Two-dimensional ray-tracing modeling for propagation prediction in microcellular environments

The application of diffraction theory and geometrical optics for modeling the propagation in microcellular urban environments is investigated. The model simplifies the reality by considering only a two-dimensional (2-D) geometry, where the building walls are modeled by segments and the buildings are considered infinitely high. The model can handle arbitrary layouts of buildings according to an efficient algorithm briefly described in this paper. Comparisons between several predictions and measurements in two different cities in Switzerland are presented. A detailed investigation of the two main parameters considered in the predictions, i.e., the reflection and diffraction coefficients, is also provided. The study shows that the ray tracing model is appropriate for path-loss coverage prediction even in complex environments.