MIPRO 2012, May 21-25,2012, Opatija, Croatia

Availability and Reliability of FSO links

Estimation from Measured Fog Parameters
M. Tatarko1, . Ovsenk2 and J. Turn3
1,2,3

Technical University of Koice, Department of Electronics and Multimedia Communications, Koice, Slovakia
matus.tatarko@tuke.sk 1, lubos.ovsenik@tuke.sk 2, jan.turan@tuke.sk 3

Abstract - This work is focused on last mile system called

FSO (Free Space Optics). Availability and reliability are
estimated from measured fog parameters. In FSO system,
the propagation media is air. The FSO systems working in
free environment are very popular and establishing of
connection is very easy. But on the other hand a number of
phenomena in the atmosphere such as scattering, absorption
and turbulence cause a large variation of receiving optical
power. The influence of absorption and turbulence can be
significantly reduced by an appropriate design of FSO link.
The visibility has the main influence on quality of the
transmission channel. Thus, in typical continental area
where rain, snow and fog occur is important to know their
values. This article gives us a detail description of the
instrument for measuring weather conditions such as the
density of fog, humidity and temperature. From the
measured data is possible to calculate a visibility which is
the main factor for estimation the availability and reliability
of FSO link.

I.

INTRODUCTION

The free space optics (FSO) communication is a

growing up technology, which offers full duplex and
usually protocol independent data transmission between
two points [6,9]. Distance between transmitting and
receiving points can be from several meters up to a few
kilometers. It is line of sight technology. Data rates are
from hundred of megabits up to a few gigabits. FSO
systems have many advantages for example its installation
is very easy and fast, there are no expensive fibre optic
cables, no expensive rooftop installations required and no
spectrum license is required too. FSO systems can
currently transmit a large amount of data without mutual
interferences with other FSO or RF systems. It is difficult
to eavesdropping on transmitted data.
A disadvantage of FSO system is a large variation of
receiving signal due to atmospheric phenomena [6]. This
fact limits the availability of FSO for a given transmission
range, so it is very important to measure and know
weather conditions such as fog parameters, humidity and
temperature. FSO beams are absorbed and scattered by the
air molecules as well as by the solid and liquid particles
diffused in atmosphere. Absorption of the signal causes a
decrease in signal strength. Scattering does not cause a
decrease in signal strength, but it sends off the signal in
different directions [1,9].
In following chapter we can find a description of fog
sensor, its outdoor and indoor unit. It is a low cost device

for measuring weather parameters. In third chapter, there

is a way how to calculate values of visibility from
measured liquid water content. In final chapter, there are
two experiments and their results. We choose one foggy
day to illustrate what visibility has influence to availability
of FSO systems and one day without dense fog.
II.

FOG SENSOR DEVICE

At the campus of Technical University in Koice there

is situated a device which is called Fog sensor and which
measures data every second, 24 hours per a day about
density of fog, temperature and relative humidity [6].
These three parameters are important for subsequent static
and statistical evaluation of the quality of FSO
communication environment. Fog has the main influence
of FSO transmitting quality, which composes of water
vapor or water droplets with 100 nm in diameter. In order
to estimate the attenuation due to fog, content of liquid
water is measured in unit (g/m3). This task usually
requires relatively complex and expensive measuring
instruments. In Fig.1 there is illustrated block scheme of
experimental Fog sensor measurer, which measures
temperature, humidity and fog density in the Laboratory
of Optoelectronic systems KEMT FEI TUKE.

Figure 1. Block scheme of Fog sensor

Fog sensor consists of an Outdoor unit, which

performs the measurement. The measured data are
sampled in the outdoor unit every 10 ms, then
arithmetically averaged by value "Averaging#" and sent to
the indoor unit every second. The range of values for
value "Averaging#" is from 1 to 1000. In the case referred
to TABLE I., the value of "Averaging#" is set at 100.
The Outdoor unit is connected to the Indoor unit with
RS-422 line. The Indoor unit is connected to PC through
RS-232 line. The measured data are processed in a PC in

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several different ways [6]. They can be saved to a file,

rendered to chart or stored on server.
The principle of the fog measurement is given in
Fig. 2. Outdoor unit regularly sends and receives short
infrared optical pulses. Amplitude of the reflected optical
pulses is influenced by the reflectance of the elements in
the environment. This information is used for a good
estimate of liquid water content in the environment. In
addition the optical sensor is also equipped with
temperature and relative humidity sensors. The sensor is
built for the rainy conditions and is shielded from direct
sunlight, but allows free movement of fog droplets into
and out of the sensor [5].

III.

FOG SENSOR DATA PROCESSING

From fog sensor measured data we can calculate

parameter LWC too, but we have to pre-process the
measured data from the first column of source data in
Matlab (TABLE I.).
TABLE I.
Density
(Di)
227

Figure 2. Principle of measurement method

From measured data we can create graph of fog

density, temperature and relative humidity (Fig. 3).

SOURCE DATA FROM FOG SENSOR BEFORE

PROCESSING

Temperature

Humidity

Averaging

4006

3121

100

Relative
Time
0

213

4007

3121

100

213

4007

3121

100

218

4006

3122

100

211

4008

3121

100

216

4008

3121

100

216

4010

3121

100

216

4009

3121

100

258

4010

3121

100

215

4008

3121

100

218

4009

3121

100

10

214

4009

3121

100

11

214

4010

3121

100

12

215

4009

3121

100

13

For calculation values of fog density we use a source

data from first column. Next equation is from manual for
software part of fog sensor. (1).

Figure 3. Graphical output of measurement data from the Fog sensor

processed in Matlab

( Di .

