Introduction
VPortal offers a comprehensive visualization tool which helps users to compare the quality of telecommunications services in the Czech republic. The portal is divided into individual modules according to the type of services. It contains data obtained from measurements carried out by CTU staff in the field and other types of data, e.g. results of coverage simulations based on the data obtained on the parameters of transmitting stations, base stations in trial operation, transmitters, overview of the fulfilment of the development criteria, etc. The user can also download the selected available data in the selected format and coordinate system.
The application can be used in the web browser on both desktop PC and mobile devices.
Mobile Services module
The module offers the possibility of displaying calculated coverage values (Coverage Simulation) for 5G, 4G (LTE) and 2G (GSM) technologies, measured data in the field by CTU staff (Measurement), evaluation of mobile service coverage (Evaluation) and display of base stations in trial operation.
Drive measurement includes measurement of Areas and measurement on Motorways and railway Corridors. Measurement results on railway corridors are available for the signal outside the coach that was physically measured, but also as an option of a value inside the coach, which was obtained by calculation with an average attenuation of a train. Measurements taken on railway corridors and motorways are aggregated into sub-sections of 250 meters to assess coverage.
The signal transmission model according to the Recommendation ITU-R P.1812 (Release 5) is used for coverage calculation. This model is the most accurate model available within the ITU for point-to-area signal transmission. It is based on a detailed terrain analysis between the transmitter and the receiver and includes all the available radio signal transmission models. The model is also suitable for calculations at small distances from the transmitter, which is essential for signal coverage analysis in cellular networks. Coverage simulations are performed by CTU staff on the basis of base stations descriptions submitted by mobile operators to CTU. Base stations in trial operation can also be displayed on the map, including their directions.
The coverage evaluation is based on calculated coverage values (Coverage simulation), from data measured by CTU staff in the field (Measurement). Depending on the type chosen, the evaluation is carried out for Regions; administrative levels of basic settlement units (ZSJ), municipalities extended in selected cities by urban districts, municipalities with extended jurisdiction (ORP) and NUTS4 districts, or for other units such as motorways or selected railway lines. The value against which the assessment is carried out may vary according to the combination of evaluation type and area chosen. For the selected evaluation types, a table is shown which statistically summarizes the relevant evaluation type.
map Map
Basic controls
The principle of controlling all modules of the visualization portal is the same.
The language version can be switched in the top right corner of the application header. The footer of the left control panel displays basic contact information and general terms of use of the visualization portal.
In the upper panel, it is possible to switch the application to another module(s), which is currently available, or to the home page.
The main part of the application is a map (menu „Map“) where the user can clearly visualize different datasets on a background map of the Czech Republic. Under the „Data“ menu in the upper right corner, it is possible to download the data. The main control panel with tabs for setting the displayed data („Settings“), searching for sites and addresses („Search“) and displaying information about a point selected from the map („Info“) is on the left side of the application. Within the map, the user will find tools such as „Information on click“, „Distance | Area“, „Display the whole country“, „Save map as“, etc.
tune Settings
The tab is divided into individual sections, containing the possibility of setting parameters of displayed data, dynamic explanatory notes, the possibility of switching map layers on and off, etc. The content of the Settings tab may vary from module to module.
filter_list Provider, Technology, Band
This section allows you to select the basic parameters of the displayed data. For the mobile services module, these are the provider, technology and band. If no provider is selected, the selected data for all providers is displayed.
- Technology, Band – offers a selection of technology 5G, 4G (LTE), 2G (GSM). Another option for this bookmark is to select the frequency band for each technology. Note: the range of technologies and bands may vary for different types of measurements or evaluations.
grain Coverage simulation
This section offers the possibility to set parameters for displaying calculated coverage values (Coverage simulation).
- Map layers – this section allows you to enable/disable layers related to calculated coverage values, where the signal propagation model according to ITU-R P.1812 Release 5 is used. Calculated coverage layer (Coverage simulation) can be switched on in this section. For each layer it is possible to select their transparency using the sliders.
