A Geographic Information System Applied to Coverage Maps of 3G Cellular Communications Networks

Abstract

This paper shows the procedure to obtain a continuous coverage map based on a collection of power meas- urements using a Geographic Information System, through satellite photographs of the Professional Unit Adolfo Lopez Mateos, and a group of punctual samples of the power of the Common Pilot Channel (CPICH); which is used to estimate the radio communications channel conditions, taken at different positions and dis- tances. These samples were taken using specialized equipment to obtain georeferenced measurements, and by a technique of statistical prediction, as the Krige Method, generate continuous coverage maps, making it possible to know the distribution of power, and therefore understanding the behavior and configuration of a Base Station, which in third generation cellular systems is also called Node B.