Combining rule-based Artificial Intelligence with Geographic Information Systems to plan the physical layer of wireless networks in Greenfield areas

Abstract

This paper elucidates the development of a computer tool which combines the use of terrain data in a Geographic Information System (GIS), an equipment database and rule-based inference. It explores the use of GJS to aid network planners to locate base stations and perform radio link planning in fixed wireless networks. And farther explains how the process of site and equipment selection for point-to-multi-point networks may be automated with the use of an expert system interacting with a GIS and a specialised database. The use of heuristics is adopted to locate sites for fixed wireless basestations and repeaters in Greenfield areas as well as to specify the frequency plan, radio equipment and antenna requirements.