Welcome to todays webinar
An Introduction to the Aster Propagation Model
Vincent Spiegel
Sales Director
Forsk 2015
Eduard Railean
Product Manager
Slide 1
Webinar Agenda
Introduction
Aster
Main features
Use cases
Accuracy and speed of the model
Questions and answers
Forsk 2015
Slide 2
Introduction
Forsk and Atoll
Forsk 2015
Slide 3
Company Profile
Leader in the radio planning & optimisation software market
Developer of Atoll
7000 licences in use worldwide
450 customers in 120 countries
Worldwide customer base comprising wireless operators,
vendors, and engineering companies
Forsk 2015
Slide 4
Atoll 3.3
Multi-technology radio planning & optimisation software
GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA, LTE/LTE-Advanced, CDMA/EV-DO, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX & Wi-Fi
Microwave link engineering & backhaul capacity planning
Technical leadership
Native 64-bit application
Single RAN multi-RAT architecture
Combination of Live data and prediction for planning and optimisation
In-built automation and customisation capabilities
Global support
Forsk support centres in France, USA, and China
Network of local distributors complementing our support centres
Forsk 2015
Slide 5
Aster
A new propagation model for Atoll
Macro and micro/small cells planning in urban areas
Ray-tracing techniques
Automatic calibration based on measurements
Released in March 2015
High accuracy / superior calculation speed
Addressing the needs for large calculation campaign for small cell planning in Urban areas
Forsk 2015
Slide 6
Aster Propagation Model
Forsk 2015
Slide 7
Coverage Modelling Challenges in Mobile Networks
Mobile network development trends
Multiple frequency bands
Ever increasing densification
Complex layering (macro/mini/small cells)
Heterogeneous networks (GSM/UMTS/LTE/WiFi)
High data volume
Large number of sites
High precision geo data
Requirements for the propagation model
Accuracy
Speed
Versatility
Forsk 2015
Slide 8
Aster Propagation Model General Description
64-bit high-performance ray-tracing propagation
model
Models radio wave propagation for all mobile
technologies
Supports frequencies from 150 MHz to 5 GHz
Adapts to all types of environments: from dense
urban to rural
Models macro, mini and small cells
Forsk 2015
Slide 9
Aster Propagation Model Features
Ray-tracing
Vertical diffraction over the roof-tops
Horizontal diffraction/reflection based on
ray-launching
Uses raster or vector building data
Optimised for fast calculations
high-speed unique ray-tracing technique
Highly accurate
Aster is delivered with pre-calibrated
parameters
Automatic calibration features
Ready & easy-to-use
Forsk 2015
Slide 10
Indoor propagation
Models the following indoor propagation:
Outdoor to indoor
Indoor
Indoor to outdoor
Main indoor parameters:
Penetration loss
Linear loss
Receiver height (default or floor level)
Forsk 2015
Slide 11
Map data
DTM
Clutter
Raster buildings
Vectors (buildings, bridges, vegetation
and water)
Forsk 2015
Slide 12
Flexible Input Data
Highly flexible in terms of input data
Calculations based on propagation clutter types
Ray-tracing calculations on vector buildings
Ray-tracing calculations on raster buildings
Ray-tracing on combinations of raster and vector
buildings
Vector data need no pre-processing
Forsk 2015
Slide 13
Multi-type and Multi-resolution Environments
Propagation classes
Statistical
Deterministic
The high resolution layer is mapped to Asters
deterministic propagation classes and the low
resolution layer is mapped to Asters statistical
propagation classes
Transition between different resolutions
Transition between raster and vector
Forsk 2015
Slide 14
Model calibration
The model is provided with default
parameters
Suitable for macro and small cell scenarios
Integrated automatic calibration function
minimises
Mean error
Standard Deviation
Spread of mean errors
Statistical analysis
Evaluating existing models
Controlling the calibration process
Comparing different parameter settings
Forsk 2015
Slide 15
Use Cases
Deploying small cells
Densifying the macro layer
APP
OS
Modelling HETNets
APP
OS
APP
OS
APP
OS
APP
OS
Forsk 2015
Slide 16
Small Cell Environment
Small cell environment characteristics
Low antenna height
Low power and reduced range
High geo data resolution
Dominated by horizontal propagation
Aster for small cells
Dedicated micro cell propagation component
High resolution with or without vectors
High speed ray tracing algorithm
Up to 10 diffractions and reflections
Indoor propagation modelling
Wall penetration
Indoor linear loss
Forsk 2015
Slide 17
Macro Environment
Macro environment characteristics
Above rooftops antenna height
Greater range
High geo data resolution
Dominated by vertical propagation
Aster for macro cells
Dedicated macro propagation
component
High and low resolution data with or
without vectors
High speed algorithm
Deterministic and statistical components
Forsk 2015
Slide 18
Performance: Speed
Aster propagation model supports:
Single threaded
Multi-threaded
Parallel computations
High computation speed is achieved
Using special raster treatment
Optimised data access
Computation time for a typical
Small cell: 5s
Macro cell: 8s
Forsk 2015
Slide 19
Aster Calculation time
Ray tracing parameters
Number of ref/diffractions 4
Ray-tracing range 800 m
Macro tri sector 35m high site
Primary matrix range/resolution - 1km/5m
Secondary matrix range/resolution - 5km/20m
Prediction Time = 5.5 sec
Small Cell one sector 7m high site
Matrix range - 1km
5m resolution: Prediction Time = 1 sec
2m resolution: Prediction Time = 10 sec
Forsk 2015
Slide 20
Performance: Accuracy
Dense Urban area with default parameters
(macro cells)
Ray tracing with sectors: St Dev=5.32 dB
Micro cells in 900 Mhz
Standard Deviation = 6.77 dB
Microcells in combined 900 and 1800 Mhz
Standard Deviation = 6.63 dB
Dense Urban area a mix of macro and micro
cells
Standard deviation = 6.53 dB
Forsk 2015
Slide 21
Highlights
Aster Propagation Model achieves high accuracy and
high calculation speed out of the box
In-built flexibility allowing easy adaptation to various
environments and geodata types
Superior calculation speed allowing for high resolution
calculations and large number of sites
Forsk 2015
Slide 22
Thank you for attending todays webinar
Q&A session
Feel free to send your questions to:
Vincent Spiegel
vspiegel@forsk.com
Forsk 2013
Eduard Railean
erailean@forsk.com
Slide 23
