COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AND INTERPOLATION MODELING OF MEASURED AND SIMULATED ELECTROMAGNETIC POWER DENSITIES IN URBAN BTS DEPLOYMENTS

This study introduces a comprehensive framework that combines empirical measurements and computational modeling to evaluate electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in three Nigerian urban centers: Akure, Ado-Ekiti, and Osogbo.Power density (PD) measurements were conducted at 150 BTS locations using a calibrated Narda NBM-550 EMF meter at standardized radial distances (25 m, 50 m, 75 m, and 100 m) and observer heights (1.1 m, 1.5 m, and 1.7 m).To complement the field data, simulations were performed using radio frequency propagation models-COST-231 Hata and Free Space Path Loss-incorporating terrain-aware adjustments via MATLAB, Python, and OpenEMS.Geospatial interpolation through the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) technique in ArcGIS facilitated the creation of continuous EMF exposure maps and identification of hotspot zones.The results showed a strong correlation between measured and simulated PD values (R > 0.998), with slight discrepancies observed in areas with complex terrain, particularly in Ado-Ekiti.Linear regression analysis indicated that antenna height and environmental factors contributed modestly to PD variability.Although all observed exposure levels were within the safety thresholds set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), spatial mapping revealed localized peaks in high-traffic urban areas.This highlights the influence of urban structure and fluctuating BTS load on real-time exposure dynamics.By integrating field measurements, simulation, and geospatial analysis, this study addresses limitations in previous research that relied solely on static modeling without empirical validation or terrain considerations.It provides a robust and holistic approach to assessing EMF exposure in urban environments.