Tailored exclusion zones for automotive radar around radio telescope sites

In this work, a novel methodology is presented for assessing the impact to the radio astronomy service (RAS) from automotive radars. The proposed approach concerns the calculation of aggregate contributions within hexagonal cells, providing an understanding of the most critical areas around a radio telescope. The methodology’s applicability is demonstrated, highlighting its effectiveness in defining exclusion zones to safeguard RAS, particularly in areas where the surrounding topography does not provide adequate shielding. Traffic conditions and clutter loss are taken into account to simulate a realistic scenario. The proposed methodology has proven effective in various scenarios, playing a crucial role in safeguarding radio astronomy services from emerging technologies.