Hybridizing ray tracing and method of moments for over-the-sea prediction of LTE signal

This paper presents the results of a measurements campaign performed on a dedicated 1.8 GHz Long Term Evolution (LTE) system along a 47 kilometers path in the maritime area near Livorno, Italy. The comparison between the measured Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and the predicted coherent power shows how a ray tracing technique is suitable for a reasonable estimation in a maritime environment. Moreover, we show how it is possible to combine Ray Tracing (RT) with a Method-of-Moments (MoM) model of the environment surrounding the receiver, obtaining a more accurate estimation of the data. Such an approach could prove beneficial in critical situations where a more detailed estimation is required, and empirical methods are insufficient.