Radio Network Planning Tools

Training Document

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Radio Network Planning Tools

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and describes only the
product defined in the introduction of this documentation. This document is intended for the
use of Nokia Networks' customers only for the purposes of the agreement under which the
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assumes full responsibility when using it. Nokia Networks welcomes customer comments as
part of the process of continuous development and improvement of the documentation.
The information or statements given in this document concerning the suitability, capacity, or
performance of the mentioned hardware or software products cannot be considered binding
but shall be defined in the agreement made between Nokia Networks and the customer.
However, Nokia Networks has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that the instructions
contained in the document are adequate and free of material errors and omissions. Nokia
Networks will, if necessary, explain issues which may not be covered by the document.
Nokia Networks' liability for any errors in the document is limited to the documentary
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ERRORS IN THIS DOCUMENT OR FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCIDENTAL OR
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Other product names mentioned in this document may be trademarks of their respective
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Copyright Nokia Oyj 2003. All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

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Objectives................................................................................... 4

Tools Overview .......................................................................... 5

3
3.1
3.2
3.2.1

Network Planning Tools ............................................................ 6

NetAct Planner............................................................................. 6
Transmission Planning Tools....................................................... 6
NPS/10......................................................................................... 6

Site Survey Tools....................................................................... 8

5
5.1

Measurement Tools ................................................................... 9

TOM and TIM............................................................................... 9

6
6.1
6.2
6.3

GIS and Site Database............................................................. 11

MapInfo ...................................................................................... 11
Global Positioning System (GPS) .............................................. 11
CellTracker................................................................................. 11

7
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.6.1
7.6.2

Network Performance Reporting Tools ................................. 12

Configuration Data Warehouse (CDW)...................................... 12
Network Data Warehouse (NDW )............................................. 13
Cell Doctor / Network Doctor ..................................................... 14
PlanEdit...................................................................................... 15
Integrated System for Automated Reporting (ISAR).................. 15
Digital Maps and Geographical Information Systems ................ 15
Map Datum ................................................................................ 16
Co-ordinate Systems ................................................................. 17

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Radio Network Planning Tools

Objectives
At the end of this module, the participant will be able to:

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List the limitations of planning tools

List the planning tools used by Nokia

Describe the main features of Nokia NetAct Planner

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Tools Overview
Before utilizing any computerised, highly sophisticated tools, paper and
pencil should be used. At this stage design information should be collected in
order to be able to sketch the rough network layout. This includes decisions
about network topology, quantities and sizes of the network elements. The
planning budget should be agreed with the corresponding departments at this
stage.
Tools have limitations that should be taken into account when making a
planning. Limitations of tools include:
Precision of results:

validity of assumptions?

reliability of modelling?

Tools need:

initial design proposal

fundamental ideas

creative thinking

users intelligence

There are no self-configuring tools, the garbage in - garbage out rule

applies strictly.
In network planning, we use different types of tools for different purposes:

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Planning (NetDim, NetAct Planner, NetAct WCDMA Planner, NPS10)

Site survey (GPS receiver, digital camera, compass, LOS checking)

Measurements (TOM, ESVD, Power meter, Spectrum analyser,

transmitters)

GIS and databases (MapInfo, CellTracker, Oracle)

Performance reporting tools (CDW, NDW, PlanEdit, CellDoctor,

ISAR, NPStat)

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Radio Network Planning Tools

Network Planning Tools

3.1

NetAct Planner
NetAct Planner is a tool for cellular planning and microwave link planning. It
supports also site acquisition and on-the-spot planning, since it can be run on
laptop The software runs in MS-windows environment. The data is stored in
an Oracle database. The main tasks and applications are:

coverage planning

capacity planning

frequency allocation

interference calculation

IUO / IFH / dual band planning

radio link & repeater calculations

micro-cell modelling

measurement import

propagation model tuning

statistical coverage evaluation

data import/ export to NMS.

3.2

Transmission Planning Tools

3.2.1

NPS/10
NPS10 is a software package for cellular access network design. It supports
planning for cellular and PSTN networks, including network architecture
comparison. The application area is SDH/PDH and mixed transport network
planning.
The main features are:

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automatic topology creation, traffic routing, cost optimisation

calculation of segment capacities and availability of end-to-end

connection

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service layer modules for cellular and fixed access networks.

