A Hybrid Parabolic Equation—Integral Equation Technique for Wave Propagation Modeling of Indoor Communications

We present a 3D hybrid technique for the simulation of wave propagation in complex indoor communication environments. The hybrid method employs a wide-angle parabolic equation to estimate the electromagnetic field within walls and obstacles, whereas a correction based on a Green's function approach provides clearly improved field approximations. The proposed method is applied in 3D using simple validation models, whereas an approximate 2D analysis is attempted for a much more realistic office space. The simulation is compared with measurements and a particularly enhanced accuracy is observed. The hybrid technique is more systematic and automated, compared to ray-tracing methods and has moderate computational requirements.