CRC-COVLAB

COVERAGE PREDI CTI ON AND ANALYSI S SOFTWARE COVERAGE PREDI CTI ON AND ANALYSI S SOFTWARE COVERAGE PREDI CTI ON AND ANALYSI S SOFTWARE COVERAGE PREDI CTI ON AND ANALYSI S SOFTWARE COVERAGE PREDI CTI ON AND ANALYSI S SOFTWARE
Applications: DAB, DMB, DVB-T, DVB-H, ATSC, MMDS, NTSC,
AM, FM, IBOC, DRM, Point-to-point, Point to multi-point, Mobile
communications and Hybrid systems.
Propagation models: CRC-Predict v.3.21, v.2.08r2, v.2.07,
Okumura-Hata, ITU-R Rec. 370-7, ITU-R Rec. 1146, ITU-R Rec.
1546, ITU-R Rec. 368-8, ITU-R Rec. 1147, Egli, TIREM, Longley-
Rice v.1.2.2, FCC point-to-point, F(50,50) curves and free-space.
New propagation models can be included.
Receiver models: COFDM receiver, single carrier receiver
with adaptive equalizer, generic analogue receiver, FM-IBOC
COFDM receiver and RF eld strength meter. All receivers can be
used for xed or mobile reception.
Signal combination models: Monte-Carlo, statistical and
power summation.
Results types: C/(N+I) (dB), operating margin (dB), service
reliability (%), network gain (dB), efciency (%), margin loss (dB),
C/N (dB), C/I (dB), I/N (dB), Iself/Iext (dB), eld strength (dBV/m),
power ux density (dBW/m2) and received power (dBm).
Transmitter models: main transmitter with signal generation,
repeater fed with a direct link and off-air on-channel repeater.
System modelling: an unlimited number of transmitters
and receivers can be used simultaneously in a given project. Any
receiver/transmitter pair can be computed with any propagation
model, channel model, signal variability model and terrain
model.
Digital elevation models: support for standard formats
such as DTED, USGS, CDED, Computamaps, SRTM1 and SRTM3
(NASA), CRC (500 m) and CRC-COV native format. Other DEMs
can be supported by the means of add-ins or format translators.
Optionally, a generic ASCII-to-raster converter can be used to
create a DEM compatible.
Land cover models: support for DTED, Computamaps, CRC
(500 m) and CRC-COV native format. Other land cover models can
be supported by the means of add-ins or format translators. CRC-
COVLAB uses ITU-R Rec. 1058 for land cover denition along with
the possibility of extending it with custom terrain codes.
Ground conductivity models: support for FCC and ITU
ground conductivity formats.
GIS System: each CRC-COVLAB project operates in its own
Geographic Information System (GIS) context with support for
multiple projections and coordinate systems.
Import/Export/Printing: import/export vector data in the
MapInfo interchange le format (*.MIF) with its associated
data les (*.MID), import/export bitmaps overlays in the *.BMP
format, import measurements from text le (*.TXT), import/export
transmitter and receiver parameters in text form (*.XML) and
exports in a Google Earth format (*.KLM). Prints project display
and parameters to any Windows compatible.
User interface: easy-to-use Windows style user interface
with pull-down menus, oating toolbars and contextual right click
mouse support.
Tools: Line-of-sight, Power delay prole analysis, Point-to-
point analysis, Digital elevation model and coverage real-time
interrogator, Precise transmitter positioning using terrain elevation,
Layer editor, Custom antenna editor, Custom text overlay, Path
interrogator, Statistical analysis for service coverage, Service
polygon creator, Mathematical expression evaluator, Population
study, Radio and TV station search, Interference analysis and
Intra-SFN zone indicator.
Maps/Database display: display of detailed world maps
(state and country boundaries, rivers and coastal boundaries),
MapInfo layers, Bitmap overlays, detailed display of topographic
and land cover databases.
Grid: Meridians and Parallels, Distance, Radial, and UTM.
