Atoll 2.8.0 General Features Radio Public Course

ATOLL GENERAL FEATURES
Training Program
1. General Introduction
2. Working Environment
3. Creating an Atoll Document
4. Managing Geographic Data
5. Managing Radio Data
6. Managing Computations
7. Project Outputs
Forsk 2009
Confidential Do not share without prior permission
Slide 2 of 61
Training Overview
Atoll General Concepts
Forsk 2009
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Training Overview
Theoretical Parts
General features
Specific technology features
Hands-on Exercises
Focus on Practical Training
Training Class Schedule

9.30 am to 5.00 pm
15 minute breaks (morning & afternoon)
1 hour break at lunch time
Please: no emails, nor phone calls during the class
Forsk 2009
Slide 4 of 61
Atoll General Concepts (1/2)

Multi-technology tool
2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE), 3G (W-CDMA/UMTS HSPA, CDMA2000 1xRTT 1xEV-DO, TD-SCDMA),
4G (LTE), WiMAX 802.16d and 802.16e, microwave links
Co-planning studies
Open, scalable and flexible architecture

Largest third-party product offering available on the market
ACP, AFP, dynamic simulators, propagation models, etc.
Ergonomic and user-friendly GUI

Windows-based tool
Copy/paste and export/import of radio/geo data in/from standard applications
Flexibility in data management

Display, sorts, filters
Forsk 2009
Slide 5 of 61
Atoll General Concepts (2/2)

Working Environments
Stand-alone environment (Data are saved in the atl file)
.atl
Multi-user environment (Data are saved in the atl file and in the database)
Atoll documents are linked to database (Access, Oracle, SQL Server)
Database
Archive
Refresh
Forsk 2009
.atl
User 1
.atl
User 2
.atl
User i
Slide 6 of 61
Training Program
7. Project Outputs
Forsk 2009
Slide 7 of 61
Atoll General GUI
Working with Toolbars and Status Bar
Atoll Main Window
Forsk 2009
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Atoll General GUI

Menu bar
Event viewer
Toolbar
Table
Workspace
Map
Explorer
Panoramic
Point analysis
Status
bar
Forsk 2009
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Working with Toolbars and Status Bar

Toolbars
Distances
on the map
Bubble tips available
on the pointed
objects
Refresh maps and Moving

folders (same as F5) map
Selection tool
Unselection
(export, print)
Standard file menu
Zoom and scale
tool
commands
functions
Point Potential user

add-ins
analysis
Gazetteer functions to
activation
display any site, point or
vector on the map
Neighbour Running/
stopping
display on
Height profile Base station
calculations
the
map
quick dropping
display
functions
Repeater
creation tool
Real-time site
search tool
Status bar
Forsk 2009
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Atoll Main Window

Explorer Window
3 tabs
Data (radio data, predictions and simulations, measurements, ACP tools...)

Geo (raster, vector, traffic maps, etc...)
Modules
Propagation models
Made of folders and items
Selection
Visibility
Order
Use of contextual menus (right click)
Access to properties dialogues

Access to tables
Additional functions (e.g. Centre map feature)
Easy generic management
Forsk 2009
Structure management
Custom fields
Standard shortcuts and handy tools (copy/paste, fill down/up, copy of records, import/export of ASCII
tables, access to property dialogues, etc)
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Training Program
7. Project Outputs
Forsk 2009
Slide 12 of 61
Creation From a Template
Creation From a Database
Forsk 2009
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Creation From a Template

Procedure
Command New > From a Document Template in the file menu
Choose a technology
Available
technologies
Creation of a Stand-alone Atoll document
Forsk 2009
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Creation From a Database

Procedure
Command New > From an Existing Database in the file menu
Choose a database and/or enter your credentials
Creation of an Atoll document Linked to a Database

