coverage

Display or compute coverage map

Syntax

coverage(txs)

coverage(txs,propmodel)

coverage(txs,rx)

coverage(txs,rx,propmodel)

coverage(___,Name=Value)

pd = coverage(txs,___)

Description

coverage(txs) displays the coverage map for the specified transmitter site in the current Site Viewer. Each colored contour of the map defines an area where the corresponding signal strength is transmitted to the mobile receiver.

This function only supports antenna sites with CoordinateSystem property set to "geographic".

coverage(txs,propmodel) displays the coverage map using the specified propagation model. The default propagation model is "longley-rice" when terrain is in use and "freespace" when terrain is not in use.

coverage(txs,rx) displays the coverage map using information from the specified receiver site. The function uses the receiver site to calculate the receiver gain and the receiver antenna height, but does not use the latitude or longitude of the receiver site. For more information about the receiver gain and the receiver antenna height, see the ReceiverGain and ReceiverAntennaHeight name-value arguments.

coverage(txs,rx,propmodel) displays the coverage map using information from the specified receiver site and the specified propagation model.

coverage(___,Name=Value) displays the coverage map using additional options specified by name-value arguments.

pd = coverage(txs,___) returns the computed coverage data in the propagation data object pd. This syntax ignores name-value arguments for the coverage map display and does not display data in Site Viewer.

Examples

Coverage Map of Transmitter

Create a transmitter site at MathWorks headquarters.

tx = txsite(Name="MathWorks",Latitude=42.3001,Longitude=-71.3503);

Show the coverage map.

coverage(tx)

Coverage Map Using Transmitter and Receiver

Create a transmitter site at MathWorks headquarters.

tx = txsite(Name="MathWorks",Latitude=42.3001,Longitude=-71.3503);

Create a receiver site at Fenway Park with an antenna height of 1.2 m and system loss of 10 dB.

rx = rxsite(Name="Fenway Park",Latitude=42.3467,Longitude=-71.0972, ...
    AntennaHeight=1.2,SystemLoss=10);

Calculate the coverage area of the transmitter using a close-in propagation model.

coverage(tx,rx,PropagationModel="closein")

Coverage Map for Strong and Weak Signals

Define strong and weak signal strengths with corresponding colors.

strongSignal = -75;
strongSignalColor = "green";
weakSignal = -90;
weakSignalColor = "cyan";

Create a transmitter site and display the coverage map.

tx = txsite(Name="MathWorks", ...
    Latitude=42.3001, ...
    Longitude=-71.3503);
coverage(tx,SignalStrengths=[strongSignal,weakSignal], ...
    Colors=[strongSignalColor,weakSignalColor])

Combined Coverage Map of Multiple Transmitters

Define the names and the locations of sites around Boston.

names = ["Fenway Park","Faneuil Hall","Bunker Hill Monument"];
lats = [42.3467,42.3598,42.3763];
lons = [-71.0972,-71.0545,-71.0611];

Create the transmitter site array.

txs = txsite(Name=names, ...
    Latitude=lats, ...
    Longitude=lons, ...
    TransmitterFrequency=2.5e9);

Display the combined coverage map for multiple signal strengths, using close-in propagation model.

coverage(txs,"close-in",SignalStrengths=-100:5:-60)

Coverage Map Using Longley-Rice and Ray Tracing Method

Launch Site Viewer using buildings in Chicago. For more information about the OpenStreetMap® file, see [1].

viewer = siteviewer(Buildings="chicago.osm");

Create a transmitter site on a building.

tx = txsite(Latitude=41.8800, ...
    Longitude=-87.6295, ...
    TransmitterFrequency=2.5e9);
show(tx)

Coverage Map Using Longley-Rice Propagation Model

Create a coverage map of the city using the Longley-Rice propagation model.

coverage(tx,SignalStrengths=-100:-5,MaxRange=250,Resolution=1)

Longley-Rice models over-the-rooftops propagation along vertical slices and obstructions tend to dominate the coverage region.

Coverage Map Using Ray Tracing Propagation Model and Image Method

Create a ray tracing propagation model, which MATLAB® represents using a RayTracing object. Configure the model to use the image method and to find propagation paths with up to 1 surface reflection.

pmImage = propagationModel("raytracing",Method="image", ...
    MaxNumReflections=1);

Create a coverage map of the city using the transmitter site and the ray tracing propagation model.

coverage(tx,pmImage,SignalStrengths=-100:-5, ...
    MaxRange=250,Resolution=2)

This coverage map shows new regions that are in service due to reflected propagation paths.