On the next line, explanatory notes (displaying colour scales) can be displayed for the corresponding layer. Explanatory notes are interactive, a tooltip is displayed when the cursor is hovered over, and a pop-up window with information about the interval and the selected setting is displayed when the corresponding interval (color) is clicked.
timeline Measurement
This section allows you to select the basic parameters of the displayed data related to field measurements. The data display of the whole section can be switched on and off using the switch in the section header.
- Measurement type – allows you to choose between different types of measurements carried out by the ČTÚ staff and, depending on the methodology used, they are differentiated into drive and on-site measurements. Drive measurements are represented by the „Areas“, „Motorway“ and „Corridors“ buttons.
- Value – in this section, it is possible to switch between the display of the signal level (Signal level), the signal level including evaluation of the limit value for signal-to-noise-interference ratio (SL + SINR) and the speed of the data connection towards the user (Download speed). These options always represent average values. In the case of rail corridor measurements, the Signal Level and SL + SINR buttons refer to measurements outside the rail coach. To display the data inside the rail coach (after taking into account the average attenuation), the Inside the coach button must be selected. For the Download speed, the user also has the option to select additional mathematical calculation methods (Minimum, Maximum, Percentile 25, 50 and 75).
- Map layers – this section allows you to enable/disable layers related to the measurement results. For measurements that take place in the field, the measurements are aggregated into predefined units/areas. In the settings of this tab it is then possible to switch on the display not only of the points themselves (Points), but also of the aggregated areas (Areas). For each layer it is possible to select their transparency using sliders.
On the next line, explanatory notes (displaying colour scales) can be displayed for the corresponding layer. Explanatory notes are interactive, a tooltip is displayed when the cursor is hovered over, and a pop-up window with information about the interval and the selected setting is displayed when the corresponding interval (color) is clicked.
equalizer Evaluation
This section offers the possibility to view different types of evaluation of mobile coverage.
- Evaluation type – allows you to choose whether coverage evaluation based on calculated coverage values (Coverage simulation) or field measurement data (Measurement) should be displayed on the map.
- Area – allows you to select the territorial unit for which the evaluation should be displayed on the map. For Coverage Simulation and Measurement, it is possible to choose an evaluation for Areas (ZSJ, Municipalities, ORP or Districts), Motorways or railway Corridors.
- Value – allows you to select the value according to which the selected evaluation type should be displayed. The Coverage simulation evaluation by signal level is available for Areas in the variants of percentage population coverage (% population) and percentage coverage of territory (% area). For Motorways and Corridors as % length coverage. The evaluation from the Measurement is performed according to the Signal Level or according to the signal level including evaluation of the limit value for signal-to-noise-interference ratio (Signal Level + SINR). For Areas, it is only available in the variant of percentage coverage of the population (% population). For Motorways and Corridors as % length coverage. Note: the Value option may not be available for some evaluation types.
- Evaluation – allows you to display an overview table for selected evaluation types, which statistically summarizes the respective evaluation type. Note: for some types of evaluation, the evaluation table may not be available.
- Evaluation of white areas – green colors indicate that there is a signal with an over-limit level for coverage. Such places cannot be included in the list of so-called „white areas“, even if only one provider had the given level of 4G or 5G coverage. The red color and two shades of orange, on the other hand, mean that the area is covered worse than the coverage limit and if this situation is the same for all three mobile providers and technologies 4G and 5G, then the basic settlement unit is evaluated as a „white area“ and is included in the list of white areas. The remaining colors indicate that there is no population in the area or, in the case of measurement, no or insufficient measurement has taken place yet.
- Map layers – this section allows you to enable/disable layers related to evaluation. In the settings of this tab it is possible to switch on the display for the selected territorial unit (Areas). For each layer it is possible to select their transparency using the sliders.
