Open Access
Deterministic propagation approach for millimeter-wave outdoor smart parking solution deployment
(MDPI, 2020) Rodríguez Corbo, Fidel Alejandro; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Celaya Echarri, Mikel; López Iturri, Peio; Alejos, Ana V.; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Impact factor as an indicator of efficiency or sustainability is entirely correlated with the continuous development of the smart city concept technology application. Intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) and particularly autonomous vehicles are expected to play an important role in this challenging environment. Fast and secure connections will be pivotal in order to achieve this new vehicular communications’ application era. The use of millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequency range is the most promising approach to allow these real-time, high-demand applications that require higher bandwidth with the minimum possible latency. However, an in-depth mmWave-channel characterization of the environment is required for a proper mmWave-based solution deployment. In this work, a complete radio wave propagation channel characterization for a mmWave smart parking solution deployment in a complex outdoor environment was assessed at a 28 GHz frequency band. The considered scenario is a parking lot placed in an open free university campus area surrounded by inhomogeneous vegetation. The vehicle and vegetation density within the scenario, in terms of inherent transceivers density and communication impairments, leads to overall system operation challenges, given by multiple communication links operation at line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions. By means of an in-house developed 3D ray launching (3D-RL) algorithm, the impact of variable vegetation density is addressed, providing precise modelling estimations of large-scale multipath propagation effects in terms of received power levels and path loss. The obtained results along with the proposed simulation methodology can aid in an adequate characterization of an mmWave communication channel for new vehicular communications networks, applications, and deployments, considering the outdoor conditions as well as the impact of different vegetation densities, for current as well as for future wireless technologies.
Open Access
Spatial characterization of personal RF-EMF exposure in public transportation buses
(IEEE, 2019) Celaya Echarri, Mikel; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; López Iturri, Peio; Aguirre Gallego, Erik; Miguel Bilbao, Silvia de; Ramos, Victoria; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
New services and applications within vehicular environments employ multiple wireless communication systems, within a Heterogeneous Network framework. In this context, evaluation of electromagnetic field impact is compulsory, in order to warrant compliance with current exposure limits. In this work, E-field strength distribution within urban transportation buses is studied, in which different types of buses as well as network configurations are considered. E-field estimations are obtained within the complete interior volume of the urban buses, considering all of the characteristics in terms of bus structure and materials employed, by means of an in-house developed deterministic 3D Ray-Launching (3D-RL) code. In this way, relevant phenomena in terms of electromagnetic propagation and interaction are considered, such as multipath propagation and shadowing, which determine exposure levels as a function of transceiver location within the bus scenarios. The behavior in terms of E-field distribution of wireless Public Land Mobile communication systems within transportation buses have been analyzed by means of measurement campaigns employing personal exposimeter devices. In addition, E-field volumetric distributions by means of 3D-RL simulations have been obtained as a function of user distribution within the buses, with the aim of analyzing the impact of user presence within complex intra-vehicular indoor scenarios such as urban transportation buses. A comparison with current exposure limits given by currently adopted standards is obtained, showing that E-field levels were below the aforementioned limits. The use of deterministic simulation techniques based on 3D-RL enables E-field exposure analysis in complex indoor scenarios, offering an optimized balance between accuracy and computational cost. These results and the proposed simulation methodology, can aid in an adequate assessment of human exposure to non-ionizing radiofrequency fields in public transportation buses, considering the impact of the morphology and the topology of vehicles, for current as well as for future wireless technologies and exposure limits.
Open Access
From 2G to 5G spatial modeling of personal RF-EMF exposure within urban public trams
(IEEE, 2020) Celaya Echarri, Mikel; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Karpowicz, Jolanta; López Iturri, Peio; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
The upcoming design and implementation of the new generation of 5G cellular systems, jointly with the multiple wireless communication systems that nowadays coexist within vehicular environments, leads to Heterogeneous Network challenging urban scenarios. In this framework, user's Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) radiation exposure assessment is pivotal, to verify compliance with current legislation thresholds. In this work, an in-depth study of the E-field characterization of the personal mobile communications within urban public trams is presented, considering different cellular technologies (from 2G to 5G). Specifically, frequency bands in the range of 5G NR frequency range 1 (FR1) and millimeter wave (mm-wave) bands within frequency range 2 (FR2) have been analyzed for 5G scenarios, considering their dispersive material properties. A simulation approach is presented to assess user mobile phone base station up-link radiation exposure, considering all the significant features of urban transportation trams in terms of structure morphology and topology or the materials employed. In addition, different user densities have been considered at different frequency bands, from 2G to 5G (FR1 and FR2), by means of an in-house developed deterministic 3D Ray-Launching (3D-RL) technique in order to provide clear insight spatial E-field distribution, including the impact in the use of directive antennas and beamforming techniques, within realistic operation conditions. Discussion in relation with current exposure limits have been presented, showing that for all cases, E-Field results are far below the maximum reference levels established by the ICNIRP guidelines. By means of a complete E-field campaign of measurements, performed with both, a personal exposimeter (PEM) and a spectrum analyzer within a real tram wagon car, the proposed methodology has been validated showing good agreement with the experimental measurements. In consequence, a simulation-based analysis methodology for dosimetry estimation is provided, aiding in the assessment of current and future cellular deployments in complex heterogeneous vehicular environments.
