An accurate estimation of path loss for vehicular channels using log-distance path loss model

In order to accurately model the vehicular wireless channel, measurements are taken in a wide range of environments including rural and urban areas. The log-distance path loss model is one of the most popular channel models used in current studies and simulations of vehicular communication. A path loss exponent is used to quantify the attenuation of signal strength in the log-distance model. And the variance of the received signal strengths are represented by a random variable. In this paper, we present an approach to estimate gamma based on the knowledge of the environment, using a geometry-based stochastic modeling simulation. It is showed that the path loss exponent can be estimated as a function of number of vehicles on the road. The estimation produces a more accurate prediction of channel gain than using a measurement based path loss exponent, with a lower computation complexity than tap delay models. Another estimation of the variance is also given. The knowledge of the variance can be used to give a more accurate estimation for the capacity of a vehicular channel.