Including buildings
In built-up areas, structures block signal as much as terrain does. Tick Include buildings in simulation in the Coverage section to fold building footprints into the model.
What it does
Building footprints are rasterised into the terrain as solid obstructions. They block line of sight and cast radio shadows just like raised ground.
The footprint data comes from Microsoft’s Global ML Building Footprints, an open, global dataset of building outlines.
What is not modelled?
Reflections and diffraction around buildings, and vegetation, are not simulated. Because real signal bounces and bends around structures, the app notes that “coverage may be overestimated in vegetation and urban areas.” Treat dense-urban results as a conservative line-of-sight picture rather than a full multipath model.
Cost
Buildings add a download and assembly step, plus more compute, so runs are slower. Enable them when you are focused on a town or city, and leave them off for open terrain. See Performance for tips.
Frequently asked questions
Does Waveshed include buildings?
Yes, optionally. Tick “Include buildings in simulation” in the Coverage section and Waveshed folds building footprints into the model as solid obstructions. They are off by default, so switch them on when you focus on a town or city, and leave them off for open terrain.
How are building footprints used in a simulation?
Building footprints are rasterised into the terrain as solid obstructions. They block line of sight and cast radio shadows exactly like raised ground would. A building therefore acts as an opaque block, not as a surface that reflects or bends the signal around itself.
Are trees and foliage modelled?
No. Vegetation is not simulated, and neither are individual trees or foliage. Because real signals bounce and bend around this kind of clutter, the app notes that coverage may be overestimated in vegetation and urban areas. Treat leafy or built-up results as a conservative estimate.
Why aren’t reflections modelled?
Reflections and diffraction around buildings are not simulated, and neither is vegetation. Real signal bounces off and bends around structures, so the app notes that coverage may be overestimated in vegetation and urban areas. Treat dense-urban results as a conservative line-of-sight picture, not a full multipath model.