Inputs

Outputs

physical topology
logical connections
routing
capacity calculations
cost and availability

capacity/spare capacity
availability per logical

calculations

Calculations
cellular transmission design
 Erlang formulas and cell-specific

parameters
automatic logical connection
generation from given base station
information
cost calculation functionality

Figure 1.

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connection
costs per segment/2MEqu
enrouted logical connections
unsatisfied availabilities
detailed reports of
traffic/physical entities

NPS/10 features

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Radio Network Planning Tools

Site Survey Tools

In field work, site hunting and technical site surveys, the planner needs to use
different kinds of tools:

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GPS (Global Positioning System)

(test) mobile

digital camera

binoculars

compass

clinometer

LOS checking: lights, mirrors, flags, balloons, etc.

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Measurement Tools

5.1

TOM and TIM

TOM (Tool for Outdoor Measurements) is a portable tool for call tracing and
quality surveys. Up to 4 mobiles can be measured simultaneously. The
measurement results are logged to a PC file for later evaluation. The position
of the measured results is recorded with a GPS receiver. The rack version of
TOMs predecessor NMS/X (Network Measurement System) can be used for
model tuning and field strength measurements. TIM (Tool for Indoor
Measurements) and TOM (Tool for Outdoor Measurements) are new versions
of NMS/X with basically all the same functionality. Measurement results can
be imported to NetAct Planner and SAM (Software for Analysing
Measurements).
Measured data include:

Call statistics:

number of call attempts

number of successful calls

dropped calls

co-ordinates

markers & time stamps

release causes

handover causes

Measurement reports:

location area code

cell identity (CI + BSIC)

frequency number

field strength

In connected mode:

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quality class

timing advance

power control values

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Radio Network Planning Tools

Portable tool for

call tracing
quality survey.
Rack version with ESVD for
model tuning
coverage measurement.

GPS Receiver

Digital Map

Site Data

Micro Computer
1 ..4 Mobile
Stations
Harddisk

data for later

evaluation/
processing in PC or
planning tool

MMAC

GPS
NMS
X

Figure 2.

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GPS antenna
unit

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Measurement
person or vehicle

TOM

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GIS and Site Database

6.1

MapInfo
MapInfo is a graphic software which lets you work with geographical
referenced objects. The objects may be organised in different layers to make
the creation of different scenarios easier. The main advantage for planning is
the possibility to display easily detailed information of sites with co-ordinates
within the correspondent map. It is possible to import site information from
Excel or CellTracker.

6.2

Global Positioning System (GPS)

GPS (Global Positioning System) is based on a constellation of 24 satellites. It
uses CDMA coding of the signal, thus having different codes for civilian or
military use. Positioning data has a precision of a hundred meters (civilian) or
some meters (military), using the default WGS84 datum. GPS is used to get
co-ordinates of visited sites during site surveys or with TOM and NMS/X
measurements.
Watch out !!! Map datum and GPS datum must be THE SAME, otherwise
bigger errors come out.

6.3

CellTracker
CellTracker is an Oracle-based database interface customised for Nokia site
acquisition process. MapInfo can be linked via ODBC to CellTracker: this
enables the possibility to compare the nominal site plan with the real situation
on the field. People in different departments working for the same project
(RF, SA, CW, etc.) share the same information about the sites. Using a
common site database is the safest way to avoid having different information
about the same site. Each user has its own account and read/write rights. In
addition, issuing of customised reports, sorted by different site-related
parameters.

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Radio Network Planning Tools

Network Performance Reporting Tools

NMS 2000 collects network performance data. This data can be collected,
post processed and analysed with several different kinds of tools. Some tools
produce text reports about the network performance and parameter settings
(Network Doctor and Cell Doctor) whereas some produce pre-defined graphs
and reports based on statistics (Network Data Warehouse, ISAR).

Planning

Analysis

Nokia
Totem Suite
z what
z where
z when

Nokia
Configuration
Data Warehouse
z st oring
z reporting
z modifications
z network history
z check rules

Nokia Network
Data Warehouse
z key performance indicators
z analysis
z tuning
z reports

Implementation
Nokia Traffica
z R eal Time
Traffic Monitor

Figure 3.

