Gis in telecomm

Application of GIS in Telecommunication

Session 2013-2015 Page 1

Table of Contents

Chapter 01: Introduction 02

Telecommunication 02

Significance of Telecommunication 02

Role of GIS in Telecommunication 03

Telecommunication as Backbone 03

Chapter 02: Case Study 05

Planning Flexible Coverage Network Plan 05

GIS in Pakistan 08

Bibliography 09

List of Figures

01. Fig 1.2 Role of GIS in Telecommunication 03

02. Fig 1.3 GIS as Backbone 04

03. Fig 2.1.1 1m DEM 05

04. Fig 2.1.2 Vector Representation of Ottawa 05

05. Fig 2.1.3 30m DEM 05

06. Fig 2.1.4 Classification Ottawa State (15 Classes) 05

07. Fig 2.1.5 Demand per Building 06

08. Fig 2.1.6 Step by Step Operation 06

09. Fig 2.1.7 Final Traffic Map 07

10. Fig 2.1.8 Statistical Analysis 08

11. Fig 2.1.9 Cell Loading Map 08



1. Introduction

Earlier days, communication was done by smoke signal, drums, and cravings on wall or other

things etc. But now a day, modern technologies like telephones, television, wireless, and

internet etc. are the source of communication at a distance.

“Tele-communications has been defined as a technology concerned with communicating from

a distance.” (TARMO, 2003)

All this tremendous advancements has turned the world into a global village. So everyone has

to coop up with emerging technologies in order to survive efficiently. It is now the

requirement of today’s world.

As said by Ron Digrandi, director of business development, time warner cable

“…, but you will die if you stay stagnant analyzing and utilizing data in the same old way.”

1.1 Significance of Telecommunication

Telecommunication has over-taken the old and traditional ways of communication in past

few years. With its efficiency, low cost, high customer’s service, and large coverage area.

By international telecommunication union (ITU),

“Global telecommunications equipment and service revenue annually exceed US $575

billion.”

It plays an important role in the everyday life of any individual. All the modern operations

are highly effected by the technologies and are fully dependent of telecommunication. They

have essential impact in the community. As they developed the most complicated but

operational network system.

According to TARMO, 2003,

“There are 500-600 fixed telephones per 1000 inhabitants in north America and Europe.”

The estimation of the economic development of any country can be deduced by its

advancement in the telecommunication service.



1.2 Role of GIS in Telecommunication

Geographic information system (GIS) as a tool will enable telecommunication

professionals to integrate maps and information to make better decisions. From planning and

maintaining network infrastructure to administering mobile telephone coverage, managing

existing customers, and finding new ones. GIS users rely on location-based data to find the

answers. GIS allows carriers to keep track of customer mobility and trends in the amazing

bandwidth requirements driven by entertainment and internet services. Viewing information

on a map makes it quicker and more intuitive than relying on spreadsheets and other tabular

data. (Omogunloye, 2013).

Fig 1.2 Role of GIS In Telecommunication

1.3 Telecommunication as a Backbone

As mentioned earlier, telecommunication served the best way to perform the task in short

time span. So, any field of the life is incomplete without its use.



For example, you have to deal with the emergency situation in some remote place, what are

sources of communication??? The communication relied on cellular mobiles and radio

telephones that had poor coverage areas as compared to the telecomm phones. The more

reliable and worldwide way of communication with large coverage areas are: GSM (Global

System for Mobile) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication Network). For

updating yourself, the emergency management team uses social media, internet, and remote

sensing device so they can act properly.

“Nevertheless, during times of confusion, face-to-face communications proved to be the most

effective means of getting activities underway.” (Dantas, 2006)

It is clear now that communication plays an important role. And if it is aided by the GIS

techniques, what else you need!

Fig 1.3 GIS as Backbone



2. Case Study

To fully understand the role of GIS in the field of

telecommunications, let’s try few of the examples that use the

techniques of GIS.