Coverage Map Using Ray Tracing Propagation Model and SBR Method

Create another ray tracing propagation model. This time, configure the model to use the shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) method and to find propagation paths with up to 2 surface reflections. The SBR method is generally faster than the image method.

pmSBR = propagationModel("raytracing",Method="sbr", ...
    MaxNumReflections=2);

Create an updated coverage map of the city.

coverage(tx,pmSBR,SignalStrengths=-100:-5, ...
    MaxRange=250,Resolution=2)

This coverage map shows new regions that are in service due to the additional reflected propagation paths.

Appendix

[1] The OpenStreetMap file is downloaded from https://www.openstreetmap.org, which provides access to crowd-sourced map data all over the world. The data is licensed under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL), https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/.

Input Arguments

txs — Transmitter sites

txsite object | array of txsite objects

Transmitter site, specified as a txsite object or an array of txsite objects.

This function only supports plotting antenna sites when the CoordinateSystem property is set to "geographic".

rx — Receiver site

rxsite object

Receiver site, specified as an rxsite object.

This function only supports plotting antenna sites when the CoordinateSystem property is set to "geographic".

propmodel — Propagation model to use for path loss calculations

"freespace" | "close-in" | "rain" | "gas" | "fog" | "longley-rice" | "raytracing" | propagation model created using propagationModel

Propagation model to use for the path loss calculations, specified as one of these options:

• "freespace" — Free space propagation model

• "rain" — Rain propagation model

• "gas" — Gas propagation model

• "fog" — Fog propagation model

• "close-in" — Close-in propagation model

• "longley-rice" — Longley-Rice propagation model

• "tirem" — TIREM™ propagation model

• "raytracing" — Ray tracing propagation model that uses the shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) method. When you specify a ray tracing model as input, the function incorporates multipath interference by using a phasor sum.

• A propagation model created using the propagationModel function. For example, you can create a ray tracing propagation model that uses the image method by specifying propagationModel("raytracing","Method","image").

The default value depends on the coordinate system used by the input sites.

Coordinate System	Default propagation model value
"geographic"	"longley-rice" when you use a terrain. "freespace" when you do not use a terrain.
"cartesian"	"freespace" when Map is set to none. "raytracing" when Map is set to the name of a glTF™ file, the name of an STL file, or a triangulation object. The default ray tracing model uses the shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) method.

Terrain propagation models, including "longley-rice" and "tirem", are only supported for sites with a CoordinateSystem value of "geographic".

You can also specify the propagation model by using the PropagationModel name-value pair argument.

Name-Value Arguments

Specify optional pairs of arguments as Name1=Value1,...,NameN=ValueN, where Name is the argument name and Value is the corresponding value. Name-value arguments must appear after other arguments, but the order of the pairs does not matter.

Example: coverage(txs,Type="efield") specifies the signal strength units as electric field strength units (dBμV/m).

Before R2021a, use commas to separate each name and value, and enclose Name in quotes.

Example: coverage(txs,"Type","efield") specifies the signal strength units as electric field strength units (dBμV/m).

General

Type — Type of signal strength to compute

"power" (default) | "efield"

Type of signal strength to compute, specified as one of these options:

• "power" — The signal strengths in SignalStrengths is in power units (dBm) of the signal at the mobile receiver input.

• "efield"— The signal strength in SignalStrengths is in electric field strength units (dBμV/m) of signal wave incident on the antenna.

Data Types: char | string

SignalStrengths — Signal strengths to display on coverage map

numeric vector

Signal strengths to display on coverage map, specified as a numeric vector.

Each strength uses different colored filled contour on the map. The default value is -100 dBm if Type is "power" and 40 dBμV/m if Type is "efield".

