1 Lees Macroscopic Propagation Model

Lee model is one of the most popular macroscopic propagation models. It is relatively simple,
intuitive and once optimized, it provides reasonably accurate predictions. The model was
developed as a result of large data collection campaign performed throughout the eighties in the
northeastern United States. Due to its simple mathematical formulation, it is frequently used in
computer simulations and propagation modeling.
Initially the model was developed for
propagation in and around 900MHz frequency band. Recently, extensive data collection and
propagation model validations have demonstrated the models applicability for frequencies up to
2GHz.
The main assumption of the model is that the propagation path loss depends on two types of
factors:
1. Factors due to the natural terrain.
2. Factors due to clutter and man made structures.
The model tries to separate the impacts of two factors by modeling them through separate
parameters.
1.1

Equation of the Model

The equation used to implement Lees propagation model is given as

PLR = PLRref + m L log

d
d L ref

+ (PT PLTref ) + C L log

hbs
h Lbsref

+ FL log

hm
hLmref

+ DL

(1)

where:
PL R
PLRref

Received signal level in dBm

Received signal level at the reference distance for the reference conditions in dBm

mL
d
d Lref

Slope coefficient in dB/decade

Distance between the transmitter and receiver in miles
Reference distance in miles

PT
PLTref

Transmit power in dBm

Reference transmit power in dBm

hbs
h Lbsref

Effective antenna height of the transmitter in feet

Reference height of the transmitter in feet

hm

Height of the receiver in feet

h L mref

Reference height of the receiver in meters/feet

DL
C L , FL

Diffraction loses in dB
Multiplier coefficients in dB

1.1.1 Reference Conditions

Central to the application of Lees model is the notion of reference conditions. Examination of
(1) shows that all of the parameters of the model are specified relative to standard configuration
of the transmitter and receiver. The standard reference conditions are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Reference conditions for Lee model1
Parameter

Symbol

Reference
Distance
Reference
ERP
Reference
BTS Height
Reference
MS Height

d Lref

Reference
Value
1 mile

PLTref

50 dBm

h Lbsref

150 feet

h L mref

10 Feet

If the configuration of the actual system is different than the reference conditions given in Table
1, the received signal level is corrected by appropriate correction. The corrections are given as:
Transmit power correction:
PLR = PT PLTref

(2)

where PT is the actual transmit power (in dBm) and PLTref is the reference transmit power given
in Table 1.
BTS height correction
h
PLR = C L log bs
h
Lbsref

(3)

where hbs is the effective base station height2 and h Lbsref is the reference BS height as given in
Table 1. Nominal value for multiplier coefficient is given as C L = 15 .
1

The reference conditions given in this table reflect WIZARDs implementation of Lees model.
2

MS height correction
h
PLR = FL log ms
h
Lmsref

(4)

where hms is the actual height of the mobile station and h L mref is the reference height from Table
1. Nominal value for multiplier coefficient is given as FL = 10 .
Example 4.1. Consider the RSL predictions at the distance d = 2.3 miles for the site having
following numerical data: PLref = 59 dBm, m L = 38.4 dBm, PT = 52 dBm, hbs = 175 feet
and hms = 10 feet. Assume that the radio path is not obstructed.
Applying (1) we have:
2 .3
175
10
PLR = 59 38.4 log
+ (52 50) + 15 log
+ 10 log = 71.89 dBm
1
150
10

1.2

Slope and Intercept (Effects of man made structures)

Slope and intercept parameters are used to model the effects of man made structures of the
propagation of the radio signal. Intercept is defined relative to some reference distance.
Commonly the reference distance is chosen as one mile, and in essence, the intercept can be
defined as the RSL of the reference transmitter at the distance of 1 mile. Therefore, the intercept
models the average signal attenuation that occurs within one mile from the BTS site. The slope
shows the rate at which the signal is decaying as the mobile travels away from the BTS site. Its
value is affected by the amount and density of the clutter and man made structure within the
propagation environment. The slope becomes greater (signal decays faster), as the density of
man made structures become higher. The values for the slope and intercept are determined
experimentally from large quantities of measured data collected in different propagation
environments. Some typical values for 850MHz propagation conditions are shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Typical values for slope and intercept in 850 MHz frequency band
Environment
Open Area
Suburban
Urban
Dense Urban
2

