Kriging is proposed as a tool for Wi-Fi signal strength estimation for complex indoor environments. This proposal is based on two studies suggesting that kriging might be suitable for this application. Both of these studies have shortcomings in supporting this proposal, but their results encourage a more in depth investigation into this. Even though kriging is a geostatistical method developed for geographical interpolation, it has been used successfully in a wide range of other applications as well. This further suggests that kriging might be a versatile method to overcome some of the difficul- ties of existing signal strength estimation methods. Two main types of signal strength estimation are deterministic methods and empirical methods. Deterministic methods are generally very complex and requires input parameters that are difficult to obtain. Empirical methods are known to have low accuracy which makes them unreliable for practical use. Three main investigations are presented in order to evaluate the use of kriging for this application. A sampling plan is proposed as part of a generic application protocol for the practical use of kriging for Wi-Fi signal strength. It is concluded that kriging can be conffidently used as an estimation technique for Wi-Fi signal strength in complex indoor environments. Kriging is recommended for practical applications, especially where in- sufficient information is available about a building or where time consuming site surveys are not feasible. / MIng (Computer and Electronic Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Kriging is proposed as a tool for Wi-Fi signal strength estimation for complex indoor environments. This proposal is based on two studies suggesting that kriging might be suitable for this application. Both of these studies have shortcomings in supporting this proposal, but their results encourage a more in depth investigation into this. Even though kriging is a geostatistical method developed for geographical interpolation, it has been used successfully in a wide range of other applications as well. This further suggests that kriging might be a versatile method to overcome some of the difficul- ties of existing signal strength estimation methods. Two main types of signal strength estimation are deterministic methods and empirical methods. Deterministic methods are generally very complex and requires input parameters that are difficult to obtain. Empirical methods are known to have low accuracy which makes them unreliable for practical use. Three main investigations are presented in order to evaluate the use of kriging for this application. A sampling plan is proposed as part of a generic application protocol for the practical use of kriging for Wi-Fi signal strength. It is concluded that kriging can be conffidently used as an estimation technique for Wi-Fi signal strength in complex indoor environments. Kriging is recommended for practical applications, especially where in- sufficient information is available about a building or where time consuming site surveys are not feasible. / MIng (Computer and Electronic Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

"Localization inside the human body using Radio Frequency (RF) transmission is gaining importance in a number of applications such as Wireless Capsule Endoscopy. The accuracy of RF localization depends on the technology adopted for this purpose. The two most common RF localization technologies use Received Signal Strength (RSS) and Time-Of-Arrival (TOA). This research first provides bounds for accuracy of localization of a Endoscopy capsule inside the human body as it moves through the gastro-Intestinal track with and without randomness in transmit power using RSS based localization with a triangulation algorithm. It is observed that in spite of presence of a large number of anchor nodes; the localization error is still in range of few cm, which is quite high; hence we resort to TOA based localization. Due to lack of a widely accepted model for TOA based localization inside human body we use a computational technique for simulation inside and around the human body, named Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD). We first show that our proprietary FDTD simulation software shows acceptable results when compared with real empirical measurements using a vector network analyzer. We then show that, the FDTD method, which has been used extensively in all kinds of electromagnetic modeling due to its versatility and simplicity, suffers seriously because of its demanding requirement on memory storage and computation time, which is due to its inherently recursive nature and the need for absorbing boundary conditions. In this research we suggest a novel computationally efficient technique for simulation using FDTD by considering FDTD as a Linear Time Invariant (LTI) system. Then we use the software to simulate the TOA of the narrowband and wideband signals propagated inside the human body for RF localization to compare the accuracies of the two using this method. "

Sinkholes are hazardous to buildings and their occupants, so a sensing device that can monitor underground changes is vital. Void Technology, developed in the Research and Development Center at Western Kentucky University, is creating a device that can improve monitoring for any movement underground. This device, created by Void Technology, is equipped with ESP8266, which is a Wi-Fi module that can send its information to the router in a wireless network. The focus of this thesis is on designing and developing an IOS framework application to show the signal strength capabilities in different buildings to find the optimum placement of the Void Technology devices. Each building, based on various construction materials, had different attenuations that could cause signal loss from the application to the ESP82266. The optimum place was found with this designed application. From this test experiment, it can be concluded that the application can show the signal strength based dBm. Thus, this new application is cost-effective as well as user friendly and which can help both the installer and homeowner to find the best position for installing The Void Technology with optimum signal strength.

