Experimental Characterization of Electromagnetic Propagation Under Rubble of a Historic Town After Disaster

Abstract

Emerging technologies, such as rescue robots, exploiting radio localization and communication systems may become capable of improving the rescue of buried people as a consequence of anthropic or natural disaster, but suitable propagation models in such a scenario are necessary. The earthquake damage experienced in the Italian historic town of L'Aquila turns out to be useful to improve the knowledge of the behavior of radio propagation in areas with collapsed buildings. After the earthquake, a measurement campaign was then carried out in two different locations with different levels of disaster (completely or partially collapsed buildings). Continuous-wave radio transmitters operating at 434 and 868 MHz have been introduced under rubble, and their signals have been measured at different points in the surrounding area. Two-port measurements with a large frequency span have been also performed. The main results are the estimates of the excess path loss and the group delay.