Macrocell electric field strength prediction model based upon artificial neural networks

A new macrocell prediction model for mobile radio environment is presented. The use of feedforward artificial neural networks makes it possible to overcome some important disadvantages of previous prediction models, including both deterministic and statistical types. Our sample implementation is based upon extensive electric field strength measurements (in the 900-MHz frequency band) that were carried out in the city of Belgrade using six different test transmitter locations. Comparison between the data obtained by the proposed electric field strength prediction model and independent measurement sets show that the proposed model is sufficiently accurate for use in planning mobile radio systems.