Connectivity Analysis of LoRaWAN-Based Non-Terrestrial Networks for Subterranean mMTC

Fuente: arXiv
Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Lin, Kaiqiang, Alouini, Mohamed-Slim
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1866914008540381184
author Lin, Kaiqiang
Alouini, Mohamed-Slim
author_facet Lin, Kaiqiang
Alouini, Mohamed-Slim
contents Wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs) offer significant social and economic benefits by enabling the monitoring of subterranean entities. However, the communication reliability of WUSNs diminishes in harsh environments where terrestrial network infrastructure is either unavailable or unreliable. To address this challenge, we explore the feasibility of integrating buried massive machine-type communication (mMTC) sensors with non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), high-altitude platforms (HAPs), and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, to establish underground-to-NTN connectivity for various large-scale underground monitoring applications. To assess the effectiveness of underground-to-NTN connectivity, we develop a Monte Carlo simulator that incorporates a multi-layer underground attenuation model, the 3GPP empirical path loss model for various NTN platforms, and two LoRaWAN modulation schemes, i.e., LoRa and LoRa-frequency hopping spread spectrum (LR-FHSS). Our results evidence that LoRa SF7 is a strong candidate for short-range UAV communication in rural environments, while LR-FHSS modulation proves to be a promising option for HAP and LEO satellite platforms in massive WUSNs scenarios thanks to its adequate link budget and robustness to the interference. Finally, we demonstrate that the success probability of underground-to-NTN connectivity using LoRa and LR-FHSS is significantly affected by factors such as the monitoring environment, the number of devices, burial depth, and the soil's volumetric water content.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_19350
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Connectivity Analysis of LoRaWAN-Based Non-Terrestrial Networks for Subterranean mMTC
Lin, Kaiqiang
Alouini, Mohamed-Slim
Networking and Internet Architecture
Wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs) offer significant social and economic benefits by enabling the monitoring of subterranean entities. However, the communication reliability of WUSNs diminishes in harsh environments where terrestrial network infrastructure is either unavailable or unreliable. To address this challenge, we explore the feasibility of integrating buried massive machine-type communication (mMTC) sensors with non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), high-altitude platforms (HAPs), and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, to establish underground-to-NTN connectivity for various large-scale underground monitoring applications. To assess the effectiveness of underground-to-NTN connectivity, we develop a Monte Carlo simulator that incorporates a multi-layer underground attenuation model, the 3GPP empirical path loss model for various NTN platforms, and two LoRaWAN modulation schemes, i.e., LoRa and LoRa-frequency hopping spread spectrum (LR-FHSS). Our results evidence that LoRa SF7 is a strong candidate for short-range UAV communication in rural environments, while LR-FHSS modulation proves to be a promising option for HAP and LEO satellite platforms in massive WUSNs scenarios thanks to its adequate link budget and robustness to the interference. Finally, we demonstrate that the success probability of underground-to-NTN connectivity using LoRa and LR-FHSS is significantly affected by factors such as the monitoring environment, the number of devices, burial depth, and the soil's volumetric water content.
title Connectivity Analysis of LoRaWAN-Based Non-Terrestrial Networks for Subterranean mMTC
topic Networking and Internet Architecture
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.19350