Forsk Atoll and InfoVista Planet require four core geodata layers for accurate 5G propagation modeling: a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), clutter classification (LULC), clutter heights or a Digital Surface Model (DSM), and 3D building vectors with individual building heights. For mmWave planning at 26 GHz and above, vegetation height data is additionally recommended. All layers must be co-registered to the same coordinate reference system and spatial resolution.
Both Atoll and Planet organize geodata inputs around the same fundamental categories:
The bare-earth elevation model, excluding buildings and vegetation. The DTM is the vertical reference baseline for all propagation calculations. Standard telecom specifications require 1 m vertical accuracy (RMSE) or better for 5G sub-6 GHz; tighter accuracy is preferred for mmWave.
A raster or vector layer assigning a land-use category to each pixel. Atoll and Planet use clutter categories to apply calibrated propagation attenuation coefficients. Both tools ship with built-in clutter class libraries but allow custom class definitions. Standard telecom clutter taxonomies include:
LuxCarta's LULC product delivers 18 to 19 class classification at 50 cm resolution (from sub-meter imagery) or 10 m resolution (from Sentinel-2), directly compatible with Atoll and Planet class libraries.
Atoll and Planet can accept either:
For 3D propagation models (including Atoll's 3D Urban Propagation Model and Planet's AIM model), the DSM provides the input surface geometry. For simpler empirical models, a clutter heights layer is sufficient.
Individual building polygons with height attributes. Both Atoll and Planet import building vectors in standard GIS formats (SHP, GeoJSON) and use them to compute building-by-building diffraction, reflection, and shadowing in their 3D propagation models. Minimum required attributes: footprint polygon, roof height (above terrain), and optionally building type or material class.
| Layer | When to Include | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Vegetation (tree heights) | Always for mmWave; suburban sub-6 GHz | Reduces prediction error in leafy areas by up to 12.8% at 3.6 GHz |
| Road Network | Small cell and indoor/outdoor boundary modeling | Improves street canyon propagation accuracy |
| Population Maps | Traffic demand modeling, capacity planning | Not a propagation input but required for demand-driven planning |
| Hydro-Enforced DTM (HDTM) | Areas with rivers, flood plains, drainage features | Ensures correct terrain drainage and water body representation |
LuxCarta delivers all four core layers, including DTM, LULC/clutter, DSM/clutter heights, and 3D building vectors, in formats natively compatible with Forsk Atoll, InfoVista Planet (including Planet's AIM propagation model), and TEOCO Asset. Delivery formats include SHP, GeoJSON, GeoPackage, and GeoTIFF. LuxCarta's LULC taxonomy aligns directly with standard telecom morphology classifications used in both tools, eliminating the reclassification step that can introduce errors during data preparation.
The BrightEarth platform allows RF engineers to extract all required layers for a specific planning area on-demand, without purchasing a full national dataset. For projects using InfoVista Planet's AIM model specifically, LuxCarta has validated its data integration and format compatibility.
Atoll can operate with DTM only (for 2D/2.5D models), DTM plus clutter heights (for 2.5D with clutter), or DTM plus DSM (for full 3D propagation). For 5G sub-6 GHz in urban areas, the DTM plus DSM plus building vectors combination is recommended for best accuracy.
Atoll works with any resolution but performs best when DTM, clutter, and DSM resolutions are consistent. For 5G sub-6 GHz urban planning, 5 m resolution is a common choice; 1 to 2 m resolution is used for detailed small cell and mmWave planning. LuxCarta can deliver all layers at matching resolutions to avoid resampling mismatches.
Planet's AIM (Advanced Intelligent Model) requires 3D building data and a consistent DTM/DSM stack, the same layers required for Atoll's 3D propagation model. The key difference is that AIM is specifically optimized for sub-6 GHz urban macro cell propagation, where accurate building heights and LULC classification have the greatest impact on prediction quality. LuxCarta's data has been validated for use with the AIM model.
LuxCarta provides AI-powered 3D geospatial data solutions for telecom, simulation, and smart city applications worldwide. Learn more at luxcarta.com or explore on-demand extraction at BrightEarth.