Characterization and Modeling of a Wireless Channel at 2.4 and 5.8 GHz in Underground Tunnels

Abstract

Underground tunnels, such as caverns and mine galleries, are indoor environments far more hostile, in terms of wireless communication, than conventional ones like road tunnels, offices or factories. Wireless propagation behavior in these areas is found to be fairly peculiar, mainly due to the extreme roughness of wall surfaces. This paper presents comprehensive broadband measurement and modeling results of electromagnetic wave propagation in real underground mine tunnels at 2.4 and 5.8 GHz. Broadband radio propagation in these environments is observed to exhibit behavior that is quite different from conventional indoor environments with smooth surfaces. Notably, signal variation can be highly locally specific and site-specific, rms delay spread varies randomly with transmitter-receiver distance and no path arrival clustering effect is observed. These path time arrivals tend to follow a Modified Poisson distribution and amplitude tends to follow Rice and Rayleigh distributions for line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight cases, respectively. Extensive simulations have shown the models to be very close to reality.

Enhancing the Coverage of Indoor Radio Localization by Distributed Computations

“…Some additional assumptions for the small-scale behavior have to be considered. As for other indoor environments with a dominating LOS component, the fast fluctuations are modeled with a Rician distribution [24]. In [1], experiments with 450 MHz and 900 MHz support the theoretical waveguide model.…”

Wi-Fi Direct based WSN Node Deployment in Underground Mine Tunnels

“…Zhang [11], created a model for tunnel line-of-sight (LOS) signal propagation loss which depends on medium permittivity and conductivity. Boutin et al [12], proposed a radio signal attenuation and path loss model based on experimental measurements for LOS and non-lineof-site cases And came up with the modifi ed formula of path loss, 2), d 0 Where PL dB path loss value at d0; 10 α log ( d ) is the reference path d 0 loss at d0, and X is a random Gaussian variable.…”

Development of plough-able RFID sensor network systems for precision agriculture

“…Reliable and efficient communication networks are needed to improve the safety and productivity in underground mines by providing a communication link between the underground mine and locations above the ground [18]. Since the traditional wired communication system is typically high-cost and hard to deploy, there is increasing research in implementing WSNs systems in underground mines or road/subway tunnels to achieve underground communication and monitoring [59], [60], [61], [62], [63], [64]. It has been found that radio waves propagation in underground mines or road tunnels can be affected by the bounding of the passageway or the tunnel walls [59], [60].…”

“…It has been found that radio waves propagation in underground mines or road tunnels can be affected by the bounding of the passageway or the tunnel walls [59], [60]. The primary focus of most research is either on analysing models for the wireless channel or on investigating EM wave propagation behaviour in underground mines and underground tunnels [61], [62], [63], [64]. For example, Sun and Akyildiz [61] analysed the typical structures of current underground mine and road tunnels and theoretically investigated the wireless tunnel channel and the underground mine channel.…”

“…For example, Sun and Akyildiz [61] analysed the typical structures of current underground mine and road tunnels and theoretically investigated the wireless tunnel channel and the underground mine channel. Practical experiments have been carried out in an underground gallery at a 70 m depth by Boutin et al [64] to investigate wireless propagation behaviours in the mine channel at the frequency of 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. Although the mine is underground, the wireless communication of the system is through the air in the passageways of the mine.…”