Best Paper Award
Path Loss Model with Low Antenna Height for Microwave Bands in Residential Areas
Motoharu Sasaki , Wataru Yamada , Naoki Kita , Takatoshi Sugiyama
[Trans. Commun., Vol. E96-B No.7, Jul. 2013]

Motoharu Sasaki
Wataru Yamada
Naoki Kita
Takatoshi Sugiyama		  
　This paper describes a path loss model with low antenna height for the microwave band. Recently, in light of requirements to evaluate interference between mobile terminals and to design small-cell areas, studies on low antenna height have assumed considerable importance. To date, path loss models with low antenna heights have been constructed on street microcell environments. In such environments, the propagation path along a road becomes dominant because other paths are shielded by tall buildings. Hence, several models that predict path loss using distance attenuation along a road have been reported. However, they have only taken into consideration such features of street microcell environments as right-angled corners, which means that they cannot be applied to residential areas where there are roads with gentle curves of less than 90 degrees. In addition, various propagation paths that do not involve the paths along roads can affect path loss characteristics because there are many small buildings in residential areas. Moreover, the prediction formulas need to be invertible because prediction results must be equal, even when transmitter and receiver are reversed.
　Therefore, in this paper, a new path loss model was constructed based on various measurements that take account of the issues described above. The authors carried out angular profile and height pattern measurements to clarify the dominant paths affecting path loss. This resulted in clarification of three dominant paths: paths along roads, paths between houses, and over-roof propagation paths. The propagation measurements for each path were carried out using a wide band frequency range. The constructed model can take into account various environment parameters such as road conditions, building heights, and building density. In addition, the model has invertible formulas. Consequently, the proposed model can be applied to various environments across a wide frequency range.
　As described above, the paper makes a contribution to future propagation studies of low antenna height environments. Therefore, it is an appropriate candidate for the Best Paper Award.

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