Millimeter-Wave UAV Channel Model with Height-Dependent Path Loss and Shadowing in Urban Scenarios

TL;DR

This paper develops a height-dependent millimeter-wave channel model for UAV-based aerial base stations in urban environments, accounting for urban geometry effects on signal propagation and shadowing.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, unified height-dependent channel model validated with ray-tracing simulations, considering urban geometry beyond standard parameters.

Findings

Path-Loss Exponent for NLoS decreases to 2.5-3 at high altitudes

LoS Path-Loss Exponent remains near 2 across heights

Shadow fading reduces with increasing UAV altitude

Abstract

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) serving as Aerial Base Stations (ABSs) are expected to extend 6G millimeter-Wave (mmWave) coverage and improve link reliability in urban areas. However, UAV-based Air-to-Ground (A2G) channels are highly dependent on height and urban geometry. This paper proposes an ABS height-dependent mmWave channel model and investigates whether urban geometry, beyond the standard built-up parameters, significantly affects LoS probability (PLoS) and Large-Scale Fading (LSF). Using MATLAB ray tracing at 26 GHz, we simulate approximately 10K city realizations for four urban layouts that share identical built-up parameters but differ in their spatial organization. We extract elevation-based PLoS using a sigmoid model and derive height-dependent Path-Loss Exponents (PLEs) and shadow-fading trends using exponential fits. Results show that PLE for Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) decreases toward 2.5-3 at high altitudes, Line-of-Sight (LoS) PLE remains near 2, and shadow fading reduces with height. We also find that geometric layout introduces a modest but consistent change in PLE (+/- 0.2), even when built-up parameters are fixed. The proposed unified model aligns well with ray-tracing statistics and offers a practical, height-dependent LSF model suitable for ABS planning in complex urban scenarios.