86012 - Propagation and planning in wireless systems (2nd cycle)

Learning outcomes

The course provides the students with the knowledge of radio propagation phenomena in presence of concentrated and distributed inhomogeneities. The student will be able to understand and characterize the multipath mobile radio channel: (Transfer Functions, power-spread profiles, dispersion parameters, time, frequency and space correlation) and how it can be exploited to enhance radio transmission: basics of MIMO techniques. The student will also learn planning criteria for present and future mobile radio- broadcasting- and wireless sensor systems. At the end of the course the student is able to master the basic design of single- and multi-link radio communication systems in realistic environment. Moreover, the student is able to solve simple deployment problems in multi-cell applications.

Course contents

Introduction. Definition of "mobility" and classification of the different mobile radio systems. Long-range radio propagation through the atmosphere. Radio propagation in realistic environment. Geometrical Optics basics. The geometrical theory of propagation. Radio coverage: attenuation and fading, field prediction models for rural and urban environment. Multipath propagation. Ray tracing models. Multidimensional propagation channel characterization. Basics of Antenna Arrays, MIMO and beamforming.

Optimization of spectrum usage and spectral efficiency. Diversity, sectorization. Planning of mobile radio systems in relation to the multiple access technique and other environment and system characteristics.

Readings/Bibliography

Course handout slides.

H. L. Bertoni, Radio Propagation for Modern Wireless Systems, Prentice Hall, 2000

C. A. Balanis, Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics, Wiley, 1989

Teaching methods

The course includes lectures given by the professor, and exercises including a project done by the students.

Periodically during the course some lessons are carried out interactively (or in flip mode), raising questions that students must answer in relation to the program seen up to that moment

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a written and an oral test. Written and oral tests are held on the same exam day. The final mark is the synthetic evaluation of both written and oral tests. It is possible to vision and discuss the written test manuscript(s) only during the oral test. If written test average mark is insufficient (below 18 out of 30) the candidate must skip the oral exam and take the whole test again on a successive exam session.

The validity of the written test score is limited to the current exam session

Teaching tools

Blackboard, PC, overhead projector, millimeter-wave generator and spectrum analyzer .

Office hours

See the website of Vittorio Degli Esposti