Archive and Refresh functionalities are then available
Forsk 2009
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Training Program
7. Project Outputs
Forsk 2009
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Data Types
Importing Raster Maps
Importing Vector Maps
Geo Data Properties
Forsk 2009
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Data Types
Geo Data types used in Propagation Calculations
DTM (Digital Terrain Model): altitudes above the sea
Clutter Classes : environments of signal propagation
(e.g.: Urban, Dense Urban, Rural, Open...)
Clutter Heights : altitudes above the DTM
Geo Data types used Only for Display

Scanned maps
Vector data
Roads, railways, regions
Notes
Scanned maps with any resolution can be imported.
For other geographic raster maps, the maximum supported resolution is 1 m.
Forsk 2009
Slide 18 of 61
Importing Raster Maps

Standard Import
Clutter Classes
Altitudes
Image
Forsk 2009
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Importing Vector Maps

Standard Import
Forsk 2009
Vectors
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Geo Data Properties (1/6)

Multi-resolution Management
Highest resolution maps on top in order to be considered for calculation
Forsk 2009
Slide 21 of 61

Vector Maps
Attributes available in a table
Forsk 2009
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Vector Maps
Generic display dialogue
Attributes to be
permanently
displayed on
map
Attributes to display in
the tip tool
Forsk 2009
Slide 23 of 61

Clutter Classes Maps
Map description and display settings
Field
selection
(name, code,
height)
Clutter codes
contained in the
file(s)
Mapping clutter
code - name
Forsk 2009
Average height
per clutter class
Clutter colouring
per discrete or
numeric value
Transparency
level
Slide 24 of 61

DTM Maps
Generic display dialogue
Relief
appearance
Threshold
management
Check box to display the DTM
details in the legend window
Forsk 2009
DTM map
displayed
between 1:500
and 1:20 000
000
Slide 25 of 61

User Configuration file (Geographic Data Set option)
Possibility to import/export paths and complete description of geo data using
user configurations files (.Geo)
Forsk 2009
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Training Program
7. Project Outputs
Forsk 2009
Slide 27 of 61

Atoll Radio data
Site
Antenna
Transmitter
Cell
Station
Filtering & Grouping
Forsk 2009
Slide 28 of 61
Atoll Radio Data (1/2)

Definitions
Site
Geographical location
Antenna
Physical equipment used to radiate and receive signals
Transmitter
A sector on a site that generate generates and process signals
Cell
A carrier on a transmitter
Station
Forsk 2009
One or several transmitters on a site
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Atoll Radio Data (2/2)

Creation modes
New command in the context menu (folder level)
and/or
Copy/paste or Edition within a table (from Excel or another Atoll Document)

and
Import of data from a text file into table
Forsk 2009
Slide 30 of 61
Site
Properties
Custom fields
Coordinates : (X,Y) or (Lat/Lon)

Altitudes
Altitude read in
the DTM map
Forsk 2009
Slide 31 of 61
Antenna
Additional Creation Mode
Import of planet antenna files
Properties
Antenna Gain
Horizontal and Vertical patterns
Angular attenuation
Copy-paste available from Excel
Antenna Gain
Forsk 2009
Slide 32 of 61
Transmitter
New transmitter command in the site context menu
Transmission/Reception
Losses
Properties
Site location
Transmission/Reception Losses
Antenna
Site Location
Antenna Settings
Forsk 2009
Slide 33 of 61
Cell
Cell tab on a transmitter properties
Accessible from Transmitters > Cells > Open Table in the Explorer
Properties
Frequency Band
Carrier
Cell ID
Channel Powers
Signal Threshold
Radio Equipment
Diversity Mode
Cell Loads
Simulation Parameters
Neighbours
Forsk 2009
Slide 34 of 61
Station (1/3)
Graphical creation on the map using the radio toolbar (Drag and Drop Mode)
In the tool bar
Select a station template

