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Implementation of Vienna Agreement 1993

method in ICS Telecom software
The propagation model defined in Vienna Agreement 1993 (VA93) is based on two
different models:
- Deygout geometrical model, initial version with two obstacles (1966);
- the statistical model from recommendation ITU-R P.370.
There exists an algorithmic and software (in Fortran) implementation of
Vienna Agreement called harmonized calculation method (HCM). This model was
updated in Mainz February 1998 by the Technical Working Group HCM. Since we
are in the transient period of Vienna Agreement, the HCM may be modified or
completed again in the future. Actually, HCM offers two sub models: a statistical
model derived from 370 curves adapted to prediction for mobiles and a mixed
Deygout/370 model. The later actually reveals formal and intrinsic instabilities that
are described in a ATDI report aimed at providing a French contribution to HCM and
also a proposing a method for substitution.
Here, we offer a DLL implementation for ICS Telecom, including unstable
Deygout/370 component as well as the latest modifications adopted in Mainz98. (In a
first stage, we provide the propagation model only. The interference management part
of the method will be implemented later). In section 1, the 4 options of available
models for VA93 are presented. In section 2, the content of these models is precised,
especially its differences with respect to HCM implementation. A large proportion of
VA93 calls functions quite similar to ITU-R P.370 ICS implementation. Besides, this
proportion has increased with Mainz98 modification, that integrate some of the latest
ITU-R P.370(-7) features. Thus, for further details about the latter, the reader is
invited to read the corresponding ICS Telecom manual on this implementation.

1 User level
The dialog box on VA93 offers 4 possible model selections: 1 in fast mode
and 3 in last point mode:
- the fast mode: this mode is valid only for field-strength computation on
profiles and coverages since field-strength on every point between the transmitter
and the receiver has to be computed. This mode allows to save computation time
since each field-strength computation at the current point provides precomputed
elements for the next point;
- the last point mode: this mode is always valid. It requires no precomputed
values on previous point of the profiles and, as a result, works more slowly than
the fast mode. Somehow, it can be usefully selected for computations on restricted
areas such as polygonal zones (e.g. zones excluding the transmitter).
Three models are available:
- HCM: Deygout 66 > rec 370 model: it is the default VA 93 model. It is
based on Deygout 66 model computation and switches to 370 if the number of
obstacle is above or equal to 3;
- HCM: ITU-R P.370 in the fast or last point modes;
- Deygout 1966 (this model is not offered by HCM in a isolated way).

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The right window of the dialog box, called Interference mode selection,
merely forces Rx antenna height and time variability according to selected
specification rules. Time value is automatically pointed out by radio buttons and the
Rx antenna height is displayed (noc, no change, leaves current Rx antenna height
unchanged).
From now on, the statement of the parameters selected in the dialog box is
saved for the next call.

2 Practice level
Comments on model implementation:
- Isolated Deygout 66 model is namely the model defined by Deygout
(bared model), without clutter altitude correction (+10 m) required and
implemented in Deygout 66 > Rec. 370-7 for VA 93;
- models 370 fast et last point are almost the same as ICS Telecom
implementation ITU-R P.370-7 (see below for differences);
- Deygout 66 > rec. 370 is directly implemented from HCM flow charts.
Somehow, since it directly derives from 370-7 version (1995), it implies a few
differences:
1. Existence of 5% time variability curves in addition to 1%, 10% and 50%
curves in HCM;
2. The possibility to manage clutter height influence is offered in the lower
field of the dialog box: either the standard (+10m) clutter height, either the height
defined by the user in the ground occupancy option box of ICS Telecom, or none.

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3. Ground irregularity management: within HCM sum of kh and of Rx

clearance angle gain, within 370-7 ICS Telecom, choice between kh or clearance
angle gain.
On the contrary, within HCM, implementation of rec. 370 is itself modified on
a few points:
1. Effective antenna height computation on the interval [1;15] km instead of
[3;15] km;
2. If h2 >10 m, the following correction is adopted. h1 is replaced by
h1 =h1 *h2 /10, which is the correction adopted in the annex 5 of VA93. In
replacement of this correction, a more complex set of corrections was proposed by the
technical working group (HCM) in Mainz (Feb. 98, Rev.3 p10) but the proposed
solution enables field strength discontinuities and is thus formally rejected by ATDI
(cf. the abovementioned report). If h2 =3 m (mobiles) and f > 400 MHz, an additional
attenuation term is introduced: 10 dB below 50 km, 3 dB above 100 km and a linear
interpolation in [50;100] km. If h2 =3 m (mobiles) and the f < 400 MHz, the
attenuation term becomes: 8 dB below 50 km, 5 dB above 100 km and a linear
interpolation in [50;100] km.
3. Additional loss of 2 dB for frequencies between 862 and 1700 MHz;
4. Additional loss of 9 dB for frequencies above 1700 MHz;
5. For distances below 10 km (where rec. 370 is undefined), the curve is
extrapolated with the log-linear method defined in Annex 5 of VA93. Somehow, if
the option clearance angle is on, one must beware that the clearance angle correction
is also integrated.
The model performs first Deygout 66 model computations and then possibly
switches to 370. This computation implies out to 2.5 profile complete sweeps between
Tx and Rx (1 sweep to search for the primary obstacle, if this exists, 1 sweep to
search for the secondary obstacle(s) and possibly, if the latter exist(s), half a sweep on
average to look for a third obstacle). As a result, the method runs much more slowly
than 370-7, which requires a sweep on the sole 16 km before the Rx antenna.
It is also important to notice that the altitude correction (+10m), aimed at
simulating an average ground occupancy, is not included on the first and the last
kilometres of the profile. For short antenna heights, this may yield artificial obstacles
1 km away from the Tx and 1 km away from the Rx.
Lastly, let us mention that profile computations are performed with the
natural step of the digital elevation model included in ICS Telecom and not with the
fixed (100m) step proposed in HCM.

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