Real-World LoRaWAN Performance and Propagation Modeling Using UAV, Helikite, and Vehicle-Based Measurements

TL;DR

This study evaluates LoRaWAN signal propagation using UAV, helikite, and vehicle platforms at two locations, analyzing how altitude, mobility, and terrain affect network performance and reliability.

Contribution

It provides empirical data and models on LoRaWAN propagation across different platforms and environments, highlighting the impact of altitude and movement on signal quality.

Findings

Helikite at high altitude offers the most reliable link performance.

Platform movement and terrain cause higher variability in signal reception.

Log-distance path loss model effectively characterizes propagation in NLOS conditions.

Abstract

This paper presents a field-based evaluation of Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) signal propagation conducted at two locations within the Aerial Experimentation and Research Platform for Advanced Wireless (AERPAW) testbed: Lake Wheeler Field and NC State University's Centennial Campus. Three distinct transmission platforms were deployed, a ground vehicle, a multirotor drone at 50 meters, and a helikite at a steady altitude of 150 meters and 300 meters approximately. These platforms enabled a comparative study on how altitude, mobility, and terrain influence wireless signal reception across a LoRaWAN gateway network. We analyze received signal strength (RSSI) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as functions of distance and spreading factor (SF). Three complementary metrics are visualized: SNR versus distance with demodulation thresholds, probability of successful reception, and SNR boxplots grouped by distance bins. These plots reveal link degradation patterns and demonstrate the role of adaptive SF selection in maintaining communication reliability. To characterize propagation behavior, we apply a log-distance path loss model to empirical data from the ground vehicle experiment, which encompass both rural and urban non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions. Model parameters are optimized through error minimization techniques. Our results show that the helikite platform, due to its stable high-altitude position, provided the most reliable and consistent link performance. Conversely, the drone and vehicle exhibited higher variability due to movement, obstructions, and terrain-induced multipath. These findings demonstrate the influence of platform dynamics and altitude on LoRaWAN reception performance, providing support for future aerial network planning efforts.