Click the
button
On the map
Drop the station
Graphical creation on the map using an existing station (Copy/Paste Mode)
Forsk 2009
Slide 35 of 61
Station (2/3)
Parameters that can be set on the map
Site position
Transmitter azimuth
Transmitter offset from site
Forsk 2009
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Station (3/3)
Properties
Site
Antenna
Transmitters
Cells
Forsk 2009
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Filtering & Grouping (1/2)

Filtering
Takes into account in calculations only the remaining sites and transmitters
Specific symbol on folders where a filter is applied
Main Types of Filters
Forsk 2009
Graphical (Filtering Zone)
By Selection (General tab in folder properties)
Slide 38 of 61
Filtering & Grouping (2/2)

Grouping
Creates subfolders according to one or several attributes
Forsk 2009
Grouping based on one attribute from the folder context menu

Grouping based on several attributes in the general tab of folder properties
Slide 39 of 61
Training Program
7. Project Outputs
Forsk 2009
Slide 40 of 61
Propagation Models
Point Analysis Tool
Computation Zone
Coverage Predictions Settings
Creating Coverage Predictions
Running Coverage Predictions
Coverage Predictions Analysis
Prediction Lists
Forsk 2009
Slide 41 of 61
Propagation Models
Calculation of losses on the Tx-Rx path (path loss)
Prediction of signal level received at a given point
Choice of Propagation Model (Propagation Tab)

Globally for all the TXs (transmitter folder property)
Per Tx (transmitter property)
Path loss matrix
settings
Forsk 2009
Slide 42 of 61
Point Analysis Tool

Profile analysis between a transmitter and a receiver that can be moved on the map
Studied
transmitter
or repeater
Angle of the los read in

the antenna vertical
pattern
Forsk 2009
Signal level at
receiver ( path
loss or total
losses)
Possibility to display the

geographic profile instead
of the default radio profile
Model
used
Computed shadowing
margin and cell edge
coverage probability
Tx-Rx
distance
Los
Fresnel
ellipsoid
Clutter representation (if

taken into account by the
model)
Diffraction
losses
DTM
Diffraction peaks
(depending on the
considered propagation
model)
Slide 43 of 61
Computation Zone (1/2)

Polygonal Area (s)
One computation zone per Atoll Document
Note that a computation zone can be made of several polygons
Applications
Limits the transmitters within an area that need to be considered for calculation
Clips the display of coverage predictions
Impacts on path loss matrix validity
Forsk 2009
Slide 44 of 61
Computation Zone (2/2)

Creation Mode
Using an existing polygon of a vector map
Drawing directly on the map

Importing a vector file as a computation zone
DXF, MIF, TAB, AGD or Planet format
Copying coordinates of the vectors points
Forsk 2009
Slide 45 of 61
Coverage Predictions Settings

Requirements for a Transmitter to be Taken into Account in Calculations
Active
Filtered (transmitter or site folder)
Calculation area intersecting the rectangle including the computation zone
Coverage prediction process

1st step: propagation
Path loss matrix calculation for each transmitter (and repeater)

On each bin : Lpath = Lmodel + Lantenna_Tx
2nd step: prediction study calculation
Possibility to calculate two path loss matrices per transmitter

A main matrix over a near radius computed with a high resolution and a propagation model
An optional extended matrix over a far radius computed with a lower resolution and another
propagation model
Forsk 2009
Slide 46 of 61
Creating Coverage Predictions (1/2)

Graphical Process
Templates for standard
common studies
User-defined
studies
Forsk 2009
Specific studies
dedicated to different
technologies
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Creating Coverage Predictions (2/2)

Graphical Process
GUI
Forsk 2009
General tab
Plot resolution independent from matrix resolutions
Default resolution in the Predictions folder properties
Advanced filtering on display
Grouping according to any site, antenna or Tx attribute
Condition tab to filter signals to be considered and predefine areas where Atoll will display coverage
Signal level, path loss or total losses
Lower and upper thresholds
Server selection and related margins
Display tab to select how to colour the coverage areas

Per transmitter, per signal level, per best signal level, per number of servers, per any transmitter
attribute...
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Running Coverage Predictions