Coordinate Systems: Latitude/Longitude, MGRS and UTM.
Result display methods: Contour lines, Surface ll,
Derivative display and Surface gradient. Options of solid or semi-
transparent colours, legend display and 3-D view.
Server services: Possibility to access some of CRC-
COVLABs most useful functionalities from an external programs.
Functionalities can be accessed from any programming language
supporting COM automation such as Visual Basic.
CRC-COVLAB SPECIFICATIONS
Communications Research Centre Canada
3701 Carling Avenue P.O. Box 11490 Station H Ottawa, Ontario Canada K2H 8S2
Web site: www.crc.ca/crc-covlab E-mail: crc-covlab@crc.ca
CRC-COVLAB is an advanced scientic simulation
software that performs coverage prediction
and analysis for various types of communication
systems.
STRENGTHS
Its strength is in modeling the system real life behavior
with advanced receiver modeling, leading to high quality
coverage prediction for systems with several transmitters
operating in a synchronized network while considering
interference from self and neighboring systems.
Design and optimize networks of transmitters,
Generate high accuracy service coverage;
Evaluate interference from self and neighboring
systems,
Explore new coverage scenarios,
Diagnose difcult coverage situations,
APPLICATIONS
CRC-COVLAB offers a comprehensive model of the
RF communication system, from the modulator to the
demodulator with highly detailed sub-models, allowing the
study and design of various broadcast systems.
DAB, DMB
DVB-T, DVB-H
ATSC, MMDS
NTSC, AM, FM
IBOC
DRM
Point to point, Point to multi-point
Mobile communications
Hybrid systems
TOOLS
CRC-COVLAB includes complex RF propagation models,
complemented by state-of-the-art tools to exploit their
full potential.
Visualize and analyze predicted performance,
Compare simulation with experimental data,
Conduct demographic coverage assessment,
Specify target areas and derive statistics on
coverage performance,
Search and import stations from transmitter
databases.
Evaluate potential interference from existing
systems.
RESEARCH
The Communications Research Centre Canada has led the
development of coverage prediction software since the advent
of digital systems. Since its inception, CRC-COVLAB has been
utilized throughout the world to design distributed emission
broadcast systems for technologies such as DAB and DVB.
CRC-COVLAB is a new generation of software resulting from
the most current research being performed in system modeling
and software technology. It is a exible framework designed to
remain current for many years as research yields new models
and features which can be readily implemented within its
structure.
GIS INTEGRATION
Although CRC-COVLAB is aimed at providing high precision
coverage prediction, strong consideration has been given to
the presentation and its ease of use. CRC-COVLAB is built on
a powerful Geographical Information System (GIS) foundation
that allows the visualisation and analysis of coverage prediction
results along with maps, elevation models, land cover models or
virtually any relevant geo-referenced information. Recognising
that terrain roughness is fundamental in RF propagation
modelling, this concept was a key consideration in the design
of our GIS foundation.
INTEROPERABILITY
Meeting and exceeding todays expectations and tomorrows
needs was an important design objective. CRC-COVLAB
offers seamless integration with popular applications, such
as Microsoft Ofce, as well as more technical applications,
such as MapInfo and Google Earth. The solutions implemented
range from clipboard copy of the graphic output and export
to standard formats MIF (MapInfo) and KML (Google Earth),
up to direct connectivity using COM support. Customisation
can easily be done in Visual Basic, Javascript and C++. CRC-
COVLAB offers a truly open solution that allows users to
expand and customise.
Point-to-point analysis
Line of sight overlays studying best transmitter
site near Seoul, Korea
Optimized SFN DAB network in Ottawa, Canada,
with on-channel synchronized re-transmitters
Semi transparent service coverage on a detailed
world map of British Columbia, Canada
Diagnosing an
interference
problem
3D rendering of coverage over elevation
Synthesis image of the
Swiss Alps created
using a digital elevation
and land cover model of
the Earth