiation patterns, which lead to
analysis to capture the exact behavior of sensor environment. anisotropic behavior [9]. Wireless Sensor Networks share some
Path loss models are crucial in developing efficient localization similar technical properties with Mobile Adhoc Networks
framework and to solve coverage issues in different WSNs (MANETs). With multi-hop routing, decentralized control and
applications. In this paper, some radio propagation model is broadcasting nature WSNs show uneven traffic patterns which
studied and investigated experimentally in a university campus require efficient radio propagation modeling. Many RF
with six storey buildings around the measurement scenario. The
propagation models have been implemented in simulating
radio module works on ZigBee technology and in the results are
presented for only two channels i.e channel 21 (2455 MHz) and
various WSN experimental test beds. The radio part of sensor
channel 22 (2460 MHz). The free-space model and log-distance motes consume enormous amount of energy.
model is analyzed with measured path loss. The radio module In analyzing different radio propagation models for WSN
used for experiment comprises of 32-bit RISC Jennic 5168 following distinctive features are not generally considered [10]:
microcontroller with 2.4 GHz 802.15.4 compliant transceiver.
• Ultra Low Power Radio (ULPR): With wireless
Keywords—Wireless sensor networks; radio propagation; personal area network (WPAN) and wireless body area
localization network (WBAN) applications allowing transmissions
in the range of 50m up to 300m with these ULPR.
I. INTRODUCTION
A wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is a wireless network • Power Supply: The battery requirement is a key factor
consisting of a large number of spatially distributed in WSN design
autonomous devices for sensing (measuring), computing, and • Antenna design: Directional antennas have several
communication that give an administrator the ability to advantages over those omnidirectional transmissions. It
instrument, observe, react to events and phenomenon in a include reduced signal interference, increase in the
specified environment [1] [2]. Wireless sensor networks system throughput, and improved channel reuse.
(WSNs) are finding applications in disaster management
[3][4], biomedical health monitoring [5] and military • Deployment Scenario: For many WSN applications
operations [6]. The research scenario in the field of wireless sensor nodes are deployed on varied scenarios such as
sensor networks is expanding and bringing major changes on forest, hill terrain, underwater
the future of Internet. The merging of ICT concepts with In order to develop reliable and efficient radio coverage
Internet of Things (IoT) has led to the development of smart planning for different WSN applications adequate propagation
WSNs applications that will support major societal changes in models are to be analysed with reference to spatial and
the coming years. This innovation will certainly help non- temporal variability of radio signals
technical users to communicate efficiently with smart objects.
With new perspectives of this IoT there is a need for II. RELATED WORK
developing efficient and reliable radio communication systems.
WSNs are analytically studied with the help of simulators
The propagation of signals from the transmitter to the which allows a way to test new protocols and applications. It
receiver is dependent on the behavior of radio links which are has been observed that WSN simulation results are dependent
known to be unreliable over time and space. Propagation on radio channel propagation models and its parameters. There
models are basic building blocks for effective wireless is a need for accurate and computationally efficient radio
communication system including wireless sensor networks [7]. channel models for WSN. The vertical and horizontal
WSNs with MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) dimension of natural geographic land surface is called Terrain.
technology have enabled the development of sensors with The terrain features largely determines which radio
smart radio transceivers [8]. These radio transceivers transmit propagation model best fit to describe it. Free-space loss,

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 SAI Intelligent Systems Conference 2015
November 10-11, 2015 | London, UK

ground reflections and earth diffractions are observed for flat Pt Gt Gr ht2 hr2
terrains. Irregular terrain produces diffraction loss, shadowing, Pr (d ) =
blockage with varying distances. Elevation, slope, and Ld 4 (5)
orientation are some features of terrain that affect the Where ht and hr are the heights of the transmitter and
propagation of electromagnetic waves. The terrain path loss receiver antennas respectively
model provides a method to measure median path loss as a
function of distance. Egli model was proposed in 1957 and This equation is widely used in different network
based on real data made its implementation easy [11] . The simulators (NS-2, Qulanet) for approximating path loss in
model measures median path loss over irregular terrain by (1) different WSNs applications. The two-ray model does not give
a good result for a short distance (d) due to the oscillation
2
ªh h º caused by the constructive and destructive combination of the
L50 = Gb Gm « b 2m » β two rays. Path loss is independent of the frequency
¬ d ¼ (1) (wavelength) and if height of transmitter or receiver antenna is
Where Gb is the gain of the base antenna, Gm is the gain of raised, receiver power increases.
themobile antenna, hb is the height of the base antenna, hm is According to Log-Distance Path Loss Model [12] the
the height of the mobile antenna, d is the propagation distance received power at distance d is given by equation 6
ȕ= (40/f)2 , where f is in MHz
§ d ·
Longley-Rice Model model [12] [13]was developed in the PL ( d ) = PL ( d o ) + 10n log¨¨ ¸¸
1960s and based on data collected between 20 MHz and 20 © do ¹ (6)
GHz, at ranges from 1 to 2000 km, at antenna heights between Where n is the path loss exponent and varies with
0.5 and 3000m, and for both vertical and horizontal propagation environments,n=2 for free space, n varies from 4
polarization. Longley-Rice model works for two modes, point- to 6 for obstruction of buildings
point and area mode.
For large cell area do is 1 km and for micro-cell system it
ITU Model model is based on diffraction theory and varies from 10m-1m
calculates median path loss [13]. It is given by (2)
In reality, the received power at certain distance is function
Ad = −20h / F1 + 10 of a random variable due to multipath propagation effects also
(2) known as shadowing (fading) effects. The Log Normal
Where h is the height difference (negative if blockage is Shadowing Model [12] consists of two parts i.e. path loss
above LOS) model and variation of the received power at certain distance.
F1 is the radius of the first Fresnel zone and is given by The equation for this model is shown by equation 7

