Analysis of DSRC Service Over-Reach inside an Arched Tunnel

In this paper, the prediction of received power in the out-of-zone of a dedicated short range communications (DSRC) system operating inside a typical arched highway tunnel is discussed. By conducting wideband directional channel sounding inside the tunnel, the gain, angle-of-arrival and delay of each propagation path are estimated by means of a multidimensional maximum likelihood estimation algorithm from the measured data. Using these estimated parameters and by employing simulations of application antennas according to the DSRC standard, the received power in the out-of-zone is predicted for 2 roadside unit (RSU) antenna positions. The dominant scatterers causing the over-reach of radiated power to the out-of- zone were identified and attributed to the ground and sidewalk. These scatterers can affect the received power level in the out- of-zone by as much as 10 dB. It can therefore be concluded that suppressing ground and sidewalk scatterings in the vicinity of RSU by installing composite pavement materials are needed to increase the electromagnetic absorption in order to guarantee DSRC services.