Calculate Coverage Predictions
Commands to run calculations
Using the Calculate command in the tools menu or in the context menu of the predictions folder
By clicking on
Using F7 as shortcut
in the toolbar
Prediction study calculation with matrix validity control
1st step: path loss matrix calculation if unavailable or invalid
2nd step: prediction study calculation(s)

Only the unlocked studies
Note : computed studies can be locked
Forsk 2009
in order not to be recomputed
Slide 49 of 61
Coverage Predictions Analysis

Analysis of Coverage Predictions
Display of each plot
Possibility to display legend and tip texts
Reception details in Point Analysis Tool (Reception tab and Results tab)
Forsk 2009
Path loss matrices needed
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Predictions Lists
Prediction List and Settings
Possibility to save study definitions in user configurations files (.cfg)
Forsk 2009
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Training Program
7. Project Outputs
Forsk 2009
Slide 52 of 61
7. Project Outputs
Prediction Reports
Creating a Plot
Export of Covered Projects
Forsk 2009
Slide 53 of 61
Prediction Reports
Define Focus Zone
Generate Report
Forsk 2009
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Creating a Plot (1/2)

Define Printing Zone
Setting up the Page Layout

Legend
Header and footer logos
Rulers
Scale
Paper settings
Etc.
Forsk 2009
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Creating a Plot (2/2)

Print
Click the print icon (
Forsk 2009
) from the tool bar
Slide 56 of 61
Export of Covered Projects (1/4)

Exporting Maps
Copying/pasting a map in another application
Creating a standard format image
Forsk 2009
Slide 57 of 61

Exporting Coverage Plots
Raster format : BMP, TIFF, BIL, GRD/GRC, ARCVIEW GRID (.TXT)
Forsk 2009
Available for any study having only one information per pixel, e.g. Coverage by best signal strength
(not supported in coverage per Tx or related attribute)
Can be done over a coverage export zone which can be built like the printing zone
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Raster format : BMP, TIFF, BIL, GRD/GRC, ARCVIEW GRID (.TXT)
Possibility to filter the exported coverage

in order to clear holes and islands in the
produced plot
Forsk 2009
Slide 59 of 61

Vector format : MIF, SHP, AGD, TAB
Forsk 2009
Available for any study having one or several information per pixel, e.g. Coverage by best signal
strength, coverage by transmitter, etc.
Coverage attributes are saved in the exported file
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THANK YOU!
Forsk 2009
Slide 61 of 61

Atoll 2.8.0 General Features Radio Public Course

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ATOLL GENERAL FEATURES

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Atoll General Concepts

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Focus on Practical Training

Training Class Schedule

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Atoll General Concepts (1/2)

Open, scalable and flexible architecture

Ergonomic and user-friendly GUI

Flexibility in data management

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Atoll General Concepts (2/2)

Atoll documents are linked to database (Access, Oracle, SQL Server)

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Atoll General GUI

Working with Toolbars and Status Bar

Atoll Main Window

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Atoll General GUI

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Working with Toolbars and Status Bar

Refresh maps and Moving

Point Potential user

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Atoll Main Window

Data (radio data, predictions and simulations, measurements, ACP tools...)

Made of folders and items

Use of contextual menus (right click)

Access to properties dialogues

Easy generic management

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

3. Creating an Atoll Document

Creation From a Template

Creation From a Database

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Creation From a Template

Creation of a Stand-alone Atoll document

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Creation From a Database

Creation of an Atoll document Linked to a Database

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

4. Managing Geographic Data

Importing Raster Maps

Importing Vector Maps

Geo Data Properties

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Geo Data types used Only for Display

Roads, railways, regions

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Importing Raster Maps

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Importing Vector Maps

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Geo Data Properties (1/6)

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Geo Data Properties (2/6)

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Geo Data Properties (3/6)

Confidential Do not share without prior permission

Geo Data Properties (4/6)

Confidential Do not share without prior permission