Analysis of the Bertoni-Walfisch propagation

model for mobile radio

Dong Yuan Dongya Shen
School of Computer Science, Wenshan University, School of Information and Engineering, Yunnan University,
Wenshan, China Kunming , China

Abstract: some theoretical and experimental models have frequency (f), the distance between transmitter and receiver
been considered for the prediction of the path loss in mobile (D), the heights of transmitter and receiver antennas (h, and
communications system. However, one knows that in real
hm ), there are two other key parameters: the height
environment, the received signal is subject to variations. In
general, the Bertoni-Walfisch model used foresees path loss
building ( hb ) and the distance between buildings ( db ). The
when the height of building is vary or the center-center
spacing of the rows of the building is vary. A new extension of performance of Bertoni-Walfisch model is greater than
this model is made in this work, which consists of simulating others because it uses both experimental an theoretical
some of its parameters as the two parameters are random approaches. However, it is not appropriate to apply the
variables. Finally, this paper has given comparison between Bertoni-Walfisch model for every urban area, because
measured data and this model.
hb and db parameters may also be different. Therefore,
Key words: Bertoni-walfisch; wireless channel; random variable;
the specific circumstances of these two parameters must be
measurement
considered when applies this model, while researches
I. Introduction
DŽ
before have only considered a parameter situation[3][4][5].

Compared with other communication systems, the This paper took hb and db as variables and studied
wireless communication system is one of the most complex,
the first-order and second-order characteristic of
the channel fading characteristics are decided by the
Bertoni-Walfisch model as well as the marginal
radiotransmission environment. Under different
communication probability, etc. It provides a more precise
environment, the propagation characteristic is also different.
model for the planning of wireless network layout.
Therefore, it is particularly important to seek for a model
which can predict transmission path in different II. The Estimate of some parameters in Bertoni-Walfisch
environment. Bertoni-Walfisch model perfectly solves the Model
application of the single compact model in different urban
The path loss of Bertoni-Walfisch model defines by the
areas.
equation below:
Bertoni-Walfisch model (also known as diffraction
L = L0 + 57.1 + log f + 18 log D − 18 log( h − hb ) +
model) has not only considered the free space path loss, but
2
also considered the diffraction loss along the path D
A − 18 log(1 − ) 䯴 1䯵
propagation, as well as the impact of roof and building 17( h − hb )
height[1]. Bertoni-Walfisch model is used as ITU-R in the
standard of IMT-2000. In urban environment, the frequency L0 f
Where is the free space path loss and is the frequency
[2]
range is 800 MHz ~ 2000MHz .
(MHz), the last item has considered the Earth's curve. A is
Besides the basic parameters such as the link
on behalf of building's impact:

978-1-4244-9439-2/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE

77
 In the simulation, h=30m˗ hm =1.5m˗D=0.5km (the
db
A = 5 log[( ) 2 + (hb − hm ) 2 ] − 9 log d b + parameter data involved in the following simulations is the
2 same). In fig. 2, it can be seen that the path loss obviously
2( hb − hm ) changed with the building height and the street width, this
20 log{tan −1[ ]} 䯴 2䯵 also shows that these two parameters influence on the path
db
loss of can not be ignored.
Results of the survey showed that parameters of
db is the center-center spacing of the rows of
Where
h hb and db in some cities and parameters obeys the Gaussian
buildings in meters, b is the average building height in
distribution, and other cities’ are subject to Rayleigh
h
meters, m is the height of mobile antenna in meters, h is the distribution. In addition, this statistical model is also very
height of base station transmitter antenna height in meters, convenient to deal with projects. According to experience and
and D is the distance between base station and mobile antenna theoretical prediction and based on experimental data and
in kilometers. Bertoni-Walfisch model is shown in Figure 1. theoretical analysis, the building height and the streets width
obey Gaussian and Rayleigh distribution. The mean and of the

building height hb are 15 m and 3 m, and the mean and

variance of the street width db are 20 m and 5 m.

III. Simulation Results

Fig.1 Bertoni-Walfisch propagation model Path losses are calculated by the Bertoni-Walfisch

The Bertoni-Walfisch model is suitable the condition as model. In these calculation, the parameters of hb and db
follows: obey Gaussian and Rayleigh distribution. The power
f is 800MHz~2000MHz; D is 0.2km~5km. As shown in density function is shown in Figure 3:

fig 1, the parameters hb and db are very important to 0.12

db• hb-Gaussian
db• hb-Rayleigh

calculate path loss by Bertoni-Walfisch model. On the other 0.1 db-Gaussian• hb-Rayleigh
db-Rayleigh• hb-Gaussian
The PDF’s of The path loose

hand, these parameters may vary for every urban 0.08

environment. Therefore, these parameters must be

0.06

generalized in order to use the Bertoni-Walfisch model. The

0.04

path loss influenced by parameters hb and db is shown 0.02

in Figure 2: 0
0 50 100 150 200 250
The path loose/L0(dB)

