Efficient indoor and outdoor EM wave propagation in a compact terrain database (CTDB) representation of the urban canyon environment

This paper describes an efficient urban outdoor and indoor wave propagation model that supports receiver performance and coverage analyses as well as system effectiveness analyses within urban canyon environments described in the compact terrain database (CTDB) format. The model has been used to support Joint MEASURE (Mission Effectiveness Analysis Simulator for Utility, Research and Evaluation) based analyses of GPS III performance/coverage within a typical urban environment (Philadelphia) as well as effectiveness analysis of GPS augmented intersection collision warning systems and search and rescue support systems. The model uses a hybrid ray tracing and finite volume time domain/finite difference time domain (FVTD/FDTD) method to simulate outdoor and indoor wave propagation. This model provides reliable indoor and outdoor site-specific coverage and delay spread information on a compact terrain database urban environment.