7.1

z
z
z

Warehousing

Nokia NMS/2000
implementation logic
actual configuration data
access to network elements

Network

Network performance analysis tools

Configuration Data Warehouse (CDW)

Nokia Configuration Data Warehouse (CDW) is a centralised solution
providing support for network planning and operations. It controls radio
network parameters and manages the data and work process for introducing
parameter changes and network extensions. The role of CDW in network
development is to be a central database system where the definitions for
network extensions are cumulatively collected. Also, CDW supports the
cross-organisational processes in completing network planning and operating
tasks. Rules and check function reduce the possibility of erroneous parameter
values.
Also related to the goals of the optimisation process is a need for network
auditing which ensure that the planned parameter values are correctly

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implemented into the network. Configuration Data Warehouse does this

automatically.
CDW makes it possible to store configuration data from all the NMSs in one
place, therefore data management becomes significantly easier. The data on
actual network configuration data is copied from the NMS to CDW. CDW
reads the parameter and configuration data in the NMS and copies the data.
With CDW, the network planner can export data from all the objects and
parameters defined in the NMS-NPS/X interface. It is not necessary for it to
be the actual current data that is exported the planner can also export the
configuration data of a future network. The data is retrieved from the CDW
database and can be transferred to the planning tool.
CDW functionalities:

7.2

Audit function to check configuration correctness

Utilising own rule definitions

Introducing parameter modifications

Support for network development process.

Network Data Warehouse (NDW )

Nokia Network Data Warehouse (NDW) is the centre of the network
optimisation process. NDW extracts information from both digital cellular and
other networks, stores it, analyses and formats it into ready-made and easy
accessible reports. It then distributes it to the right people in right time over
intranet.
Network data warehouse provides the operator with information for managing
everyday operations that guarantee quality for end-users , technical
developments to cope with capacity and coverage demands and long-term
trend analysis and forecasting for future network growth. Nokia Network Data
Warehouse is capable of interworking with other NMS systems, like
NMS/2000, NMS/5000 and CDW.
NDW functionalities:

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Controlling all data coming from the network

Different life-cycle for different data

Common post-processing tools for different types of data

Report distribution via operators Intranet.

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Radio Network Planning Tools

7.3

Cell Doctor / Network Doctor

Network Doctor (Cell Doctor) is a reporting package which provides effective
tools to cover all functional areas of the NMS/2000: configuration
management, fault management and performance, with special focus on the
needs of network planning, operation and maintenance.
Network Doctor offers a menu-based user interface where the user can move
up and down the menu hierarchy.
The reports produce an output file, which opens in the vuepad editor. The
report can then be modified and saved using the editor commands.

MENUS IN XTERM WINDOW

*
*
*

*******************************************
*
CELL DOCTOR
*
v.1.18.15
*
for OMC T4&5, BSC S3
*******************************************

1) Fault Management
2) Configuration Management
3) Performance Management
MSC
4) Performance Management
BSS
5) Performance Management
HLR
6) Doctor ...
7) OMC System Administration
8) Help ...
9) Change
U
/P
q) Exit

OUPUT IN VUEPAD EDITOR IN XTERM WINDOW

NW
DOCTOR

USER

Figure 4.

Network doctor user interface.

Network Doctor reports are textual reports presented in a table format. Each
report starts with a front page containing a description, which helps you,
understand what the report is used for. These include e.g. the following:

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Quality of the radio network plan (coverage, parameter optimisation)

Cell dimensioning (capacity)

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Transmission (availability, capacity)

Network Elements (availability)

Interference

Network Doctor is a customer release and Cell Doctor is a Nokia internal

release of the same tool.

7.4

PlanEdit
PlanEdit is a Windows NT or Windows 95 -based application for RNW plan
editing, including all RNW parameters available in the network. It supports up
to BSS6 parameters and is compatible with T8, T9 and T10. The tool focus is
on mass modifications and it supports especially site creation, HO planning
and frequency and IUO planning.

7.5

Integrated System for Automated Reporting

(ISAR)
ISAR (Integrated System for Automated Reporting) is a software tool for post
processing of the measurements log files. It supports the analysis of drive test
measurements generated by NMS/X and TOM. The aim of ISAR is to
improve network performance, supplementing both OMC statistics and
planning tools predictions. It generates statistical information for dropped
calls, downlink signal level, downlink quality and handovers.
ISAR converts the measurements log files in MAPINFO format files *.MIF,
this option permits to import the measurements file in MAPINFO and to
display the measurement results as a classical MAPINFO graphical layer.
ISAR SW package includes also ISAR database. This database is dedicated to
store benchmarking information between competitor operators. It holds all the
files produced in the report generating stage of ISAR.