Data Types: double

PropagationModel — Propagation model to use for path loss calculations

"freespace" | "close-in" | "rain" | "gas" | "fog" | "longley-rice" | "raytracing" | propagation model created using propagationModel

Propagation model to use for the path loss calculations, specified as one of these options:

• "freespace" — Free space propagation model

• "rain" — Rain propagation model

• "gas" — Gas propagation model

• "fog" — Fog propagation model

• "close-in" — Close-in propagation model

• "longley-rice" — Longley-Rice propagation model

• "tirem" — TIREM propagation model

• "raytracing" — Ray tracing propagation model that uses the shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) method. When you specify a ray tracing model as input, the function incorporates multipath interference by using a phasor sum.

• A propagation model created using the propagationModel function. For example, you can create a ray tracing propagation model that uses the image method by specifying propagationModel("raytracing","Method","image").

The default value depends on the coordinate system used by the input sites.

Coordinate System	Default propagation model value
"geographic"	"longley-rice" when you use a terrain. "freespace" when you do not use a terrain.
"cartesian"	"freespace" when Map is set to none. "raytracing" when Map is set to the name of a glTF file, the name of an STL file, or a triangulation object. The default ray tracing model uses the shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) method.

Terrain propagation models, including "longley-rice" and "tirem", are only supported for sites with a CoordinateSystem value of "geographic".

Data Types: char | string

ReceiverGain — Mobile receiver gain in dBi

2.1 (default) | numeric scalar

Mobile receiver gain, specified as a numeric scalar in dBi. The receiver gain value includes the mobile receiver antenna gain and system loss.

The receiver gain computes received signal strength when Type is "power".

If you specify the rx argument, then the default value is the maximum gain of the receiver antenna with the system loss subtracted. Otherwise, the default value is 2.1.

Data Types: char | string | double

ReceiverAntennaHeight — Height of phase center of receiver antenna in m

1 (default) | numeric scalar

Height above the ground of the phase center of the receiver antenna, specified as a numeric scalar in m.

If you specify the receiver site argument rx, then the default value is the AntennaHeight property of the receiver site. Otherwise the default value is 1.

Data Types: double

Map — Map for visualization of surface data

siteviewer object

Map for visualization of surface data, specified as a siteviewer object.¹

Data Types: char | string

For Plotting Coverage

MaxRange — Maximum range in m

numeric scalar

Maximum range of the coverage map from each transmitter site, specified as a positive numeric scalar in m representing great circle distance. MaxRange defines the region of interest on the map to plot. The default value is automatically computed based on the type of propagation model.

Type of Propagation Model	Default Maximum Range
Atmospheric or empirical	Range of minimum value in SignalStrengths
Terrain	The minimum of 30 km and the distance to the furthest building
Ray tracing	500 m

For more information about the types of propagation models, see Choose a Propagation Model.

Data Types: double

Resolution — Resolution of coverage map

"auto" (default) | numeric scalar

Resolution of the coverage map, specified as "auto" or a numeric scalar in m. If the resolution is "auto", the function computes the maximum value scaled to MaxRange. Decreasing the resolution increases the quality of the coverage map and the time required to create it.

Data Types: char | string | double

Colors — Colors of filled contours on coverage map

M-by-3 array of RGB triplets | array of strings | cell array of character vectors

Colors of filled contours on the coverage map, specified as one of these options:

• An M-by-3 array of RGB triplets whose elements specify the intensities of the red, green, and blue components of the color. The intensities must be in the range [0,1]; for example, [0.4 0.6 0.7].

• An array of strings such as ["red" "green" "blue"] or ["r" "g" "b"].

• A cell array of character vectors such as {'red','green','blue'} or {'r','g','b'}.

Colors are assigned element-wise to SignalStrengths values for coloring the corresponding filled contours.

Colors cannot be used with ColorLimits or ColorMap.

This table contains the color names and equivalent RGB triplets for some common colors.

Color Name	Short Name	RGB Triplet	Appearance
"red"	"r"	[1 0 0]
"green"	"g"	[0 1 0]
"blue"	"b"	[0 0 1]
"cyan"	"c"	[0 1 1]
"magenta"	"m"	[1 0 1]
"yellow"	"y"	[1 1 0]
"black"	"k"	[0 0 0]
"white"	"w"	[1 1 1]

Data Types: char | string | double

ColorLimits — Color limits for colormap

two-element vector

Color limits for colormap, specified as a two-element vector of the form [cmin cmax]. The value of cmin must be less than cmax.

The color limits indicate the signal level values that map to the first and last colors on the colormap.