0,5
5
0,87).
2,9
1024

(1)

where F is a density of fog and Di is fog sensor output

value. If we want to get exact value of liquid water
content, we need to define a constant which helps us to
convert value of fog to value of LWC. This constant is
marked as C and it is from ratio between the average
liquid water content values Wi and the fog sensor output
values Di.
n

All of these values are pre-processed in Matlab that

allows us to obtain other parameters which describes
availability and reliability of FSO link. This parameter is
marked like LWC and it means liquid water content of the
atmosphere.
LWC is one of the most important parameters of the
fog, which describes the mass of water drops in the
volume units of the fog. It is measured in [g/m3]. Direct
method for measuring LWC consist of extracting a known
volume trough a cotton pad or of rotating cups in an
impeller apparatus, both to the weighed. Also resistance
changes can be measured with a hot wire probe attached
to an aircraft flying through the clouds. The value of LWC
in the fog varies in a wide range. From LWC values fog
attenuation can be calculated [10].

Wi
C

i 1
n

0,7384

g / m3

(2)

Di
i 1

Where n is number of samples during whole fog event.

This constant is used to convert the momentary sensor
values Di to momentary LWC values [2]:

LWC

F.C

(3)

From LWC we can calculate the visibility. For the

calculation we use the empirical formula for fog visibility
as a function of fog density:

193

d .( LWC )

0 , 65

(4)

Where V is a visibility in [km] and parameter d takes

on specific values for different fog conditions as shown in
TABLE II. below [8]:
TABLE II.

TYPICAL VALUE OF PARAMETER d FOR DIFFERENT

TYPES OF FOG
Type of fog

Dense haze

0,013

Continental fog (dry and cold)

0,034

Maritime fog (wet and warm)

0,06

Dense haze and selective fog

0,017

Stable and evolving fog

0,024

Advection fog

0,02381

For these connections two types of FSO links are used.

For both FSO links are used a systems from USA
company. First system is from FSONA model
SONAbeam 155E (red line). Second link used is from
Lightpointe model Flightstrata 155-E (blue line). In next
table, there are parameters of these systems (TABLE III.).
TABLE III.

In this case, we have mentioned a stable and evolving

fog. The stable air mass with cloud cover during the day,
clear skies at night, light winds and moist air near the
surface. These conditions often occur with a stationary,
high pressure area [7].

PARAMETERS OF FSO LINKS

Parameters

FSONA SONAbeam
155E

Lightpointe
Flightstrata 155E

Wavelength
Tx Power
Rx Power
Rx Diameter
Directivity

1550 nm
100 mW
-30 dBm
10 cm
2 mrad

850 nm
160 mW
-30 dBm
8 cm
2 mrad

From these parameters we can obtain a maximum

distance in which the links are available. We use our FSO
simulator (Software Package FSO System Simulator),
which gives us information about maximum distance
[3,4].

Thus parameter d has value which corresponds with

stable and evolving fog. So visibility is given by the
equation below:

V
IV.

0,024( LWC )

0 , 65

(5)

EXPERIMENT AND RESULTS

In campus of Technical University in Koice we have

installed two FSO links. In Fig. 4, we can see connections
between buildings. First connection is between Laboratory
of Optoelectronics Systems (LOS) and main building of
Technical University in Koice (TUKE).
Second connection is between LOS and Institute of
Computer Technology (ICT).
Figure 5. Main window of FSO simulator

In Fig. 5 we can see, that maximum distance for

FSONA system is 1592 m. For Lightpointe system this
distance is 1190 m. But these distances are in ideal
conditions without any unfavorable weather effects and
they are our thresholds for next calculation.
In our case we know a distances of both FSO links.
First link has 451 m (FSONA system) and second link has
312 m (Lightpointe system) (Fig. 4). From these distances
we can say that they are available also at minimum
visibilities too. But at all values of visibility lower than the
threshold distance, FSO systems will have results in loss
of line.
From source data of fog sensor we can calculate an
actual visibility in every second per day. In Matlab we can
specify the threshold values of distances for both FSO
systems. Graph of visibility is created with both thresholds
(Fig. 6). For each system, program has created text file
with distances which are lower than threshold.
Figure 4. Map of FSO links in campus of Technical University in
Koice

194

From these graphs we can see that all values of

visibility are higher than thresholds for our systems. So
availability of both systems was 100 %.
V.

This paper gives us analysis of fog measurements,

which have influence on Free Space Optics laser beams.
There are described a relation between liquid water
content and visibility. Our Fog sensor gives us these
informations. For example density of fog and visibility are
different at the Kosice and in our campus in Kosice too.
From measure data we can statistically evaluate the
availability of FSO links for certain period.

Figure 6. Graph of visibility on 31th October 2011

In this figure red threshold belongs to FSONA system

and green threshold belongs to Lightpointe system. From
first look we can see that better availability has
Lightpointe system. It is true of course, but we know
exactly how many percent per a day was link down. In
this case from text files we know, that first link was 3004
times per a day down. It is 3,471% of day. Second link
was down only 90 times per a day. It is 0,104 % of day.
Measurement was performed in a foggy day 31th October
2011. We can calculate that availability of first FSO link
was 96,539 % and 99,896 % for second FSO link.
Another day is illustrated in Fig. 7. This data was
measured on 15th November 2011. Graph of visibility is
illustrated in Fig. 8.

Figure 7. Graphical output of 15th November 2011

CONLUSION

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We
support
research
activities in Slovakia / Project
is co-financed from EU funds.
This paper was developed
within the Project "Centrum
excelentnosti integrovanho vskumu a vyuitia
progresvnych materilov a technolgi v oblasti
automobilovej elektroniky", ITMS 26220120055 (50%).
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Figure 8. Graph of visibility on 15th November 2011

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