Electromagnetic Radiation Analysis around a Radio Base Sectored in Andean Conditions

Abstract

For more than a year now, the Radio GIS Research Group, assisted by the Schools of Electrical, Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering (E3T) at UIS, together with other local research groups (i.e. ICESI´s I2T, UFPS’s GIDT, and UDI’s MAXWELL, and the Colombian Ministry of Communications have been conducting a number of studies on high-frequency electromagnetic radiation under outdoor conditions to determine acceptable human exposure levels to this kind of radiation. These studies are driven not only by academic interest in this subject, but also by concerns raised by communities in the city of Bucaramanga and other regions in Colombia with respect to the installation of a large number of radiocommunications stations. With this paper, the Radio GIS group makes some contributions, which will hopefully benefit both the population in general and the regulatory agencies, aiming at establishing control policies based on concrete theoretical and technical studies.

The results of the studies discussed in this paper derive from previous research conducted in the field of electromagnetic propagation. They were extrapolated to new research studies on sectorized radio bases under Andean region conditions. Based on modern simulation and measurement methods to determine the coverage areas and radiation levels generated by cellular systems which are now operating in Colombia at frequencies of 800 MHz and 1,900 MHz (i.e. CDMA2000.1x, TDMA/IS-136 and GSM 800 and 1900 Standards), safe human exposure levels and limits were calculated efficiently.

In addition to this, this paper presents the results and relevant analysis of the main commercial frequencies on the radioelectric spectrum which are considered critical to the safety of the general public (i.e. AM, FM, TV, 300MHz, and cellular frequencies) based on readings taken in the field. This is intended to make a comparison of the percentile and specific radiation of mobile phone and PCS systems against international standards. These studies were conducted in cooperation with the Bucaramanga Regional Management Division of the Ministry of Communications, which made available their spectrum monitoring systems.