A Hybrid TDPE/FDTD Method for Site-Specific Modeling of O2I Radio Wave Propagation

A hybrid time-domain parabolic equation/finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for site-specific modeling of outdoor-to-indoor (O2I) radio wave propagation is presented in this letter. It provides fast three-dimensional deterministic propagation predictions in a mixed environment containing both large-scale outdoor areas and indoor scenarios with specific detailed structures. The proposed hybrid method is evaluated by comparison with the four-ray model, via a canonical single knife edge propagation example. The simulation results, which agree well with each other, are applied to predicting the radio wave propagation in a geo-based O2I scenario on an island. An accurate field strength distribution and impulse response are obtained at a far lower computational cost than with a pure FDTD solution. The method is a perfect choice for applications involving targeted integrated environmental modeling.