Network-Scale Impact of Vegetation Loss on Coverage and Exposure for 5G Networks

IEEE Access · 2025 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 173

Study snapshot

PublicationIEEE Access · 2025

Study typeengineering

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Network-Scale Impact of Vegetation Loss on Coverage and Exposure for 5G Networks Schampheleer J, Huss A, Deruyck M. Network-Scale Impact of Vegetation Loss on Coverage and Exposure for 5G Networks. IEEE Access, vol. 13: 23902-23912, 2025, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3538054. Abstract This study investigates the effects of vegetation on 5G network performance, with a particular focus on coverage, user exposure, and base station deployment strategies in an urban environment (Utrecht, The Netherlands). This is the first study to perform network planning simulations that account for vegetation and building-induced propagation challenges on a city-wide scale, providing understanding of their effects on 5G network performance and exposure. The study also explores the influence of user height, examining how vegetation’s blocking and shielding effects vary with user height. By evaluating both sub- 6 GHz and mmWave networks under various simulated scenarios, the research qualifies the dual role of vegetation as both a coverage barrier and a mitigator of user exposure. Key findings include a significant 14.71% reduction in coverage for sub-6 GHz networks in the presence of vegetation and a 42.98% decrease in downlink whole-body SAR in mmWave networks due to vegetation’s shielding effects. Flexible base station placement is shown to effectively counteract coverage losses while maintaining stable exposure metrics, but mmWave networks remain highly sensitive to environmental obstructions. These findings emphasize the importance of incorporating vegetation and other environmental factors into network planning, especially for high-frequency 5G networks, to ensure optimal performance and limit user exposure. Open access paper: ieeexplore.ieee.org

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeengineering

Effect directionmixed

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Using city-wide network planning simulations for Utrecht (The Netherlands), vegetation was associated with a 14.71% reduction in coverage for sub-6 GHz networks. Vegetation was also associated with a 42.98% decrease in downlink whole-body SAR in mmWave networks, consistent with a shielding effect; flexible base station placement could counteract coverage losses while maintaining stable exposure metrics, and mmWave networks were described as highly sensitive to environmental obstructions.

Outcomes measured

Coverage (network coverage)
User exposure
Downlink whole-body SAR
Base station deployment strategies
Sensitivity to environmental obstructions
Effect of user height on blocking/shielding

Limitations

Simulation-based study (network planning simulations) rather than measurements in humans
Urban environment limited to Utrecht (The Netherlands) in the scenarios described
Specific modeling assumptions for vegetation/building propagation and user height effects are not detailed in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "5G network (sub-6 GHz and mmWave base stations)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Coverage (network coverage)",
    "User exposure",
    "Downlink whole-body SAR",
    "Base station deployment strategies",
    "Sensitivity to environmental obstructions",
    "Effect of user height on blocking/shielding"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using city-wide network planning simulations for Utrecht (The Netherlands), vegetation was associated with a 14.71% reduction in coverage for sub-6 GHz networks. Vegetation was also associated with a 42.98% decrease in downlink whole-body SAR in mmWave networks, consistent with a shielding effect; flexible base station placement could counteract coverage losses while maintaining stable exposure metrics, and mmWave networks were described as highly sensitive to environmental obstructions.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Simulation-based study (network planning simulations) rather than measurements in humans",
    "Urban environment limited to Utrecht (The Netherlands) in the scenarios described",
    "Specific modeling assumptions for vegetation/building propagation and user height effects are not detailed in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "5G",
    "vegetation",
    "network planning simulation",
    "urban environment",
    "Utrecht",
    "sub-6 GHz",
    "mmWave",
    "coverage",
    "user exposure",
    "whole-body SAR",
    "base station placement",
    "propagation",
    "environmental obstructions",
    "user height"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.62,
      "reason": "Study explicitly evaluates 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) coverage and exposure implications relevant to 5G deployment planning."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1109/access.2025.3538054
PubMed: Not supplied

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