Modelling and Optimization of Wireless Signal Propagation Path-loss in the Forcados- Ogulagha Maritime Environment of Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The deployment of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks in marine environments involves unique challenges owing to the influence of environmental conditions on signal propagation. LTE networks are meant to provide high-speed internet and communication services, which rely largely on precise pathloss modelling. This study model and optimize wireless signal propagation path-loss in the Forcados- Ogulagha maritime environment. A total of eighty base transmission stations were surveyed to measure the signal strength and four maritime locations were selected to represent a typical mixed-path environment.The traditional model was optimized using Decision Tree-Particle Swarm (DT-PSO), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Random Forest-Particle Swarm (RF-PSO) methods. The results show that certain features, such as measurement distance and temperature, play a crucial role in determining path loss, providing valuable guidance for refining path loss prediction models and optimizing the performance of wireless communication systems. The research further revealed that conventional path loss models showed significant discrepancies compared to actual measurements due to the impact of terrain and topography variations on the model's ability to capture nonlinear and non-stationary path loss factors.