Open Access
Deterministic wireless channel characterization towards the integration of communication capabilities to enable context aware industrial internet of thing environments
(Springer, 2022) Picallo Guembe, Imanol; López Iturri, Peio; Celaya Echarri, Mikel; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
In order to provide interactive capabilities within the context of Internet of Thing (IoT) applications, wireless communication systems play a key role, owing to in-herent mobility, ubiquity and ease of deployment. However, to comply with Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) metrics, coverage/capacity analysis must be performed, to account for the impact of signal blockage as well as multiple interference sources. This analysis is especially complex in the case of indoor scenarios, such as those derived from Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). In this work, a fully volumetric approach based on hybrid deterministic 3D Ray Launching is employed providing precise wireless channel characterization and hence, system level analysis of indoor scenarios. Coverage/capacity, interference mapping and time domain characterization estimations will be derived, considering different frequencies of operation below 6 GHz. The proposed methodology will be tested against a real measurement scenario, providing full flexibility and scalability for adoption in a wide range of IIoT capable environments.
Open Access
Basketball player on-body biophysical and environmental parameter monitoring based on wireless sensor network integration
(IEEE, 2021) Picallo Guembe, Imanol; López Iturri, Peio; Astrain Escola, José Javier; Aguirre Gallego, Erik; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Celaya Echarri, Mikel; Villadangos Alonso, Jesús; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Matematika eta Informatika Ingeniaritza; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Matemática e Informática; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
Sport activities have benefited in recent years from the progressive adoption of different technological assets in order to improve individual as well as group training, collect different statistics or enhance the spectator experiences. The progressive adoption of Internet of Things paradigms can also be considered within the scope of sport activities, providing high levels of user interactivity as well as enabling cloud-based data storage and processing. In this work, a system for monitoring biophysical, kinematic and environmental parameters within the development of basketball training is presented. A set of on-body nodes with multiple sensors and wireless body area network capabilities have been designed, implemented and tested under real training conditions during a match. Wireless channel analysis results have been obtained with the aid of in house implemented deterministic 3D ray launching algorithm, providing accurate coverage/capacity estimations in relation with human body consideration in the field as well as in the stadium. Measurement results give relevant information in relation with individual player characteristics as well as with team characteristics, providing a flexible tool to improve training development of basketball.
Open Access
Empirical and modeling approach for environmental indoor RF-EMF assessment in complex high-node density scenarios: public shopping malls case study
(IEEE, 2021) Celaya Echarri, Mikel; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Ramos, Victoria; López Iturri, Peio; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
This work provides an intensive and comprehensive in-depth study from an empirical and modeling approach of the environmental radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) radiation exposure in public shopping malls, as an example of an indoor high-node user density context aware environment, where multiple wireless communication systems coexist. For that purpose, current personal mobile communications (2G-5G FR 1) as well as Wi-Fi services (IEEE 802.11n/ac) have been precisely analyzed in order to provide clear RF-EMF assessment insight and to verify compliance with established regulation limits. In this sense, a complete measurements campaign has been performed in different countries, with frequency-selective exposimeters (PEMs), providing real empirical datasets for statistical analysis and allowing discussion and comparison regarding current health effects and safety issues between some of the most common RF-EMF exposure safety standards: ICNIRP 2020 (Spain), IEEE 2019 (Mexico) and a more restrictive regulation (Poland). In addition, environmental RF-EMF exposure assessment simulation results, in terms of spatial E-field characterization and Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) probabilities, have been provided for challenging incremental high-node user dense scenarios in worst case conditions, by means of a deterministic in-house 3D Ray-Launching (3D-RL) RF-EMF safety simulation technique, showing good agreement with the experimental measurements. Finally, discussion highlighting the contribution and effects of the coexistence of multiple heterogenous networks and services for the environmental RF-EMF radiation exposure assessment has been included, showing that for all measured results and simulated cases, the obtained E-Field levels are well below the exposure limits established in the internationally accepted standards and guidelines. In consequence, the obtained results and the presented methodology could become a starting point to stablish the RF-EMF assessment basis of future complex heterogeneous 5G FR 2 developments on the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency range, where massive high-node user density networks are expected.
