Performance analysis of electromagnetic field modeling tool for telecom applications: a case of Electromagnetic System and Software (EMSS) IXUS

In Tanzania, there are several wireless communication operators, each having built its own infrastructure which raises concern from the public about possible health effects from the exposure of electromagnetic radiations. Using the modeling tool, the operators have adopted a new way of checking and managing the compliance of radiations from mobile base stations installed. However, the tool used has never been validated in Tanzania. This work was, therefore, aimed at analyzing and validating the performance of EMF modeling tool used by cellular operators in Tanzania. The data required for site simulations and field measurements were gathered from three chosen sites. The parameters included the building dimensions and antenna parameters. The simulation on the sites was done using Electromagnetic System and Software (EMSS) IXUS tool followed by actual field measurements. The parameters which were physically measured are electric field, magnetic field and power density using the Selective Radiation Meter (SRM) tool. The results from the measurements and the simulations were analyzed and compared using the Matlab software. The study found that, modeling tool was conservative enough as it gave a value of 3.21 W/m2 which was approximately 67% of the ICNIRP safety limit, but higher than the measured value. In the field measurements, the maximum measured value was 0.0882 W/m2. The difference between the simulated and the measured value was high, which gave the offset value of 3. Therefore, the modeling tool warns early before the real threshold value of the EMF radiation is reached, which is much safer for the general public.