Air-ground channel model selection method for UAS communications using digital elevation data

In this paper, we propose an air-ground channel model selection method for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) communication using digital elevation model (DEM) data. Recently, the air-ground channel models for the UAS communication system were derived based on the measurement results in various environments such as urban, suburban, mountainous, hilly, and over water environments. When simulating the performance of UAS communication systems, there is an issue to select a specific channel model among a plurality of channel models for the given terrain environments. In the proposed method, systematic channel model selection method based on the relative altitude distribution of the area for simulation and the relative altitude distributions of areas for channel model developments. The simulation results show the proposed method works well in various environments.