Modelling of Wi-Fi signal propagation using the boundary element method

Project reference: 1512

The main goal of this project is to develop a workflow for parallel modelling of the Wi-Fi signal propagation in buildings using the boundary element method (BEM). For this purpose the student will use the parallel boundary element software BEM4I developed at IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Centre. The student will go through all phases of numerical modelling. In the first stage of the project a 3D model of a building will be created using an appropriate meshing tool (e.g., MeshLab, Gmsh, NETGEN). Next, the BEM4I library will be used to simulate signal propagation. This simulation will be done in parallel using Anselm supercomputer located at IT4I. Finally, the result will be visualized using an external library, such as ParaView, Visit, or EnSight. During the stay the student will cooperate directly with developers of the BEM4I library and experts on meshing and visualization software.

Project mentor: Michal Merta

Site Co-ordinator: Karina Pesatova

Learning Outcomes

Student will gain experience in:

• C++ programming
• Using meshing utilities
• Using visualization software
• Boundary Element Method

Student Prerequisites (compulsory)

Basic knowledge of C++, basic knowledge of mathematical modelling

Student Prerequisites (desirable)

Intermediate knowledge of C++, prior experience with meshing and visualization utilities.

Training Materials

NETGEN:   http://www.hpfem.jku.at/netgen/

ParaView: http://www.paraview.org/paraview/help/documentation.html

C++:   http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/

Workplan

• Week 1:          Training
• Week 2 :         Work plan setting
• Week 3 – 6:   Generation of the testing meshes in meshing utilities, solution of the related Helmholtz equation in the BEM4I library
• Week 7 :         Visualization of the results
• Week 8 :         Final report completion and final presentation preparation

Final Product Description

Resulting visualizations and animations of the Wi-Fi signal propagation can be used to demonstrate HPC capabilities to the public.

Adapting the Project – Increasing the Difficulty

Development of an automatic mesh generation tool.
Adapting the Project – Decreasing the Difficulty

Modelling acoustic instead of electromagnetic wave propagation.

Resources

Software: meshing utilities (MeshLab, Gmsh, NETGEN, etc.), visualisation utilities (ParaView, Visit, Ensight, etc.), C++ programming environment.

Hardware: high memory system, visualization server, anselm cluster.

Access to the appropriate software and hardware will be provided by the IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center.

Organization