Novel wireless channels characterization model for underground mines

The propagation characteristics of electromagnetic waves in underground mines are different from those in free space because of the harsh underground environment. Physical phenomena like severe reflection, scattering, and diffraction along the mines’ rough walls will affect the propagation of electromagnetic waves. Channel predictions are crucial for reliable and optimal wireless communication in an underground environment. Although there are several channel prediction techniques, most of them are very difficult and time consuming.

This work presents a new approach in wireless channel modeling in underground mines. The model is generated by adopting a performance-based approach rather than

classical coverage-based approach. This new model, called ‘‘Mine Segmenting Wireless Channel Model’’, divides the mine area into three main segments: (1) Line-of-Sight (LOS), (2) Partial-Line-Of-Sight (PLOS) and (3) Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS). We examine the impact of topology on performance of 802.11b system with Rician/Rayleigh fading. The model is statistically verified using simulations and is applied to fading wireless local

area networks channel for IEEE 802.11 applications. Finally, the communication performance of a realistic IEEE 802.11b signal is evaluated in a real underground mine gallery (NORCAT Mine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada). The results of the actual experiment were very similar to that of the model simulation.