Fig. 3 PDF, as db and hb is random variable simultaneously

From the fig. 3, we can see that when the building

Fig. 2 Bertoni-Walfisch propagation model, change with the
building height and the street width
height and width of the streets are subject to Gaussian
distribution, its’ PDF is narrower, the incidence of path loss
is the least; When building height and width of the streets
are subject to Rayleigh distribution, its’ PDF is wider, the
affected areas of path loss is the most. The Cumulative
Distribution Function (CDF) as shown in Figure 4.
Assumed that the Base station transmitter power for 36
dBm, Bertoni-Walfisch model parameters of hb and db both

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are subject to Gaussian or Rayleigh distribution receive
signals in the second-order statistical properties that Level
Crossing Rate(LCR) and Average Fade Duration(AFD)
respectively as shown in Figure 5, 6.
Assumed that the base station transmitter power for 36
dBm, the phone in the 50ȍ resistors is on the sensitivity of
0.5-V, sending antennas and receiving antennas get a gain,
antenna gain effective power increased 2 dB. Other
parameters such as: frequency f set of 900 MHz, mobile
station antenna height hm = 1.5m, a high degree of
base-station antennas hb = 30m. The edge communications
Fig. 5 the Level Crossing Rate (LCR) when building height (hb)
probability of Bertoni-Walfisch model is shown in Figure 7.
and width of the street (db) are variables
From the simulation results, when the building height and
width of the streets are subject to Gaussian distribution, to
minimize the impact of path loss, the quality of wireless
channel is the best; When the building height and width of the
streets are subject to Rayleigh distribution, to maximize
influence of path loss, the quality of wireless channel is the
worst. When the building height is subject to Gaussian
distribution, while width of the streets subject to Rayleigh
distribution or the building height is subject to Rayleigh
distribution, width of the streets is subject to Gaussian
distribution, the impact of their wireless channel between

hb d
and b both are subject to Gaussian distribution and
both are subject to Rayleigh distribution.
And then, we also compared the Bertoni-walfisch model
Fig.6 the duration of the decline (AFD) when building height (hb)
to the measurements data, which measured in Kunming,
and width of the street (db) are variables
China. The Bertoni-Walfisch propagation model suits
Kunming area very well. As shown in Figure 8.
1 1
0.9
db• hb-Gaussian
0.9 db• hb-Rayleigh
0.8 db-Gaussian• hb-Rayleigh
The edge communication probability(% )

0.8
db-Rayleigh• hb-Gaussian
The CDF’s of The path loss

0.7

0.6 0.7

0.5 0.6
0.4
0.5
0.3
db• hb-Gaussian 0.4
0.2 db• hb-Rayleigh
db-Gaussian• hb-Rayleigh 0.3
0.1
db-Rayleigh• hb-Gaussian
0 0.2
80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160
The path loss/L0(dB)
0.1

Fig. 4 the Cumulative Distribution Function, as db and hb is 0

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
random variables at the same time The distance between transmitter and recevier• km•

Fig. 7 the edge communications probability

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 [3] Dongya Shen, Yihuai Yang, Taijun Liu, ĀPhysical-statistical
140
Propagation Model on the Land Mobile Communicationsā,
130
Proceedings of 2005 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference, vol.4,
120 pp.2349-22352, Dec. 2005, Suzhou, China, IEEE Press.
[4]Yang Yihuai,Shen Dongya,etal,ĀPhysical-statistical Propagation
Path Loss/dB

110
Model on the Land Mobile Communicationsā,Journal of
100 Yunnan Universityˈ2006ˈ9.

90
[5]Gong K., Xu R. “Modeling of 3D In-Building Propagation
Effects by Ray Tracing Technique”. IEEE AP-S,6,1995
80 measurement
Bertoni-Walfisch model
70
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
The Distance of T-R/km

Fig.8 Bertoni-Walfisch model and measurements

IV. Conclusions

hb
As we can see from the results, the influence of and
db on wireless communication systems can not be ignored in

h d
Bertoni-Walfisch model. b and b have been chosen as
random variables and modeled in Gaussian distribution
functions, there is little influence for wireless communication,

so the wireless channel is the best. b and b have been

h d
chosen as random variables and modeled in Rayleigh
distribution functions, there is bigger influence for wireless
communication, so the wireless channel is the poorest. It’s
very necessary to consider these parameters when we use
Bertoni-Walfisch propagation model to analysis the wireless
communication systems. The Bertoni-Walfisch propagation
model is fairly applicable in Kunming areas.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The paper is supported by Nation Natural Science
Foundation of China (N0. 60662004; 60172006) and Science
and Technology department of national “863” project
(N0.2007AA01Z2B4).

REFERENCE

[1] CAVDRIH, “A Statistical Approach to Bertoni-Walfisch

Propagation Model for Mobile Radio Design in Urban Areas”.
IEEE VTC 52nd., Vol.1, pp.279-283,2001
[2] “Coverage prediction for mobile radio systems operation in the
800/900MHz frequency rang”. IEEE Trans on Vehicular
Technology, 1998,37(1):66-68

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