Georeferenced Spectrum Occupancy Analysis Using Spatially Very Sparse Monitoring Data

The complex and invisible nature of dynamic radio usage poses a significant challenge, even for the most skilled engineers, in visualizing and effectively utilizing radio frequency data. This paper proposes a method to quantify and visualize what is known about spectrum occupancy in a region from spectrum monitoring data recorded at a few fixed locations. The average observed signal strengths at the monitors are extrapolated throughout the region through likelihood estimation of transmitter location(s) and a simple log-distance path loss model. New georeferenced spectrum occupancy visualizations that combine estimates of occupancy power with duty cycle, and of signal variation with confidence level are introduced offering insights into planning for future allocations, interference, and broadcast coverage analysis. The spectrum consumption trends over different times of day and seasons are analyzed and interpreted.