Design and Evaluation of Multi-Floor Lorawan System for Indoor Deployment

Abstract

This study explores the impact of gateway placement on the performance of LoRaWAN networks in a multi-floor indoor environment, focusing on signal propagation and packet delivery reliability. Leveraging The Things Network (TTN) as the network server and Ubidots for real-time data visualization, the project involved designing and deploying an indoor LoRaWAN setup to evaluate how gateway elevation influences key metrics such as Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR). Results indicate that while Level 4 gateway placement offers stronger performance in line- of-sight (LOS) areas, it suffers from sharp degradation in lower floors. Conversely, Level 3 gateway placement provides more consistent coverage, particularly in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) and in the first floor areas. These findings emphasize that optimal gateway placement is not necessarily the highest point, but rather a strategically balanced position suited to the building’s structure. The integration of TTN and Ubidots proved essential for reliable network management, supporting practical recommendations for scalable and energy- efficient LoRaWAN deployments in complex indoor environments.