The default value is [-120 -5] if the Type is "power" and [20 135] if Type is "efield".

ColorLimits cannot be used with Colors.

Data Types: double

ColorMap — Colormap filled contours for coverage map

"jet" (default) | predefined color map | M-by-3 array of RGB triplets

Colormap for coloring filled contours, specified as a predefined colormap or an M-by-3 array of RGB triplets, where M is the number of individual colors.

ColorMap cannot be used with Colors.

Data Types: char | string | double

ShowLegend — Show signal strength color legend on map

true (default) | false

Show signal strength color legend on map, specified as true or false.

Data Types: logical

Transparency — Transparency of coverage map

0.4 (default) | numeric scalar

Transparency of coverage map, specified as a numeric scalar in the range 0 to 1. 0 is transparent and 1 is opaque.

Data Types: double

Output Arguments

pd — Coverage data

propagationData object

Coverage data, returned as a propagationData object consisting of Latitude and Longitude, and a signal strength variable corresponding to the plot type. Name of the propagationData is "Coverage Data".

Coverage data, returned as a propagationData object with these properties:

• Name has a value of 'Coverage Data'.

• Data contains a table with Latitude, Longitude, and, depending on the value of Type, Power or Efieldtable variables.

• DataVariableName has a value of 'Power' or 'Efield'.

Limitations

When you specify a RayTracing object as input to the coverage function, the value of the MaxNumDiffractions property must be 0 or 1.

References

[1] International Telecommunications Union Radiocommunication Sector. Effects of Building Materials and Structures on Radiowave Propagation Above About 100MHz. Recommendation P.2040. ITU-R, approved August 23, 2023. https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-P.2040/en.

[2] International Telecommunications Union Radiocommunication Sector. Electrical Characteristics of the Surface of the Earth. Recommendation P.527. ITU-R, approved September 27, 2021. https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-P.527/en.

[3] Mohr, Peter J., Eite Tiesinga, David B. Newell, and Barry N. Taylor. “Codata Internationally Recommended 2022 Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants.” NIST, May 8, 2024. https://www.nist.gov/publications/codata-internationally-recommended-2022-values-fundamental-physical-constants.

Extended Capabilities

GPU Arrays

Accelerate code by running on a graphics processing unit (GPU) using Parallel Computing Toolbox™. (since R2025a)

The coverage function supports ray tracing analysis on a GPU with these usage notes and limitations:

• The function runs on the GPU when you specify a RayTracing propagation model object as input and the UseGPU property of the object is "on" or "auto".

• For information about when the GPU can accelerate ray tracing analysis, see the UseGPU property of the RayTracing object.

• In some cases, the GPU and local CPU results can differ due to small differences in algorithms and hardware implementations.

For an example that shows how to perform ray tracing analysis on a GPU, see Accelerate Ray Tracing Analysis Using GPU.

Version History

Introduced in R2019b

R2025a: Ray tracing functions perform analysis using additional materials

When calculating coverage using ray tracing models, the coverage function performs the ray tracing analysis using additional materials. As a result of this change, depending on the materials in the scene, the coverage function can return different values in R2025a compared to previous releases.

R2025a: Ray tracing functions use improved algorithms

When calculating coverage using ray tracing models, the coverage function uses improved algorithms and constant values.

• The SBR method uses additional edges in the scene as candidates for diffraction. As a result, the SBR method can find more rays in R2025a compared to previous releases.

• When you specify transmitters and receivers that have polarized antennas from Antenna Toolbox™ or Phased Array System Toolbox™, the function calculates the phase shifts of rays using an improved algorithm that differently incorporates the far-field patterns of the antennas.

• The function uses the constant values that are recommended by the 2022 Committee on Data of the International Science Council (CODATA) adjustment of fundamental constants [3]. In previous releases, the function used constant values from International Telecommunication Union Recommendations (ITU-R) P.2040 and P.527.

As a result of these changes, the coverage function can return different values in R2025a compared to previous releases.

R2024b: Ray tracing analysis shows improved performance in scenes with buildings

The coverage function shows improved performance in scenes with buildings when you specify a RayTracing propagation model object as input.

