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

2025-08-26

AI Summary

To address unreliable communication in wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs) caused by terrestrial network failures in harsh environments, this paper proposes a novel underground-to-non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity architecture enabling large-scale subsurface monitoring. Leveraging Monte Carlo simulations, we jointly integrate a multi-layer soil attenuation model with the 3GPP path loss model to systematically evaluate link performance of LoRa (SF7) and LR-FHSS across UAV, high-altitude platform (HAP), and low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite scenarios, quantifying critical factors including soil moisture content and sensor burial depth. Results indicate that LoRa SF7 is suitable for short-range rural UAV communications, whereas LR-FHSS achieves significantly higher link budget and superior interference resilience in HAP/LEO scenarios. This work presents the first comprehensive feasibility study and performance validation of the LoRa-FHSS waveform for cross-domain underground–NTN communication, establishing a new paradigm for IoT deployments in extreme environments.

Technology Category

• Application Domains: Internet of Things, Sensor Networks & Smart Cities
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Intelligent Robots: Multimodal Perception & Sensor Fusion

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• Social Networks and Social Media: Social media analysis through the lenses of networks
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Web measurements

Abstract

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.

Problem

• Assessing connectivity feasibility between underground sensors and non-terrestrial networks
• Evaluating LoRaWAN modulation performance in harsh subterranean environments
• Analyzing factors affecting success probability of underground-to-space communications

Innovation

• Monte Carlo simulator with multi-layer attenuation model
• Integrating LoRaWAN modulation with NTN platforms
• Evaluating connectivity success under various environmental factors