Analyzing Radio Scattering Caused by Various Building Elements Using Millimeter-Wave Scale Model Measurements and Ray Tracing

Interaction of UHF radio waves with a typical office building and the resulting scattering characteristics are studied in this communication using millimeter-wave frequency measurements and ray-tracing simulations on a scale model of the building. A “disaggregation approach” is followed to separately test different structural elements (façade, internal structure, furniture) and to separately simulate different interaction mechanisms (specular reflection, edge diffraction, transmission, diffuse scattering) thus achieving a deeper understanding of the propagation process. Results suggest that scattering from buildings can be modeled neglecting the internal structure of the building, but proper modeling of nonspecular propagation is necessary, even with a controlled and completely known environment such as the scale building model.