Analysis and Validation of a Shadowing Simulation Model Suited for Dynamic and Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

Complete shadowing modelling is one of the key issues when performing system level simulation of wireless networks. So far, models have been defined considering fixed antenna heights and a cellular deployment of base stations over roofs. However in multi-hop networks, like vehicle-to-vehicle systems, mobile equipments can be in constant three-dimensional mobility and the height of transmitter and receiver may vary depending on the moment or the specific hop. Therefore, a new modelling approach is needed to take into account the impact of antenna height on shadowing. This paper presents and validates a shadowing simulation model based on multiple-edge diffraction. Such model provides an appropriate tool for simulating shadowing in cases where over-obstacle diffraction is the main propagation mechanism. In a classical scenario, results show that the model is in good agreement with literature in terms of its statistical parameters. Moreover, its capability for dealing with variations in antenna height makes it appropriate for simulating a wide range of wireless systems.