Modern wireless communication systems use various technological solutions to increase the efficiency of created radio networks. This efficiency also applies to radio resources. Currently, the utilization of a radio environment map (REM) is one of the directions allowing to improve radio resource management. The REM is increasingly used in emerging mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs), in particular military tactical networks. In this case, the use of new technologies such as software-defined radio and network, cognitive radio, radio sensing, and building electromagnetic situational awareness made it possible to implement REM in tactical MANETs. Propagation attenuation maps (PAMs) are crucial REM elements that allow for determining the ranges of radio network nodes. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for PAM based on a parabolic equation method (PEM). The PEM allows determining the signal attenuation along the assumed propagation direction. In this case, we consider terrain topography to obtain a more realistic analysis. Then, we average the adjacent attenuation profiles defined for the selected directions in places where attenuation has not been calculated. To this aim, linear regression is applied. Finally, we define several metrics that allow for the accuracy assessment of determining the PAM as a function of its dimensions.
Keywords: digital terrain elevation data (DTED); mobile ad-hoc network (MANET); parabolic equation method (PEM); path loss; propagation attenuation map (PAM); radio environment map (REM); radio wave propagation; terrain topography; wireless communications.