A new wave propagation model for urban and suburban macro cellular coverage prediction

A novel nonempirical microwave propagation model (called URBAN-MACRO) for urban and suburban macro cellular mobile radio is presented. The urban built-up structure is represented by building classes, which contain the corresponding terrain structure parameters. A virtual terrain profile vector of the vertical transmitter/receiver plane is derived using built-up parameters. Based on a deterministic, ray optical approach, the path loss can be calculated for transmitter locations both above and below building heights. A first comparison of predicted results with measurements, which shows a good agreement, is presented. Micro and macro cell area coverage predictions, computed in a reasonable time, are shown.<>