Large-scale fading model for mobile communications in disaster and salvage scenarios

Within a running project, I-LOV, wireless communication channel model for mobile radio propagation in disaster and salvage scenarios is developed. This contribution focuses on a semi-empirical large-scale fading (LSF) model, which is able to estimate signal power loss between base station and mobile phone under debris. Due to multitude of diverse materials appearing in burying scenarios, the signal loss factor varies heavily depending on electromagnetic properties of involved materials. Additionally, highly variable shape and dimension of rubbles impact strongly the loss factor. Besides numerous LSF models investigated in urban environments, only a few are in ruins. This paper presents a novel modeling concept of LSF in catastrophe scenarios. The proposed LSF model handles the radio propagation way in two parts: outside ruins and through the ruins. Measurements have been conducted at GSM 900 and GSM 1800 bands in collapsed buildings of stratified rubbles, as well as in an avalanche scenario. The model predication fits the measured data well.