Statewide Cellular Coverage Map

Meyer, Eric; Walton, Scott · 2002 · ROSA P / Kansas. Dept. of Transportation. Bureau of Research

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Summary

This study addresses the critical need for accurate cellular coverage data to support Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications, such as Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and Automated Collision Notification (ACN). While wireless communications are essential for these technologies, cellular providers typically withhold detailed coverage maps, releasing only general service area information. To enable the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to make informed decisions regarding ITS deployment and fleet communications, researchers from the University of Kansas conducted an empirical assessment of cellular coverage across the Kansas State Highway System. The research team collected primary data during the summer of 1999 by driving approximately 43,800 kilometers of the state highway system using vehicles equipped with In-Vehicle Modules (IVMs). These devices integrated analog cellular transceivers with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to record Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) values every 1.6 kilometers. Data was gathered for both A-side and B-side cellular frequency bands. To ensure data reliability, the researchers conducted multiple passes over specific segments to test for variations caused by weather, speed, and time of day, finding that RSSI values varied by less than 1.2 dBm, confirming high consistency. The study also established connection thresholds for different device types: 3-watt phones with external antennas maintained connections down to –114 dBm, while 0.6-watt handheld phones required a stronger signal threshold of –104 dBm. A key methodological contribution of this report is the introduction of the Maximum Sustainable Call Length (MSCL) metric. Recognizing that simple coverage percentages are insufficient for mobile applications where signal continuity is vital, MSCL measures the longest continuous stretch of roadway where a wireless connection can be maintained at a given speed. The researchers associated GPS-linked RSSI data with highway network segments using weighted averages and analyzed coverage for stationary versus mobile scenarios. Results were summarized by district for A-side, B-side, and combined coverage. The findings indicate that stationary coverage is generally adequate across the state, with outages in analog coverage being spotty rather than widespread. However, MSCL analysis revealed that continuous coverage is poor along certain corridors, particularly those with high Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT). The study concludes that MSCL is a useful supplement to traditional stationary coverage metrics for evaluating mobile ITS applications. Based on these results, the authors provide recommendations for improving cellular coverage and utilizing cellular technology in transportation contexts, highlighting specific high-traffic corridors where coverage improvements are necessary to support reliable wireless communication.

Key finding

Stationary cellular coverage was adequate across the state, but Maximum Sustainable Call Length was poor along specific corridors, indicating that continuity of coverage is a critical limitation for mobile applications.

Methodology

on_road

Sample size: 43800

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

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• v2x connected vehicle