Mobile network deployment under electromagnetic pollution control criterion: An evolutionary algorithm approach

• Published in: Expert systems with applications 2013-01, Vol.40 (1), p.365-376
• Main Authors: García-Díaz, P., Salcedo-Sanz, S., Portilla-Figueras, J.A., Jiménez-Fernández, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithmics. Computability. Computer arithmetics; Algorithms; Applied sciences; Computer science; control theory; systems; Computer systems and distributed systems. User interface; Electric field minimization; Evolutionary; Evolutionary algorithms; Exact sciences and technology; Exposure; Flows in networks. Combinatorial problems; Mathematical programming; Mobile network deployment; Network optimization algorithms; Networks; Operational research and scientific management; Operational research. Management science; Pollution abatement; Searching; Software; Stations; Theoretical computing
• ISSN: 0957-4174; 1873-6793
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2012.07.050

► A novel evolutionary algorithm is presented for a problem of network deployment. ► Minimization of the electric field is considered in the deployment. ► A real problem of network deployment in Alcalá de Henares is considered. ► A comparison with a constructive heuristic and a HS algorithm is carried out. Electromagnetic pollution due to mobile telephony is one of the most concerning problems arising since the spreading of this technology. Different studies have shown the relationship between continuous exposition to electromagnetic fields and different kinds of pathologies. Despite this, the electromagnetic danger for exposition is not taken into account in recent mobile network deployments. In this paper we propose a novel evolutionary algorithm for mobile networks deployment, which takes into account the control of the electromagnetic emission from the base stations as one of the key design parameters. The proposed evolutionary approach is a variable-length algorithm, able to produce solutions with different number of base stations. We detail the encoding, operators and a repairing procedure applied to obtain good solutions in terms of coverage, cost and electromagnetic pollution. The algorithm has been tested in a real problem of mobile network deployment in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain, and compare with a greedy (constructive) approach and a meta-heuristic algorithm (Harmony Search), obtaining very good results.