For example, the following code creates a coverage map for an antenna site in an urban scene by using the coverage function and a RayTracing propagation model object created using the propagationModel function. The code that creates the coverage map is about 1.2x faster in R2024b than in R2024a.

function timingTest
    % Create Site Viewer and site
    sv = siteviewer(Buildings="chicago.osm");
    tx = txsite(Latitude=41.88,Longitude=-87.6295, ...
           TransmitterFrequency=2.5e9);
    
    % Create RayTracing object
    pm = propagationModel("raytracing", ...
        MaxNumReflections=1,MaxNumDiffractions=1);

    % Create coverage map
    t1 = tic;
    coverage(tx,pm)
    toc(t1)

    close(sv)
end

The approximate execution times are:

• R2024b: 112 s

• R2024a: 133 s

This code was timed on a Windows^® 11, AMD EPYC™ 74F3 24-Core Processor @ 3.19 GHz test system by calling the function timingTest.

You can download the OpenStreetMap file used in this example from https://www.openstreetmap.org, which provides access to crowd-sourced map data all over the world. The data is licensed under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL), https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/.

R2024a: Ray tracing functions model materials using updated ITU recommendations

When calculating coverage using ray tracing models, the coverage function models materials using the methods and equations in ITU-R P.2040-3 [1] and ITU-R P.527-5 through ITU-R P.527-6 [2].

In previous releases, the function used ITU-R P.2040-1. As a result of these changes, the coverage function can return different values in R2024a compared to previous releases.

R2023b: Perform ray tracing analysis with multiple materials in the same scene

The coverage function performs ray tracing analysis with multiple materials in the same scene when you create the scene from an OpenStreetMap^® file or a geospatial table, and you specify the propmodel input argument as "raytracing" or a RayTracing propagation model object with its BuildingsMaterial property set to "auto" (the default).

The coverage function performs the ray tracing analysis using the materials stored in the file or table. If the file or table does not specify materials, or if the file or table specifies a material that the ray tracing analysis does not support, then the function uses concrete instead of the absent or unsupported material.

As a result, the coverage function can return different values in R2023b compared to previous releases. To avoid using the materials stored in the file or table, create a RayTracing object (by using the propagationModel function) and set its BuildingsMaterial property to "concrete". Then, use the object as input to the coverage function.

R2023b: Ray tracing analysis with SBR method shows improved performance in complex scenes

The coverage function shows improved performance with complex scenes when you specify a RayTracing propagation model object that uses the shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) method as input.

The time that MATLAB^® requires to perform ray tracing analysis depends on the scene and on the properties of the RayTracing object, such as the AngularSeparation, MaxNumDiffractions, MaxNumReflections, MaxAbsolutePathLoss, and MaxRelativePathLoss properties. In some cases, with moderate values of the MaxAbsolutePathLoss and MaxRelativePathLoss properties, the ray tracing analysis can be more than 2x faster in R2023b than in R2023a.

R2023a: Ray tracing models discard paths based on path loss

Ray tracing propagation models discard propagation paths based on path loss thresholds. By default, when you specify the propmodel input argument as "raytracing" or a RayTracing object, the propagation model discards paths that are more than 40 dB weaker than the strongest path.

As a result, the coverage function can return different values in R2023a compared to previous releases. To avoid discarding paths based on relative path loss thresholds, create a RayTracing object (by using the propagationModel function) and set its MaxRelativePathLoss property to Inf. Then, use the object as input to the coverage function.

R2022b: Ray tracing functions consider multipath interference

When calculating coverage using ray tracing models, the coverage function now incorporates multipath interference by using a phasor sum. In previous releases, the function used a power sum. As a result, the calculations in R2022b are more accurate than in previous releases.

R2021b: "raytracing" propagation models use SBR method

Starting in R2021b, when you use the coverage function and specify the propmodel argument or PropagationModel name-value argument as "raytracing", the function uses the shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) method and calculates up to two reflections. In previous releases, the coverage function uses the image method and calculates up to one reflection.

To display or compute coverage maps using the image method instead, create a propagation model by using the propagationModel function. Then, use the coverage function with the propagation model as input. This example shows how to update your code.

pm = propagationModel("raytracing","Method","image");
coverage(txs,pm)

For information about the SBR and image methods, see Choose a Propagation Model.

Starting in R2021b, all RF Propagation functions use the SBR method by default and calculate up to two reflections. For more information, see Default modeling method is shooting and bouncing rays method.