Vertical Assessment of RF-EMF Exposure in a Building Adjacent to a Multi-Operator Shared Base Station

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14209/jcis.2026.8

Keywords:

Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields, Vertical Assessment, Buildings, Base Stations, Mobile Networks

Abstract

 This paper extends a previously published proposed approach for estimating worst-case exposure scenarios in buildings using publicly available Base Station (BS) parameters, applying it to a critical case involving a multi-operator shared site. Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) exposure was assessed on every floor of a 20-story building facing the site, revealing significantly higher levels near the center of the antennas’ estimated vertical zone of interest, with a peak of 31.86 V/m, 23.95 times higher than the street-level peak value. However, due to uncertainties in the input parameters, measurements across all locations within the zone of interest are required to accurately identify the floor of maximum exposure. The results demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed estimation approach and highlight the need for improved methods that consider BS antenna configurations and current technical information to ensure accurate assessments of exposure to RF-EMF.

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Author Biographies

Ricardo Queiroz de Farias Henrique Silva, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)

RICARDO Q. DE F. H. SILVA holds a B.S. (2023) and an M.Sc. (2025) in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Brazil. He also earned a technical degree in Electronics from the Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN) in 2017. Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate and research fellow at the GppCom Research Group, where his work centers on mobile communication systems. Silva has solid experience with network simulation using the ns-3 discrete-event simulator, particularly in Wi-Fi, LTE, and 5G NR scenarios. He also works on OpenRAN deployments leveraging the OpenAirInterface (OAI), open5GS, and srsRAN platforms. Additionally, he contributes to projects focused on RF-EMF exposure assessment, in collaboration with the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL).

Marcio Eduardo da Costa Rodrigues, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)

Marcio Eduardo da Costa Rodrigues has a BSc degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Fluminense Federal University (UFF, Brazil, year 1997) and MSc (year 2000) and PhD (year 2010) degrees in Electrical Engineering (Telecommunications) from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio, Brazil), including one year of doctoral stay at ONERA (Toulouse/France, year 2008). In the private enterprise, he took part in projects and research in the field of radio propagation and wireless communications, for mobile operators, ANATEL and Petrobrás, among others. Since 2011, he is a professor at UFRN, having as research interest involving radio propagation, wireless channel modeling, besides Engineering teaching methodologies.

Fred Sizenando Rossiter Pinheiro, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)

Fred Sizenando Rossiter Pinheiro holds a PhD degree in Health Sciences (2017), a master’s and a undergraduation degrees in electrical engineering (2006, 1975) from UFRN. He holds a specialization degree in Telecommunications Engineering (1996) from UFCG. As engineer at TELERN and TELEMAR (OI) (1975 to 2002), He was responsible for the deployment of microwave communication and telephony systems. He was responsible for implementing and managing the communications system that supported Pope John Paul II's visit to Natal, RN, Brazil, 1991. He took a specialization course in Rural Telecommunications Planning at the USTTI (United States Government Telecommunications Training Institute), Washington and Los Angeles, 1993. Nowadays, Dr. Fred is a professor and a researcher at UFRN.

Gutembergue Soares da Silva, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)

Gutembergue Soares da Silva holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering (2015) from UFRN and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (1992) from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). He is also graduated in Electrical Engineering (1975) and Economics (1983) from UFRN. He also has specialization degree in Telecommunications Engineering (1996) from the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Brazil. Between 1975 and 2002, he developed activities in planning, design, implementation and operation of telecommunications systems as an executive at TELERN-TELEBRAS, Brazil. Now, Dr. Gutembergue is a professor and a researcher at UFRN, Brazil.

Halysson Barbosa Mendonca, Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (ANATEL)

Halysson B. Mendonça received his M.S degree on ​​mobile communications in 2002. Since 2005, He is working as an engineer at the National Telecommunications Agency – ANATEL. He is responsible for the inspection of the technical rules of regulated companies. In 2011, Mr.  Mendonça concluded a specialization course in Telecommunications Regulation at INATEL, a multidisciplinary course, including technical, legal and other regulatory aspects.

Vicente Angelo de Sousa Jr., Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)

Vicente A. de Sousa Jr. received his B.S., M.S and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineer from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil, in 2001, 2002 and 2009, respectively.  Between 2001 and 2006, he developed solutions to UMTS/WLAN interworking for UFC and Ericsson of Brazil. Between 2006 and 2010, he contributed to WIMAX standardization and Nokia’s product as a researcher at the Institute of Technological Development (INdT). Dr.  Sousa is now a professor and the head of the GppCom Research Group at UFRN. He is contributing to 5G open RAN projects supported by Lenovo and to NIR measurements and evaluation projects supported by ANATEL Agency.

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Published

2026-03-27

How to Cite

Queiroz de Farias Henrique Silva, R., Rodrigues, M., Pinheiro, F., Silva, G., Mendonça, H., & Sousa, V. (2026). Vertical Assessment of RF-EMF Exposure in a Building Adjacent to a Multi-Operator Shared Base Station. Journal of Communication and Information Systems, 41(1), 77–82. https://doi.org/10.14209/jcis.2026.8

Issue

Vol. 41 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Letters

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Ricardo Queiroz de Farias Henrique Silva, Marcio Eduardo da Costa Rodrigues, Fred Sizenando Rossiter Pinheiro, Gutembergue Soares da Silva, Halysson Barbosa Mendonca, Vicente Angelo de Sousa Jr. (Author)

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Received 2025-11-16
Accepted 2026-03-20
Published 2026-03-27