POPTD near-field scattering and diffraction method for path loss prediction in urban mobile radio-systems

In this paper the 3-D mathematical formulation and study for the simulation of the radio-propagation mechanisms in urban cellular environments are presented. The proposed methods and techniques are applicable to the 3-D radiocoverage prediction model, currently being developed by the authors´ research group. In the far field area, the proposed analysis is based on the well-known deterministic methods of Physical Optics (PO) and Physical Theory of Diffraction (PTD). In the near field and Frenel zone, a novel and time-efficient technique for the computation of the scattered and diffracted field is applied. Emphasis is also given to the time efficiency of the proposed approach since the high simulation time is one of the most important drawbacks of such radio-propagation prediction codes.