d1 d 2 § d ·
F1 = 17.3 PL ( dB ) = PL ( d o ) + 10 n log¨¨ ¸¸ + X σ
fd © do ¹ (7)
(3)
Where d1 and d2 are the distances from each terminal to the Where Xı is a zero mean Gaussian distributed random
blockage in km, d is the distance between the terminals in km; variable in dB with standard deviation ı also in dB. In practice
f is the frequency in GHz n and ı values are computed from measured data.

The free space radio propagation model [12] assumes the In urban environment, propagation of electromagnetic
ideal propagation condition that first Fresnel zone between waves is influenced by geometry of buildings, material of
transmitter and receiver pair is clear of obstacles. H. T Friss structures, and density of population. Without LOS
formulated the equation 4 to calculate the received signal communication radio waves reach the receiver via diffraction
strength in free space as a function of the distance d between over rooftops and around corners. The sensor nodes
transmitter and receiver. (transmitter and receiver) for smart city applications are
deployed generally near ground, on electric poles, on traffic
Pt Gt Gr λ2 lights to capture the data. There is an increasing need for
Pr (d ) = understanding and modeling the radio wave propagation in
(4π )2 d 2 L (4) urban and semi urban terrain. The goal is to measure the
Where Pt is the transmitted power (mW), Gt and Gr are the median path loss which depends upon the size and density of
transmitting and receiving antenna gains,Ȝ is the wavelength of the buildings.
the signal, L is the system path loss ( L ≥ 1) The okumura model [14] [15] was developed in 1960 with
frequency coverage between 200-1900 MHz and distances of
A two-ray model [12] consider two overlapping waves at 1km to 1000km. This empirical model was based solely on the
the receiver, one direct LOS path and one reflected wave from data measured in Tokyo city. The path loss formula is
the ground surface to accurately describe the model. The represented by equation 8
equation 5 calculates the received power as
L = L fsl + Ama − H bf − H mf − Garea
(8)

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 SAI Intelligent Systems Conference 2015
November 10-11, 2015 | London, UK

Where Lfsl is the free-space loss for the given distance and TABLE I. HARDWARE PARAMETERS
frequency , Ama is the media attenuation relative to Lfsl , Hbf
and Hmf are antenna height gain factor for base and mobile Parameters Values
station repectively, Garea is the gain due to type of environment Modulation (DSSS) 2 bit/symbol
Operating frequency fC 2400 MHz & 2485 MHz
HATA [16] macrocell model is an empirical formulation of Output power control range -35 dB
the graphical path loss data provided by okumura and is valid Transmitted power 2.5 dBm
in the range of 150- 1500 MHz and is sometimes called in Receiver sensitivity -96 dBm
Distance between Transmitter and
literature as Okumura-Hata model. To practically realize the receiver d (in meter)
upto 50 m
effects of diffraction, reflection, and scattering the Tokyo city RSSI Linearity -95 to -10 dBm
was divided into three different zones: Urban areas, suburban
areas, and open areas. Following are three different formulas B. Radio Equipment
for path loss: The JN5168 is a 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 Zigbee compliant
A + B log10 (d ) for urban area ultra-low power, high performance surface mount module and
RF4CE compatible. This module uses NXP’s JN5168 wireless
L= A + B log10 (d ) − C for suburban area (9) microcontroller [17] with large memory, high CPU and radio
A + B log10 (d ) − D for open area performance. The PHY and MAC layer is IEEE 802.15.4
standard compliance.The radio module is programmable with
maximum transmitted power of +2.5 dBm (Decibel-
where
milliwatts). The receiver sensitivity is -95 dBm. the model is
A = 69.55 + 26.16 log10 ( f c ) − 13.82 log10 (hb ) − a(hm ) equipped with a 32-bit RISC Jennic 5168 microcontroller with
B = 44.9 − 6.55 log10 (hb ) patch antenna gain of 2dBi.Sixteen channels in the 2.4 GHz
C = 5.4 + 2[log10 ( f c / 28)]
2 ISM band are available in this module.
D = 40.94 + 4.78[log10 ( f c )] − 19.33 log10 ( f c )
2

