Modeling of ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4) channel in rail environment for Intelligent Transport

To deploy Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) in the railway transport, knowledge of signal propagation in this environment is required for the safety and the reliability of whole system. This calls to two domains of research. Firstly, the study of the propagation characteristics is necessary to predict the propagation law that rules attenuation of the signal in the train environment along with the multipath characteristics. Secondly, the effects of external disturbance and interferences onto wireless signal must also be investigated. In this paper, we present first-ever measurements (to our knowledge) of propagation channel along railway track for WSNs. Extensive real hardware measurements of RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indication are presented and compared to the theoretical models, to investigate the IEEE 802.15.4 ZigBee propagation channel characteristics. Results of extensive measurement campaigns that validate Log-normal and shadowing path-loss model with accurate loss parameters at 2.4 GHz in outdoor environments are presented. A comparison of this model and extensive real hardware measurement in two selected scenarios is discussed.

[1]  Roberto Verdone,et al.  Intelligent transportation systems: the role of third-generation mobile radio networks , 2000, IEEE Commun. Mag..

[2]  Hairong Yan,et al.  Experimental e-Health Applications in Wireless Sensor Networks , 2009, 2009 WRI International Conference on Communications and Mobile Computing.

[3]  Nicola Pasquino,et al.  Characterization of the radio propagation channel aboard trains for optimal coverage at 2.45GHz , 2013, 2013 IEEE International Workshop on Measurements & Networking (M&N).

[4]  Naif Alsharabi,et al.  Wireless sensor networks of battlefields hotspot: Challenges and solutions , 2008, 2008 6th International Symposium on Modeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad Hoc, and Wireless Networks and Workshops.

[5]  Amy L. Murphy,et al.  Not all wireless sensor networks are created equal: A comparative study on tunnels , 2010, TOSN.

[6]  Lan truyền,et al.  Wireless Communications Principles and Practice , 2015 .

[7]  Andrea Mariscotti,et al.  Characterization of the propagation channel on board trains , 2013 .

[8]  Ichiro Masaki,et al.  Machine-Vision Systems for Intelligent Transportation Systems , 1998, IEEE Intell. Syst..

[9]  Ruoshui Liu,et al.  Relay node placement for Wireless Sensor Networks deployed in tunnels , 2010, 2010 IEEE 6th International Conference on Wireless and Mobile Computing, Networking and Communications.

[10]  Theodore S. Rappaport,et al.  Wireless communications - principles and practice , 1996 .

[11]  T. Ahonen,et al.  Greenhouse Monitoring with Wireless Sensor Network , 2008, 2008 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Mechtronic and Embedded Systems and Applications.

[12]  Bin Ran,et al.  Perspectives on Future Transportation Research: Impact of Intelligent Transportation System Technologies on Next-Generation Transportation Modeling , 2012, J. Intell. Transp. Syst..

[13]  H.T. Friis,et al.  A Note on a Simple Transmission Formula , 1946, Proceedings of the IRE.

[14]  Bo Ai,et al.  An Empirical Path Loss Model and Fading Analysis for High-Speed Railway Viaduct Scenarios , 2011, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.