LoRa Technology Propagation Models for IoT Network Planning in the Amazon Regions

Abstract

Designing and deploying telecommunications and broadcasting networks in the challenging terrain of the Amazon region pose significant obstacles due to its unique morphological characteristics. Within low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), this research study introduces a comprehensive approach to modeling large-scale propagation loss channels specific to the LoRaWAN protocol operating at 915 MHz. The objective of this study is to facilitate the planning of Internet of Things (IoT) networks in riverside communities while accounting for the mobility of end nodes. We conducted extensive measurement campaigns along the banks of Universidade Federal do Pará, capturing received signal strength indication (RSSI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and geolocated point data across various spreading factors. We fitted the empirical close-in (CI) and floating intercept (FI) propagation models for uplink path loss prediction and compared them with the Okumura–Hata model. We also present a new model for path loss with dense vegetation. Furthermore, we calculated received packet rate statistics between communication links to assess channel quality for the LoRa physical layer (PHY). Remarkably, both CI and FI models exhibited similar behaviors, with the newly proposed model demonstrating enhanced accuracy in estimating radio loss within densely vegetated scenarios, boasting lower root mean square error (RMSE) values than the Okumura–Hata model, particularly for spreading factor 9 (SF9). The radius coverage threshold, accounting for node mobility, was 945 m. This comprehensive analysis contributes valuable insights for the effective deployment and optimization of LoRa-based IoT networks in the intricate environmental conditions of the Amazon region.