With following conditions

carrier frequency 150 ≤ f c ≤ 1000 ( MHz )
base station antenna height 30 ≤ hb ≤ 200 ( m)
mobile station height 1 ≤ hm ≤ 10 (m)
dis tan ce 1 ≤ d ≤ 20 (km) between base station and mobile station
The parameter a(hm) is a antenna height correction factor
with following values
(1.1 log10 ( f c ) − 0.7)hm − (1.56 log10 ( f c ) − 0.8 for medium or small city
a (hm ) = (8.28(log10 (1.54hm )) 2 − 1.1 for f c ≤ 200 MHz
For large
(3.2(log10 (11.75hm )) 2 − 4.97 for f c ≥ 400 MHz

III. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Fig. 1. Picture of the Radio Module and gateway
To find the radio propagation model that will give us the
least path loss in outdoor wireless sensor network application
C. Measurement Environment
leading to a better localization framework. Most WSN
applications use 2400 MHz and 2500 MHz frequency bands in We performed the measurement in our university block
different terrain, foliage, and built up areas. In this frequency surrounded by 6-storey buildings as shown in Fig. 2. The
range many different path loss models are developed for transmitter was fixed with receiving sensor node sampling the
different scenarios. We will make a comparison between channel every 1 sec, at about 5 meter up to 50 meter. Radio
different radio propagation models for developing effective propagation performance was calculated based on link quality
localization framework. indicator (LQI). As measured experimentally the LQI ranges
A. Hardware parameter from 0 to 255, and is further used to map the received signal
strength indicator (RSSI). LQI is converted to RSSI with (10)
Two different frequencies ( fc ) are used: 2455 MHz and
2560MHz (ISM Band).LOS environment is considered. RSS = (7 * LQI − 1970) / 20 (10)
Table I shows different hardware parameter for the After every 5 meter LQI is measured in step of 1 sec
experiment conducted. averaged over a set of 100 samples. The chosen data rate and
modulation scheme are in accordance with the IEEE 802.15.4
standard.

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calculated by log-distance model is clearly following the

experimental measured data.

Fig. 2. Photograph of the measurement site

IV. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

In this section two radio propagation models are evaluated
with measured (experimental) path loss. The free space path
model (FSPL) and Log-distance model statistics are shown in
Table II for channel 21 (2455 MHz) and Table III (2460 MHz).

TABLE II. STATISTICS FOR CHANNEL 21 Fig. 3. Path Loss vs. Distance (channel 21)
Measured Log-
Distance Path Loss Fig. 4 shows the path loss (in dBm) results as a function of
RSS FSPL Distance
(in m) (in dB) the distance between transmitter and receiver for free space and
(in dBm) Model
5 -46.25 48.75 54.22 50.03 log-distance model. The data points in the graph presents the
measured data and the simulated data with free space and log-
10 -58.66 61.16 60.24 62.07
distance model for frequency 2460 MHz. The path loss
15 -66.82 69.32 63.76 69.12 calculated by log-distance model is clearly following the
20 -71.61 74.11 66.26 74.11 experimental measured data
25 -73.90 76.40 68.20 77.99
30 -74.56 77.06 69.78 81.16
35 -74.46 76.96 71.12 83.83
40 -74.47 76.97 72.28 86.15
45 -75.46 77.96 73.31 88.20
50 -78.30 80.80 74.22 90.03

TABLE III. STATISTICS FOR CHANNEL 21

Measured Log-
Distance Path Loss
RSS FSPL Distance
(in meter) ( in dB)
(in dBm) model
5 -53.88 56.38 54.24 51.69
10 -60.94 63.44 60.26 63.73
Fig. 4. Path Loss vs Distance (channel 22)
15 -67.50 70.00 63.78 70.77
20 -73.27 75.77 66.28 75.77 V. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK
25 -77.95 80.45 68.22 79.64
In this paper we have presented the real data for analyzing
30 -81.25 83.75 69.80 82.81 different radio-propagation model for developing smart
35 -82.88 85.38 71.14 85.49 wireless sensor networks applications in outdoor environment.
The experiment is conducted in an open area with line of sight
40 -82.55 85.05 72.30 87.81
environment. The outdoor area is surrounded by six storey
45 -79.95 82.45 73.32 89.85 buildings. The log-distance model and free space path loss
50 -74.80 77.30 74.24 91.69 model is compared with the measured data for analyzing this
type of scenario. The log-distance model is clearly able to
Fig. 3 shows the path loss (in dBm) results as a function of model the scenario as compared to free-space model. The
the distance between transmitter and receiver for free space and operating channel considered here is channel 21 and channel
log-distance model. The data points in the graph presents the 22 for IEEE 802.15.4 standard. Based on the results, we can
measured data and the simulated data with free space and log- conclude that log-distance model can be used for localization
distance model for frequency 2455 MHz. The path loss scenarios in outdoor LOS environment.

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 SAI Intelligent Systems Conference 2015
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT international conference on information and communications technology,

2005, pp. 309-321.
The authors sincerely thanks Eigen Technologies Pvt Ltd. [9] N. S. Ukamaka, G. N. Onoh, V. E. Idigo, and A. O. Azubogu,
for providing us the experimental SENSEnuts test bed for “Experimental Characterization of WSN propagation in Outdoor
conducting our research. Environment ( using TelosB Sensor Nodes ),” International Journal of
Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering ,vol.
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