Deep learning for radio propagation: Using image-driven regression to estimate path loss in urban areas

Abstract Radio propagation modeling and path loss prediction have been the subject of many machine learning-based estimation attempts. Our current work uses deep learning for the task in question, trying to exploit the potential of applying convolutional neural networks in order to perform predictions based on images. A comparison between data-driven and image-driven estimations has been carried out in order to assess the proposed method. The results show that an appropriately chosen image can, per se, be treated as an alternative to a vector of tabular data and produce reliable predictions. The effect of the image’s size has also been examined.