Open Access
Digital twin modelling of open category UAV radio communications: a case study
(Elsevier, 2024) Aláez Gómez, Daniel; López Iturri, Peio; Celaya Echarri, Mikel; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Villadangos Alonso, Jesús; Astrain Escola, José Javier; Estadística, Informática y Matemáticas; Estatistika, Informatika eta Matematika; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
The modeling of radio links plays a crucial role in achieving mission success of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). By simulating and analyzing communication performance, operators can anticipate and address potential challenges. In this paper, we propose a full-featured UAV software-in-the-loop digital twin (SITL-DT) for a heavy-lifting hexacopter that integrates a radio link module based on an experimental path loss model for ‘Open’ category Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) conditions and drone-antenna radiation diagrams obtained via electromagnetic simulation. The main purpose of integrating and simulating a radio link is to characterize when the communication link can be conflicting due to distance, the attitude of the aircraft relative to the pilot, and other phenomena. The system architecture, including the communications module, is implemented and validated based upon experimental flight data.
Open Access
Spatial V2X traffic density channel characterization for urban environments
(IEEE, 2021) Granda, Fausto; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Celaya Echarri, Mikel; López Iturri, Peio; Vargas Rosales, César; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
In this work, Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) wireless communications performance is analyzed, in order to account for inherent scenario complexity, in the deployment phase of wireless systems towards the implementation of a Context Aware environment. An urban environment has been simulated by means of an in-house three-dimensional (3D) Ray Launching algorithm, coupled with a microscopic vehicular movement simulator, accounting for embedded urban elements as well as variable traffic densities within the complex environment. Large-scale and small-scale results are presented, as well as statistical analysis of the impact of different traffic densities. A campaign of measurements in the same real scenario has been performed, showing good agreement with wireless channel estimations for the considered frequency. These results can aid in V2X deployment configurations in urban environments, in order to minimize power consumption, optimize interference levels and increase overall system performance.
Open Access
Deterministic and empirical approach for millimeter-wave complex outdoor smart parking solution deployments
(MDPI, 2021) Rodríguez Corbo, Fidel Alejandro; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Celaya Echarri, Mikel; López Iturri, Peio; Alejos, Ana V.; Shubair, Raed M.; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
The characterization of different vegetation/vehicle densities and their corresponding effects on large-scale channel parameters such as path loss can provide important information during the deployment of wireless communications systems under outdoor conditions. In this work, a deterministic analysis based on ray-launching (RL) simulation and empirical measurements for vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications for outdoor parking environments and smart parking solutions is presented. The study was carried out at a frequency of 28 GHz using directional antennas, with the transmitter raised above ground level under realistic use case conditions. Different radio channel impairments were weighed in, considering the progressive effect of first, the density of an incremental obstructed barrier of trees, and the effect of different parked vehicle densities within the parking lot. On the basis of these scenarios, large-scale parameters and temporal dispersion characteristics were obtained, and the effect of vegetation/vehicle density changes was assessed. The characterization of propagation impairments that different vegetation/vehicle densities can impose onto the wireless radio channel in the millimeter frequency range was performed. Finally, the results obtained in this research can aid communication deployment in outdoor parking conditions.
Open Access
Enabling anything to anything connectivity within urban environments towards cognitive frameworks
(IEEE, 2024-08-23) Picallo Guembe, Imanol; Klaina, Hicham; López Iturri, Peio; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Celaya Echarri, Mikel; Astrain Escola, José Javier; Villadangos Alonso, Jesús; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Estadística, Informática y Matemáticas; Estatistika, Informatika eta Matematika; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
The evolution from Smart Cities towards Cognitive Cities is enabled, among others, by the use of flexible and adaptive communication systems, capable of providing high levels of interactivity among multiple systems and users. In this work, wireless connectivity in full volumetric scale is analyzed, in order to provide wireless links between any device/user within the scenario, spanning to different applications from vehicular connectivity at different levels or infrastructure related communications, among others.