Evaluation Methodology of an Optimization Model for the Allocation of Facilities in Wireless Networks by Means of Simulation

This work proposes a methodology for evaluating an optimization model for the allocation of facilities in wireless networks applied to open-pit mines, through simulation. The optimization model determines the location of routers and repeaters based on coverage and connectivity constraints. To evaluate the sensitivity of the topology to propagation conditions, the topology is simulated in the ns-3 discrete-event-based network simulator, using the Log-Distance model under different values of the loss exponent. Physical layer metrics such as RSSI and SNR are collected to estimate the effective coverage radius. The results obtained suggest that optimization models based on fixed radius can overestimate the coverage, highlighting the importance of evaluating them through propagation models that represent the characteristics of the environment.