On the next line, explanatory notes (displaying colour scales) can be displayed for the corresponding layer. Explanatory notes are interactive, a tooltip is displayed when the cursor is hovered over, and a pop-up window with information about the interval and the selected setting is displayed when the corresponding interval (color) is clicked.
call_made Trial operation
This section offers the possibility to set parameters for displaying base stations in trial operation on the map.
- Map layers – this section allows you to enable/disable layers related to base stations in trial operation. In the settings of this tab, it is possible to turn on the base station point layer (Points) and the line layer showing the base station direction (Direction). For each layer it is possible to select their transparency using sliders.
On the next line, explanatory notes (displaying colour scales) can be displayed for the corresponding layer. Explanatory notes are interactive, a tooltip is displayed when the cursor is hovered over, and a pop-up window with information about the interval and the selected setting is displayed when the corresponding interval (color) is clicked.
layers Background map
This section allows you to turn on different types of background and thematic maps and a separate layer of address points. The Background map section is the same for all modules of the visualization portal.
- Map layers – this section allows you to enable/disable layers related to the background map. In the settings of this tab it is possible to turn on the layer of addresses (Address points), selected types of thematic maps (Thematic map) and the background map (Background map) in its basic or aerial variant. For each layer, you can use the sliders to select their transparency.
The thematic map Population displays population in a 50 m square according to data provided by the ČSÚ by census done 2021.
search Search
The tab allows you to search for addresses, streets and selected territorial units in the Czech Republic. When entering text in the search field, the found variants are displayed, which the user can click on and the map will zoom in on the selected location. The searched place is also saved in the „Search history“ (a maximum of 10 records are saved), so that the user can return to previously searched places using the „Zoom to | Center“ button. If the „Zoom to | Center | Info“ tool is used, in addition to zooming, the information on the Info tab is also displayed. In this case, the user no longer has to click on the selected point with the „Information on click“ tool. The searched locations remain stored in the search history even after switching to another module of the visualization portal.
info_outline Info
The Info tab is used to display information about the selected location from the map using the „Information on click“ tool. When the user clicks on the map, the XY coordinates are displayed on this tab, which can be copied to the clipboard using the „Copy coordinates to clipboard“ tool. If there are also address points in the vicinity, they will also be displayed on this tab. Detailed information about a specific address location can be viewed by expanding the respective address. The address of the selected address point can also be copied in a structured form to the clipboard using the „Copy AP to clipboard“ tool.
In the event that measurements have been carried out at a given location, or additional data are available for that location (e.g. evaluation, coverage simulation, base stations or transmitters, connections, etc.), information about these data will also be displayed on the Info tab, according to the parameters set on the „Settings“ tab.
You can also zoom in on a selected location on the map using the icon to the right of the displayed information (Zoom to | Center).
Map tools
Within the map window, there are several tools for basic map control such as zooming (+- buttons or mouse wheel), a button to hide the left control panel (left arrow), a button to expand the left control panel (two right arrows) or to display the scale. Other map tools include:
- Information on click – allows you to display information on the Info tab after clicking on the map.
- Distance | Area – allows you to manually measure the distance or area on a map. The measured values are displayed directly on the map and remain on the map even after switching to another module until the user deletes them with the “Clear draw” tool.
- Height profile – allows you to draw a line from point A to point B on the map and display the elevation profile for this line on the Info tab. Selected additional functions to the elevation profile are then available to the user on the Info tab. The profile itself can be deleted using the Clear height profile tool. Note: the elevation profile is available for the territory of the Czech Republic and the close surrounding area of the Czech Republic.
- Save map as – allows you to save the map without controls to JPG or PNG format.
- Display the whole country – user can change the map display so that he can see the whole territory of the Czech Republic in the map window.
list Data
On this tab, the user can download the selected available data of the respective module in the selected format, coordinate system and based on the selected parameters. The basic data parameters for downloading are taken from the „Settings“ tab, but the user can change them on the „Data“ tab. At the same time, the user can select the area for which the data is to be prepared.