Manns, Nicholas (2024) Assessing Radio Frequency Attenuation through Cotton Crop Canopies in Satellite-Based Agricultural Communication Networks. [USQ Project]
Abstract
This research report focuses on the impact of cotton vegetation on signal attenuation, particularly within a post-harvest field near Dalby, Queensland. With the advent of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites set to replace existing wireless communication systems such as LoRa, it is crucial to understand the effects varying forms of vegetation have on signal attenuation to ensure the reliable and efficient operation of such devices.
The investigation utilised LoRa transceivers operating at 915MHz, with transmission data being collected under varying Line of Sight (LoS) and Non-Line of Sight (NLoS) conditions. The obtained results indicate that even residual cotton stubble significantly impacts signal attenuation, with notable discrepancies between the measured data and the predictions made using existing empirical models including ITU Vegetation, ITU MA and Weissberger models. These discrepancies highlighted the need for a new empirical model to be created, better reflecting the conditions found in a cotton-field environment. This new empirical model was proposed, using key field measurements alongside the ITU’s existing vegetation model. The proposed model successfully predicted the attenuation across different vegetation densities, with a RMSE of 6.4dB for a 30% foliage depth and 5.2dB for 50% foliage depth.
The model also was also found to be suitable for use in slant path applications, achieving a RMSE of 9.94dB. These findings have a direct correlation with use with the Myriota network, with the simulated satellite experiment demonstrating the accuracy of the proposed empirical model with varying transmission angles.
Future work should focus on data collection during earlier stages of the cotton growing season, to further validate the model and explore other factors such as plant moisture content, environmental factors and transmission parameters, all which could further impact attenuation.
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Statistics for this ePrint Item |
| Item Type: | USQ Project |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Engineering (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Wen, Paul |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical/Electronics) |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Mar 2026 22:30 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Mar 2026 22:30 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | cotton; Low Earth Orbit (LEO); satellites; LoRa |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53141 |
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