Electromagnetic fields

Compliance evaluation

• Health effects of electromagnetic radiation
• Exposure of general public
• Occupational exposure

Radiation of wireless devices

Cellular phones, PDA

Radiation of base stations

GSM, UMTS, WiMax, DVB-T, DVB-H

Exposure

During the last decades, the number of electromagnetic (EM) sources has increased enormously. The use of wireless devices such as mobile telephones and the installation of antennas (GSM base station antennas, TV, etc…) are responsible for this growth. Because more and more people are concerned about the possible health-adverse effects accompanying the electromagnetic radiation originating from these base stations, there has been a growing demand for the exposure assessment of electromagnetic fields originated by base station antennas.

The problem is further intensified by the expansion of networks, with the installation of more base stations. The number of the latter may have to increase significantly, in order to implement the latest developments in mobile communications (e.g. UMTS, TETRA, WiMax). To deal with the concerns of the people and to protect the population against excessive exposure to electromagnetic fields, authorities have defined regulations for the implementation of base station antennas for wireless communications.

In order to check the compliance of wireless base stations with the limits and regulations, several measurement procedures have been proposed and are being standardised. Our research on the exposure assessment can be divided in two major categories: exposure assessment and the development of measurement procedures.

Our research focuses on the improvement of accuracy and efficiency of techniques and protocols of the measurement of EM fields and absorption in the neighbourhood of base station antennas in realistic exposure conditions.