3 dimensional rain visualisation tool

• Main Author: Teo, Xingyuan.
• Other Authors: Lee Yee Hui
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Satellite telecommunication
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/16690
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Heavy rain can severely degrade the signal strength and link performance of a communication system. It is especially significant in tropical countries like Singapore where high rainfall rate is experienced throughout the year. Thus it is important to study the effect of rain and rain attenuation to ensure high reliability in a wireless communication link. Data from weather radars are used for short term forecasting and analysis. The traditional way of viewing these is in 2 dimensional images even though 3 dimensional conical volumes are delivered from the weather radars. The aim of this project is to develop a 3 dimensional rain visualization tool using Interactive Data Language (IDL) based on the raw reflectivity data collected from the weather radar. The rain visualization tool will allow the user to visualize the rainfall rate in 3 dimensional space and it will also allow simulation to be carried out through slant paths, in the case of satellite communication systems. In this report, the results from the design and implementation of the 3 dimensional rain visualization tool are illustrated using snapshots. Conclusion and future work directions are also provided at the end of the report. Lastly, the implemented rain visualization tool would prove to be useful in the design of wire communication links in Singapore.