7.6

Digital Maps and Geographical Information

Systems
Coverage planning is based on digital maps. Digital maps base on
Geographical Information Systems (GIS). In the strictest sense, a GIS is a
computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying
geographically referenced information, i.e. data identified according to their

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Radio Network Planning Tools

locations. Practitioners also regard the total GIS as including operating

personnel and the data that go into the system.
The way maps and other data have been stored or filed as layers of
information in a GIS makes it possible to perform complex analysis. Pixel
(map unit) is the smallest detail of a digital map. Pixels are squares, defining
the resolution of data. The value of a pixel is an average over the area
covered, typical resolution of digital maps is 2m... 500m. All layers of a block
have the same resolution, even though a map can contain blocks with different
resolutions.
Layers of one block

One pixel / unit

Figure 5.

Structure of a digital map

All predictions are only as accurate as the digital map to which its based on.
If the digital map is old, inadequate or too large resolution, the prediction
results cannot be trusted. In addition to the morphographic and topographic
information, vectorised data of the building database and roads is needed.
Accuracy of the prediction is normally about 10 times the accuracy of the map
database.
Map information in a GIS must be manipulated so that it registers, or fits, with
information gathered from other maps. Before the digital data can be
analysed, they may have to undergo other manipulations - projection
conversions, for example - that integrate them into a GIS.

7.6.1

Map Datum
Geodetic datum defines the size and shape of the earth and the origin and
orientation of the co-ordinate systems used to map the earth. Hundreds of
different data have been used to frame position descriptions since the first
estimates of the earth's size were made by Aristotele. Data have evolved from
those describing a spherical earth to ellipsoidal models derived from years of
satellite measurements (e.g. World Geodetic System 1984, WGS-84).

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Modern geodetic data range from flat-earth models used for plane surveying
to complex ellipsoidal models used for international applications, which
completely describe the size, shape, orientation, gravity field and angular
velocity of the earth. While cartography, surveying, navigation, and
astronomy all make use of geodetic datum, the science of geodesy is the
central discipline for the topic.
Referencing geodetic co-ordinates to the wrong datum can result in position
errors of hundreds of meters. Different nations and agencies use different data
as the basis for co-ordinate systems used to identify positions in geographic
information systems, precise positioning systems, and navigation systems.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is based on WGS-84.
The diversity of data in use today and the technological advancements that
have made possible global positioning measurements with sub-meter accuracy
requires careful datum selection and careful conversion between co-ordinates
in different data. Complete datum conversion is based on seven parameter
transformations that include three translation parameters, three rotation
parameters and a scale parameter.
Ellipsoidal earth models are required for accurate range and bearing
calculations over long distances. Loran-C, and GPS navigation receivers use
ellipsoidal earth models to compute position and waypoint information.
Ellipsoidal models define an ellipsoid with an equatorial radius and a polar
radius. The best of these models can represent the shape of the earth over the
smoothed, averaged sea-surface to within about one hundred meters. Major
(equatorial radius) and minor (polar radius) semi-axes define reference
ellipsoids. Other reference ellipsoid parameters such as flattening, and
eccentricity are computed from these two terms.

7.6.2

Co-ordinate Systems
There are many different co-ordinate systems, based on a variety of geodetic
data, units, projections, and reference systems in use today.
The most commonly used co-ordinate system today is the Latitude,
Longitude, and Height system, see Figure 6. The Prime Meridian and the
Equator are the reference planes used to define latitude and longitude.

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Figure 6.

Longitude, latitude and height

Another very common system used for network planning activities is the
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system, which defines two
dimensional, horizontal positions.
UTM zone numbers designate 6 degree longitudinal strips extending from 80
degrees South latitude to 84 degrees North latitude. UTM zone characters
designate 8 degree zones extending north and south from the equator. There
are special UTM zones between 0 degrees and 36 degrees longitude above 72
degrees latitude and a special zone 32 between 56 degrees and 64 degrees
north latitude.

Figure 7.

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UTM co-ordinate system

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