Title: Ray-tracing analysis of the radio propagation on the line-of-sight maritime wireless environments

Authors: Masaaki Yamanaka; Daiki Hashimoto; Yasuhiro Sato; Kohei Shimada; Yoshinori Matsuura

Addresses: Faculty of Maritime Science and Technology, Japan Coast Guard Academy, 5-1 Wakabacho, Kure-shi, Hiroshima 737-8512, Japan ' Japan Coast Guard Academy, 5-1 Wakabacho, Kure-shi, Hiroshima 737-8512, Japan ' Faculty of Information and Communication Engineering, Osaka Electro-Communication University, 18-8 Hatsucho, Neyagawa-shi, Osaka 572-8530, Japan ' Faculty of Maritime Science and Technology, Japan Coast Guard Academy, 5-1 Wakabacho, Kure-shi, Hiroshima 737-8512, Japan ' Faculty of Maritime Safety Technology, Japan Coast Guard Academy, 5-1 Wakabacho, Kure-shi, Hiroshima 737-8512, Japan

Abstract: Due to heavy maritime traffic, wireless systems play an important role to maintain the traffic safety. In this paper, we try to analyse the radio propagation of wireless systems in maritime environments. Although, there are many wireless systems should be covered, we picked up a radar system focusing a line-of-sight radio propagation in this paper. In general, radar antennas are set in the highest location to get a line-of-sight view for a wide area. However, there are cases when high islands hamper the line-of-sight. In this case, the system is not able to see the area through the radio waves, which will cause serious problems for navigation safety. We will try to assess the area using a ray-tracing method. The procedure of using the geospatial information authority of Japan (GSI)'s topographical data is given, to assess the area where the radio waves are unable to reach, through simulation.

Keywords: maritime traffic safety; radio wave propagation analysis; radar system; ray-tracing method.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSC.2018.098678

International Journal of Space-Based and Situated Computing, 2018 Vol.8 No.4, pp.196 - 203

Received: 13 Jul 2018
Accepted: 10 Sep 2018

Published online: 29 Mar 2019 *

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