This thesis presents an experimental study both in the laboratory and field to develop and test a method for continuously measuring and monitoring scour using an automated identification technology known as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID systems consist of three main components, namely (a) the reader which controls the system, (b) the transponder (derived from transmitter/responder) that transmits data to the reader and (c) the excitation antenna that allows the communication between the reader and the transponder. The study provides an insight into the RFID technology and develops the framework for using this technology to eventually address two central themes in river mechanics and sediment transport; (a) the determination of the active layer thickness and (b) the scour/deposition depth around a hydraulic structure. In particular, this study develops the methodology for relating the signal strength of a radio frequency (RF) device with the distance between an excitation antenna and the RF device. The experiments presented herein are classified into two main groups, (1) the laboratory and (2) the RF signal vs. the detection distance experiments (field experiments). The laboratory experiments were designed to understand the effect of key RFID parameters (e.g., transponder orientation with respect to the excitation antenna plane, maximum antenna-transponder detection distance), measured in terms of the transponder return RF signal strength for various antenna-transponder distances, transponder orientations with respect to the excitation antenna plane and different mediums in between the excitation antenna and the transponder, on the overall performance of the RFID system. On the other hand, the RF signal vs. the detection distance experiments were based on the results obtained during the laboratory experiments and focused on developing calibration curves by relating the transponder return RF signal strength with the distance between the excitation antenna and a transponder. The laboratory results show that the dominant RFID parameters affecting the system performance are (a) the transponder orientation towards the excitation antenna plane and (b) the medium type in between the excitation antenna and the transponder. The differences in reading distances were attributed to the transponder inner antenna type, while the effect of the medium was related with the void ratio, where higher porosity materials have, less RF signal strength decay. The parameter that governs the RF signal strength decay was found to be the distance between the excitation antenna and the transponder (erosion process experiments). The RF signal strength decays almost linearly with distance, while the rate of the RF signal strength decay is controlled by the material type in between the excitation antenna and the transponder (deposition process experiments). The RF signal vs. the detection distance experiments demonstrate that the reading distance of the RFID system can be significantly increased by using a custom made excitation antenna. The custom made excitation antenna not only increases the reading distance between the antenna and the transponder to nearly 20 ft., but also allows the user to manipulate the excitation antenna's shape and size to meet the specific landscape requirements at the monitoring site.

This thesis analyzes the wireless propagation modeling of a 2.6 GHz band channel around the Tampa Bay area. Different empirical models are compared against measured data, and an adapted model, specific for the Tampa Bay area, is presented that builds on the accuracy of existing models. The effects of the propagation characteristics along bridges are also discussed, and a two-slope model is presented. The proposed models are based on a simple linear regression method, and statistical tests are evaluated for reliability thereof. The analysis also investigates the statistical properties of shadowing effects imposed on the wireless channel. The spatial correlation properties of shadowing effects are investigated in detail, and an extension of existing correlation models for shadowing effects is suggested where the correlation properties are studied in different distance ranges rather than the whole service coverage area.

The objective of this thesis is to design a mobile positioning system on the premise that low system complexity and less modification of components of Mobile Communication System to improve the possibility that adopted by service provider. Therefore we propose a Mobile Service Positioning System for Cellular Mobile Communication System. It works based on location information of base station and mutual relations of signal strength of base stations received by mobile phone. We adjust the environment factor upon different path loss caused by different geographical feature. And then we perform EWVD Algorithm to estimate the area where mobile phone locates in. Eventually, we obtain a Mobile Positioning System which has properties: lower building cost, smaller locating area, and faster response time.

Detection and monitoring of the damage created by the corrosion of the steel reinforcement in concrete structures is a challenging and multidisciplinary problem. Economical monitoring strategy that is long-term and nondestructive requires low-cost, battery-free, wireless sensors. Our Electronic Structural Surveillance (ESS) platform uses battery-free passive resonant circuit (tag) as a sensor. The tag is magnetically coupled to an external reader coil. It is interrogated/read remotely in a non-contact (wireless) manner and the state of the sensor is determined from a swept frequency impedance measurement. When paired with the correct sensing element (transducer), the tag can be used for a variety of sensing applications for example, chemical & biochemical sensors. A circuit model of the reader and tag for such a universal battery-free wireless sensor platform is developed. The interaction between design and detection limit is examined. The dependence of the measured signal strength and read range on the various reader and tag circuit parameters is analyzed. Since the values of the circuit of the coils are dependent on their geometries, the effect of specific coil geometry is evaluated and design recommendations are made. / text

The main objective of this thesis is to propose a UAV (also called as drones) location estimation system based on LoRaWAN using received signal strength indicator in a GPS denied environment. The drones are finding new applications in areas such as surveillance, search, rescue missions, package delivery, and precision agriculture. Nearly all applications require the localization of UAV during flight. Localization is the method of determining a UAVs physical position using a real or virtual coordinate system. This thesis proposes a LoRaWAN-based UAV location method and presents experimental findings from a prototype. The thesis mainly consists of two different sections: one is the distance estimation and the other is the location estimation. First, the distance is estimated based on the mean RSSI values which are recorded at the ground stations using the path loss model. Later using the slant distance estimation technique, the path loss model parameters L and C are estimated whose values are unknown at the beginning. These values completely depend on the environment. Finally, the trilateration system architecture is employed to find the 3-D location of the UAV.

Data communication over cellular networks is expensive for the mobile device in terms of energy, especially when the received signal strength (RSS) is low. The mobile device needs to amplify its transmission power to compensate for noise leading to an increased energy consumption. This thesis focuses on developing a RSS map for the third generation cellular technology (3G) which can be stored locally at the mobile device, and can be used for avoiding expensive communication in low RSS areas. The proposed signal map is created by crowdsourced information collected from several mobile devices. An application is used to collect data in the mobile device of the user and the application periodically sends the information back to the server which computes the total signal map. The signal map is composed of three levels of information: RSS information, data rate tests and estimated energy levels. The energy level categorizes the energy consumption of an area into "High", "Medium" or "Low" based on the RSS, data rate test information and an energy model developed from physical power measurements. The coarse categorization provides an estimation of the energy consumption at each location. It is evaluated by collecting data traces on a smartphone at different locations and comparing the measured energy consumption at each location to the energy level categories of the map. The RSS prediction is preliminarily evaluated by collecting new data along a path and comparing how well it correlates to the signal map. The evaluation in this thesis shows that with the current collected data there are not enough observations in the map to properly estimate the RSS. However, we believe that with more observations a more accurate evaluation could be done.