2.1 Planning Flexible Coverage Plan

The project was conducted by the Fig 2.1.1 1m DEM

Bernard Breton Director, Wireless Development

Northwood Technologies in the year 2011in Ottawa, Canada.

As it is a wireless software company, so their objective was to

present a simple process for network planning using “Demand-

centric approach”.

Tasks and Aims

The main tasks were: Fig 2.1.2 Vector Data

Model the usage traffic of wireless network.

Predict the future market

GIS Tools

The GIS techniques and tools that were used:

1. Review the spatial information

2. Classification

Fig 2.1.3 30m DEM

3. Raster operations

4. Extracting the formula

Step by Step Operation

The following are the points extracted from the project study

that help us to understand the application of GIS in telecomm

sector.

1. Required a high resolution 1m DEM to extract the

building heights. Fig 2.1.4 Classification

2. Vector data, so to obtain the building footprints.

3. Low resolution 30m DEM.

4. Classification of 30 m DEM into 15 classes.

5. Estimation of the demand in the working time for. That helps to estimate their needs.



6. Calculate the building heights. Building

heights can be used to calculate the

number of floors. While Demand is

directly proportional to the height of the

building.

7. Calculating the area of the footprints of

the building helps to estimate the

number of offices.

Fig 2.1.5 Demand

8. Then apply Query operation to extract the lager buildings. (> 0.0002mi2)

9. Extract the heights of those larger buildings.

Fig 2.1.6 Steps of Calculation



10. Calculate the number of users by using

formula.

11. Calculate the demand per building.

12. Represent the final traffic model. The

unit of demand per building is mbit/s.

Fig 2.1.7 Demand per Building

Results

This is the final map of usage of the wireless communication.

With Red color showing the maximum usage. (1.45-6.90 mbit/s or 30 buildings)

And Dark Blue shows the minimum usage (0-0.06 mbit/s or 270 buildings)

Fig 2.1.7 Final Traffic Model

Statistical Analysis

The total possible comparison between the demand and the serve by the Northwood company

is shown below:



Total Demand: 429.9 mbit/s

Served Demand: 367.5 mbit/s (85.5%)

Target Buildings: 1539

Served Buildings: 1166 (75.8%)

Fig 2.1.8 Statistical Analysis

Indirect Information

One more information from the above

analysis that can be extracted is Cell Loading

analysis.

The Red color shows maximum

loading areas (30-100% or 314

buildings).

The Green highlights the minimum

loading areas. (0-20% or 1069

buildings). Fig 2.1.9 Cell Loading

GIS in Pakistan

Although it is still a new field in Pakistan, but in the meantime a lot options are there to

explore. GIS is goining to be the trademark for those companies who have done automation

in their fields.

For example, in the year 2012, 10th

Aug, PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication Limited

Company) was honored by the “ESRI Special Achievement in GIS Awards 2012” for its

outstanding work in Islamabad sector. That includes: Base-Map development, Access

Network in Network Engineer (GIS), Copper/Fiber Network Planning and PTCL Capacity

Building etc.



Bibliography

1. Dantas A., Seville E., and Nicholson A. (Mar, 2006). Information Sharing during

Disaster Can we do it better?

2. Dr. Omogunloye O.G., Qaadri J. A., Mrs. Omogunloye H.B., and Oladiboye O.E.

(Mar-Apr, 2013). Analysis of Mast Management Distribution and Telecommunication

Service Using Geospatial Technique. OSR Journal Of Environmental Science,

Toxicology And Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT) e-ISSN: 2319-2402, p-ISSN:

2319-2399. Volume 3, Issue 3, PP 58-75.

3. Trnka J., and Dr Sivertun A. GIS In Emergency Management As A Core Information

System And Related New Requirements To Emergency Telecommunication. IDA

Linköping University.

4. Breton B. Director, Wireless Development

Northwood Technologies Inc. Planning and Executing a

Flexible Coverage Plan,

https://kambing.ui.ac.id/.../Wireless%20Telecom%20Software%20Solutions.ppt