Presentation on WinProp propagation modeling and network planning tool

1. WinProp Propagation Modelling and
Network Planning Tool
ENhANCE Study Tour, 20/08/2013, COMNET Department, Aalto
Edward Mutafungwa and Beneyam B. Haile
Department of Communications and Networking
Aalto School of Electrical Engineering, Aalto University
Espoo, Finland

2. Outline
• Background
• Overview of current users
• Review of WinProp tools
– ProMan
– WallMan
– AMan
• Example case studies from research by COMNET
• Tool demo

3. Background 1(2)
• WinProp is a commercial simulation software suite
– For RF propagation modelling
– For wireless network planning
• Tool produced by AWE Communications of Germany
– Spin-off from University of Stuttgart
• Successful adoption of the WinProp tool at CoICT and AAiT is one
of planned deliverables in ENhANCE
– Potentially used as a learning tool wireless courses (both basic and
advanced)
– Used as a research tool facilitating improved results for theses
research works (Master’s and PhD) and research by staff
http://www.awe-communications.com/

4. Background 2(2)
• WinProp Tool available in the market since 1998
(currently version 12.3)
• Continuously evolving for study of new propagation
scenarios and wireless technology standards

5. Current Users
• WinProp adopted by diverse range of industry and academia
customers (used in COMNET Aalto for 1 year)
• Example user in Africa: École Supérieure Multinationale des
Télécommuications (ESMT) of Senegal

6. Type of Licenses
Trial License PPP (Pay
Per Project)
License
Annual
License
Perpetual
License
Teaching
License
Time
Limitation
30 days Annual Annual None None?
Sample
Data/Demos
from AWE
Included Included Included Included Included
Study
Scenario
Limitation
Limited to one
customer-defined
scenario and to
demo scenarios
Limited.
Customer has to
pay for each
scenario.
None None
Limited to demo
scenarios
Support Included, but
reaction time
not guaranteed
Included Included, but
reaction time
not guaranteed
TBC
Price Free Annual fee.
Depending on
scenario.
Annual fee.
Depending on
selected
modules.
Discount for
multiple
licences.
Depending on
selected
modules.
Discount for
multiple
licences.
TBC

7. WinProp Tools
• WinProp software suite consist of several tools

8. ProMan 1(2)
• ProMan propagation modeling modules
– Different propagation models for study of different propagation scenarios
(rural, urban, indoor etc.)
• Emprical models (Okumura-Hata, COST 231, ITU P.1546 etc.)
• Deterministic models (ray tracing, Dominant Path Model etc.)
Example indoor coverage for
outdoor transmitterPath loss map for transmitter in Munich

9. ProMan 2(2)
• ProMan Network Planning Modules
– Different pre-defined technologies (GSM, WLAN, WCDMA, LTE etc.)
– GUI for definition/modification of air interface parameters, cell loading etc.
– Results in form of commonly used KPIs (throughput, SINR, RSRP, etc.)
– Additional Network Optimizer module for optimum site selection etc.
xxx Max downlink throughput for urban LTE network

10. WallMan
• ProMan propagation modeling requires databases of buildings,
terrains, etc. as input data for simulation
• WallMan functions include:
– Generation/modification/visualisation of vector databases for buildings
and cities
– Conversion of vector databases from common file formats (ArcGIS,
AutoCAD, JPEG floor plans etc.)
xxx
Example urban database
Example indoor database

11. AMan
• AMan functions include:
– Generation/modification/visualisation of vertical and horizental antenna
patterns for use by transmitters in ProMan
– Interporlation algorithms for conversion from 2x2D (vertical & horizontal) to
3D patterns
– Adaptation of antenna patterns from different antenna data file formats
(ASCII, *.xml, *.msi etc.)
Vertical PatternHorizental Pattern 3D Pattern

12. Example WinProp Usage for Research at
COMNET

13. Hanna Nasif Case Study 1(6)
• Hanna Nassif ward in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
– Population: 37000 (2012 census)
– Area: 1 Sq km
– Building number: est. 3050 buildings (majority single story)
– Topographical difference: 19 m

14. Hanna Nasif Case Study 2(6)
• Study network performance impact of heterogeneous deployment
small cells and macro cells in very high density urban areas
Example path loss map (for Femto 3) located indoor (left) on rooftop (right)

15. Hanna Nasif Case Study 3(6)
• Simulation methodology/workflow (using WinProp tools only)

16. Hanna Nasif Case Study 4(6)
• Example results from simulation study using WinProp tools only
SNIR differences for rooftop versus indoor small cell deployments
Ref: R. Rakibul, “Small Cells for Broadband Internet Access
in Low-Income Suburban Areas in Emerging Market
Environments” Aalto Diploma Thesis, completed 06/2013.

17. Hanna Nasif Case Study 5(6)
• Simulation methodology/workflow (using WinProp and Matlab tools)

18. Hanna Nasif Case Study 6(6)
• Example results from simulation study using a combination of
WinProp and Matlab toolsets
Indoor Small Cells Rooftop Small Cells
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
MeanUEServedbySmallCells(%)
Mean Percentage of UEs Served by Small Cells (5 dB selection bias)
10 Small Cells
30 Small Cells
60 Small Cells
10 Small Cells 30 Small Cells 60 Small Cells
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
ThroughputGain
Throughput Gain per Deployment Scenario
10th percentile
50th percentile
90th percentile
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
Fairness Index
CDF
Fairness Index CDF
Macro Only
Macro & 10 Small Cells(Rooftop)
Macro & 10 Small Cells(Indoor)
Macro & 30 Small Cells(Rooftop)
Macro & 30 Small Cells(Indoor)
Macro & 60 Small Cells(Rooftop)
Macro & 60 Small Cells(Indoor)
etc.
-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
SINR (dB)
CDF
SINR CDF (All UEs)
Macro Only
Macro & 10 Small Cells(Rooftop)
Macro & 10 Small Cells(Indoor)
Macro & 30 Small Cells(Rooftop)
Macro & 30 Small Cells(Indoor)
Macro & 60 Small Cells(Rooftop)
Macro & 60 Small Cells(Indoor)

19. Indoor Pico BS Case Study 1(4)
• Study improvements in indoor coverage and capacity through
operator deployed indoor pico base stations in multi-storey
buildings
Example deployment of 2 pico base stations on a single
floor of a building

20. Indoor Pico BS Case Study 2(4)
• Simulation methodology/workflow (using WinProp and Matlab tools)

21. Indoor Pico BS Case Study 3(4)
• Example definition of custom Pico BS antenna patterns and
importing to WinProp (using AMan)
Custom vertical antenna pattern
Custom horizental antenna pattern
3D antenna pattern generated in
WinProp AMan tool

22. Indoor Pico BS Case Study 4(4)
• Example results from simulation study using WinProp and Matlab
tools
Received power for Pico 1 deployed in the first floor
Pico 1 (1st Floor)
Throughput CDFs for case of Pico 1 in first floor

23. WinProp Tool Demo
• General overview of GUI for ProMan/WallMan/AMan
• Example propagation modeling project in ProMan
– Single site simulation example
– How to export results to other tools (e.g. Matlab simulators)
• Example of previously performed network planning
projects
– LTE network
– WLAN network
– Satellite/broadcast or vehicular

24. Thank you for your attention!
Further info:
Edward Mutafungwa
Postdoc Researcher/Project Manager
Aalto University
School of Electrical Engineering
Department of Communications and Networking
Otakaari 5A, Espoo, Finland
edward.mutafungwa@aalto.fi
Tel: +358 40 733 3397