Characterization of the Ultra-Wideband Channel in Confined Environments with Diffracting Rough Surfaces

  • Authors:

  • Abdellah Chehri;Paul Fortier;Pierre Martin Tardif

  • Affiliations:

  • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Laval University, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada;Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Laval University, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada;Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Laval University, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada

  • Venue:
  • Wireless Personal Communications: An International Journal
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

Accurate channel models are extremely important for the design of communications systems. Knowledge of the features of the channel provides communications system designers with the ability to predict the performance of the system for specific modulations, channel coding, and signal processing. This paper presents a statistical characterization of an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) propagation channel in an underground mine. Measurements were carried out in the 2---5 GHz frequency band. Various communication links were considered including both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-LOS (NLOS) scenarios. The measurement procedure allows us to characterize both the large-scale and the small-scale statistics of the channel. The aim here is to study in more details the statistical characteristics of the UWB propagation channel in an underground mine and to provide insight for future statistical channel modeling works. Channel characteristics examined include the distance and frequency dependency of path loss, shadowing fading statistics, and multipath temporal-domain parameter statistics such as the mean excess delay and the RMS delay spread. This work has been carried out by the underground communications research laboratory LRCS (The LRCS laboratory aims to develop research programs related to wireless telecommunications in underground mines. Research is conducted at its own facility as well as the CANMET experimental mine in Val-d'Or, Quebec, Canada), and the experimental mine CANMET (Canadian Center for Minerals and Energy Technology) in Val-d'or, Canada.