Full-Wave Simulations Using Fast Hybrid Method for L-Band Microwave Propagation in Forested Areas

• Published in: 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and INC/USNC‐URSI Radio Science Meeting (AP-S/INC-USNC-URSI) pp. 1723 - 1724
• Main Authors: Jeong, Jongwoo, Tsang, Leung, Huang, Zhenming, Xu, Haokui, Colliander, Andreas
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 14.07.2024
• Subjects: Computational modeling; Forestry; Mathematical models; Microwave communication; Microwave theory and techniques; Soil; Vegetation
• ISSN: 1947-1491
• DOI: 10.1109/AP-S/INC-USNC-URSI52054.2024.10686590

We perform full-wave simulations of propagation of L-band microwave signals in forested areas to study forest effects on microwave remote sensing, wireless communications, and hidden object detection. Initially, full-wave simulations of forests were limited to eight-meter-tall trees. With the aid of computational enhancement by a fast hybrid method (FHM) solving Maxwell's equations, a height of trees extends to 13 m followed by 17 m. The FHM applies to 91 trees of a height of 17 m, where the volumetric space in the simulation domain is equivalent to 133 wavelengths by 133 wavelengths and 80 wavelengths. We will continue to investigate the effects of tapering and bifurcated trunks, as well as the presence of leaves, on microwave remote sensing. We illustrate the spatial distribution of electric fields under forests. Computational efficiency of the FHM is also discussed. The results indicate that L-band microwave signals can penetrate through forests, enabling the detection of soil and objects below, and GPS signals can be successfully received by receivers beneath forested areas.