Photogrammetric satellite service prediction - correlation of RF measurements and image data

This paper addresses the image-based characterization of the land-mobile satellite channel. In a measu- rement campaign, the signal levels of the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Services (SDARS) in the U.S. were recorded. In parallel, a fisheye camera on the roof of the measurement van continuously acquired images of the upper hemisphere. Using time, location and heading information from GPS, the satellites positions are determined in the hemispheric images. Analyzing the regions around the satellites by image proces- sing methods, a visibility index of the satellites is extracted. It is shown that this visibility index is a valid indicator for the current shadowing conditions. Using this optical method, shadowing parameters for the land-mobile satellite channel of arbitrary satellite constellations can be derived. This method may be helpful for a cost-efficient, large-scale network planning.