The problem under investigation relates to wide area ad hoc networks (dynamic mobile wireless networks). An ad hoc network can be considered an autonomous system of routers (nodes), interconnected via wireless links, which are free to roam in an arbitrary fashion.  For ad hoc networks running high speed links, propagation performance of transmission links, as well as traffic topology, are major determinants of achievable network connectivity and throughput.

The simulation involves the use of the Etrack and TROPPO simulators, developed by Carlo Kopp. Etrack processes track files containing empirical time and position data for the nodes in the ad hoc network. TROPPO is then employed to determine whether a link may exist between two nodes in the data set, and calculates the achievable throughput of the link.

The propagation simulation is numerically intensive. TROPPO will first calculate the propagation path by solving a BVP, using a shooting IVP solver for the refractive equation, and accounts for terrain clearance of the signal path. It then calculates gaseous atmospheric losses, cloud and rain losses, and uses these to determine the achievable link SNR and capacity, based upon compile time antenna, receiver and transmitter parameters.

Etrack maintains a database of nodes for each time slice. It calls TROPPO to generate a database of possible links in the network, for that timeslice. It then employs this database of links to solve the APSP problem. The APSP results are then employed to generate statistics of network performance. Statistics include route connectivity for specific paths, unconnected nodes, link lifetimes and other parameters of interest. The model is parametrised by frequency, link speeds and uses a range of weather models.