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Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Analysis of institutional authors

Rodriguez-Molina, JesusCorresponding AuthorMartinez-Nunez, MargaritaAuthorGarbajosa, JuanAuthor

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May 6, 2025
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Development of a Low-Cost UAV-Based System for Measuring Mobile Network Signal Power Using Open-Source Technologies

Publicated to: IEEE Access. 13 66944-66966 - 2025-01-01 13(), DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3557538

Authors:

Buggiani, V; Rodríguez-Molina, J; Martínez-Núñez, M; Garbajosa, J
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Affiliations

Univ Politecn Madrid, Dept Org Engn Business Adm & Stat, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Dept Telemat & Elect Engn, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Higher Tech Sch Engn Informat Syst, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
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Abstract

Measurement of mobile network signal power, among other features, is an activity of major importance in the telecommunications industry due to several features associated with it, such as network optimization, Quality of Service or infrastructure planning. Unfortunately, major issues happen when those measurements must be taken in unconventional terrains such as remote, mountainous or rural areas, as traditional methods to gather information (drive or walk testing, crowdsourced data, usage of static measurement stations) quickly become ineffective. By employing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with signal receivers, this manuscript presents development works that aim to provide a scalable and cost-effective solution for collecting and processing signal measurements. The performed activities aim to use a UAV combined with open-source systems and standardized protocols to obtain and process signal measurements, as well as state-of-the-art software infrastructure that will be used to store and display such data readings in an inexpensive, secure and user-friendly manner. This approach not only enhances the understanding of signal distribution in various environments but also supports the optimization of mobile network performance, ultimately benefiting both public and private sectors in their efforts to improve connectivity and service quality.
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Keywords

5g mobile communicationAccuracyAerial vehicleAffordable and clean energyArea measurementAutonomous aerial vehiclesCellular networkCellular networksCloud computingCloud-computingDatabasesLong term evolutionLow-costsMeasurements ofOpen-source technologyOptimizationPower measurementPrediction algorithmsReliabilitySignal measurementSignal powerTelecommunication industryTelecommunicationsUniversal mobile telecommunications systemUnmanned aerial vehicleUnmanned aerial vehiclesUnmanned aerial vehicles (uav)Vehicle-based systems

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal IEEE Access due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Engineering (Miscellaneous).

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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-26:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 8 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/94602/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 30
  • Downloads: 57
Continuing with the social impact of the work, it is important to emphasize that, due to its content, it can be assigned to the area of interest of ODS 7 - Affordable and clean energy, with a probability of 70% according to the mBERT algorithm developed by Aurora University.
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Buggiani, Vittorio) and Last Author (GARBAJOSA SOPEÑA, JUAN).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been RODRIGUEZ MOLINA, JESUS.

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Project objectives

La aportación persigue los siguientes objetivos principales: desarrollar un sistema basado en UAV de bajo costo para la medición de la potencia de señal en redes móviles; emplear tecnologías de código abierto y protocolos estandarizados para la adquisición y procesamiento de datos; diseñar una infraestructura de software avanzada para almacenar y visualizar las mediciones de forma económica, segura y accesible; mejorar la comprensión de la distribución de la señal en entornos diversos, incluyendo terrenos remotos y rurales; y apoyar la optimización del rendimiento de redes móviles, beneficiando tanto al sector público como privado en la mejora de la conectividad y calidad del servicio.
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Most relevant results

El estudio presenta el desarrollo de un sistema de bajo costo basado en UAVs para medir la potencia de señal de redes móviles utilizando tecnologías de código abierto. Los resultados más relevantes incluyen: la implementación exitosa de un UAV equipado con receptores de señal que permite la recolección eficiente de datos en terrenos remotos y difíciles; la integración de sistemas abiertos y protocolos estandarizados para la obtención y procesamiento de mediciones; el desarrollo de una infraestructura de software avanzada para almacenar y visualizar datos de manera segura y accesible; y la demostración de que este sistema es escalable y rentable, facilitando la optimización del rendimiento de redes móviles en diversos entornos.
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