Indoor Scenarios

Application

Propagation of electromagnetic waves inside buildings in the frequency range above 600 MHz is influenced mainly by the walls (and large furniture elements). Diffractions around corners as well as waveguiding in corridors (due to multiple reflections) are dominating the propagation inside buildings.

For frequencies below 600 MHz, simple empirical propagation models can be used.

But for  higher frequencies deterministic approaches are mandatory, because the multipath propagation is very important and empirical propagation models are therefore not sufficient.  The scenario in and around the building must be described either with 3D vector databases or with pixel databases. The materials of the objects should be defined as well to obtain accurate results.

Typical indoor propagation scenario

with some propagation paths.

• cellular network planning (e.g. picocells/femtocells) inside buildings (incl. penetration of cellular networks into buildings)
  
• broadcasting (e.g. indoor coverage of terrestrial transmitters or satellites)
• coverage analysis and network planning inside tunnels or underground stations
  
• short range radio link analysis (e.g. UWB in and around vehicles)
  
• LOS analysis

Propagation Models

Phenomena like multi-path propagation, reflection (wave-guiding), diffraction and shadowing have a significant influence on the received power inside buildings. So the corresponding propagation models should consider all these phenomena to obtain accurate results.

 
Additionally, the analysis should not be restricted to single floors. Rigorous 3D modelling offers the possibility, to predict the radio signals on multiple planes (multi-floor) - each result plane with an arbitrary orientation (not limited to horizontal planes).

WinProp supports also leaky feeder cables and distributed antenna systems.

More information about the propagation models for indoor scenarios can be found on the Indoor Propagation Page.

Predictions on multiple floors

in multiple buildings in a

campus scenario

Databases

For most indoor planning tools, the handling of the building data is the most critical part. If the tool is too complicated or if it takes too much time to define the building database with the tool, it makes no sense to plan the indoor network with a software tool.
If this is your experience, you should either install the network without any computer assistance (not recommended) or you should select a better software product (recommended).
With a good software tool you can define 3D vector or pixel databases within a few minutes.

More information about indoor databases can be found on the Indoor Vector Database and on the Indoor Pixel Database pages.

Complex 3D building database

of a large building.

Brochure: Inndoor Prediction Models

Presentation: Indoor Prediction Models

Application Note: Indoor Pixel Building Data

See a comparison between different indoor prediction models.

Read more about the indoor prediction models.

Read more about tunnel scenarios.

Download indoor sample databases.

Read more about indoor vector databases.

Read more about indoor pixel databases.

 Download a brochure about

WinProp's indoor propagation models.

Download some sample databases to test

and verify the indoor prediction models.