One mile intercept Slope

[dBm]
DB/dec
-50.5
-43.5
-59
-38.4
-63
-40
-74
-43.1

A precise definition of the effective antenna height will be provided in Section 1.3.
3

1.3

Effective Antenna Height (Effect of Natural Terrain)

The effective antenna height is used to model the effects of the local terrain slope on the value of
the received signal level. The terrain around the bin in which the receiver is located can be
sloping down toward or be tilting up at the transmitter antenna. The tilt will cause the received
signal to reflect off the ground around the mobile unit differently, thus affecting the RSL.
Luckily, it is unnecessary to calculate the reflected angle(s). The effect can be modeled by using
the effective antenna height. The effective antenna height is calculated using trigonometry (the
slope), and an imaginary line extending into the ground or through the air (depending on whether
there is a slope up or down), to the base of the transmitter antenna. From the diagrams below,
one can see that the line is a projection of the slope line back to the antenna.
BS

Effective
Antenna
Height

Effective
Antenna
Height
BS

MS

MS
effect of local down slope

effect of local upward slope

Figure 1. Illustration of effective antenna height for a local slope up

and local slope down.
The results of this simple trigonometry are incorporated into the modified measurement based
model by replacing the base station antenna height, hb, with an effective antenna height hbseff .
Calculating the effective antenna height by projecting the local slope back to the base station is
only an approximation. The approximation works well for bin sizes larger than 50 meters. For a
bin less than 50 meters per side and an 850 MHz signal, one needs a more sophisticated approach
that is beyond the scope of this presentation. It is also important to note that the effective
antenna height equals the actual antenna height (regardless of local terrain slope) for obstructed
cases. In other words, if the line-of-sight path is obstructed, the effective antenna height is set to
the actual base station height and the KED equations are used.
1.4

Frequency Dependence of Model Variables

Lees model is designed to operate in the frequency range from 200MHz to 2GHz. However its
parameters are frequency dependent. In this section we examine the dependence and show how
the model can be used for path loss predictions in different frequency bands.

1.4.1 Frequency Dependency of the Slope

The slope ( n 10 ) in dB/decade is frequency independent when in VHF through upper UHF
bands (150 MHz to 2000 MHz) in propagation prediction scenarios.
The frequency
independence means that whether the model is used to design an AMPS system (~850 MHz) or a
GSM system (~1900 MHz), the standard slopes for urban, suburban, and rural areas will work in
both frequency ranges. However, below 150 MHz surface waves become a major contributor to
overall received signal strength. Above 2000 MHz, atmospheric losses become a significant
contributing factor. There are also special ducting effects that can occur above 2200 MHz.
These are considerations that must be accounted for throughout additional correction factors.
The generic Lees model as given in (1) does not accommodate for these additional propagation
effects.
1.4.2 5.1.2. Frequency Dependence in 1-Mile Intercept
The 1-mile intercept value, PLRref , is frequency dependent. This frequency dependence can be
seen if one examines the equation for the free space propagation losses. As a general rule, one
can use:

f
P1mile ( f 2 ) = P1mile ( f 1 ) + 20 log 1
f2

(5)

to adjust the 1-mile intercept value observed at one frequency, f 1 (say, 850 MHz), to that at
another frequency, f 2 (say, 1900 MHz).
Table 3 shows default values for slope and intercept in different propagation environments and
for different operating frequencies.
Table 3. Slope and 1-mile intercept values to be used for frequencies other than 850 MHz
Frequency
(MHz)
Environment
Free Space
Open Area
Suburban
Urban Area
Heavy Urban

150
P1mile
-30.1
-32.0
-41.0
-46.0
-57.0

450
Slope
20.0
43.5
38.4
40.0
43.1

P1mile
-39.6
-42.0
-52.0
-56.0
-67.0

850
Slope
20.0
43.5
38.4
40.0
43.1

P1mile
-45.2
-49.0
-59.0
-63.0
-74.0

Slope
20.0
43.5
38.4
40.0
43.1

900
P1mile
-45.7
-50.5
-59.5
-63.5
-74.5

Slope
20.0
43.5
38.4
40.0
43.1

1800
P1mile
-51.7
-56.5
-65.5
-69.5
-80.5

Slope
20.0
43.5
38.4
40.0
43.1