Clutter losses and environmental noise characteristics associated with various LULC categories

To enhance the accuracy of propagation predictions for broadcasting and land mobile applications, a more accurate characterization of clutter loss and of environmental noise has been needed. A series of tests was performed to quantify the environmental RF noise levels associated with various types of ground clutter and to quantify the effects of ground clutter on RF propagation path loss. Tests were performed at 162, 460, and 860 MHz in four different localities in the United States. Each had very different land clutter, as characterized by the land use land cover (LULC) categories used in the United States. It was found that the numbers currently in use by industry for clutter loss are, in general, slightly less than the observed values. Both the clutter loss and noise results can be applied to system design