Model the path: impact of propagation models on the scalability analysis of a wireless M-Bus sensoring system for smart grids

This paper analyses the impact of the propagation model on the outcomes of a scalability analysis of a wireless M-Bus system simulated in OMNeT%2B%2B. Four path loss models are compared: Free Space Path Loss (FSPL) model with obstaclerelated losses, the ITU-R P.1238 model, and two configurations of the log-normal model used by previous studies in similar contexts.The performance is assessed using three main indicators: delivery ratio, message error ratio, and gross delivery ratio.Results show that, although all the propagation models considered validate the baseline implementation of the system, performance differences emerge when scaling it up. The two configurations of the log-normal models may provide a toooptimistic scalability potential, while the ITU-R model may provide a pessimistic one. The high influence of the propagation model in the scalability results of the system is demonstrated, as other factors, such as message collision due to the deployment of a large number of devices, prove to not have an impact on scalability for the scenarios analysed.Future research may compare other standardised propagation models from the literature or consider the inclusion of more than one data collector.