News & Events

Mapper 2017.4 with New Aggregate Coverage Module Now Available

The TAP™ Aggregate Coverage module, which aggregates the results of multiple individual coverage studies into a single composite coverage result, is one of the most popular TAP™ modules.  We are pleased to announce today that we have released Terrain Analysis Package (TAP™) Mapper 2017.4, which includes an all-new Aggregate Coverage module. The new tool allows users to create multi-site composite coverage maps easily even over irregularly bounded areas.  As previously announced, Mapper is available to users of our full TAP™ RF design software and it is now also available as a standalone software subscription.  The new Aggregate Coverage module is available to Mapper subscribers and TAP™ Aggregate Coverage Module licensees with maintenance expiration dates of December 1, 2017 or later.

new aggregate coverage module

The TAP™ Aggregate Coverage module takes the TAP™ signal strength results from multiple area coverage studies, created either using TAP™ or TAP™ Mapper Quick Coverage, and calculates a new resultant area coverage. The Aggregate Coverage tool will calculate the Maximum, Best Server, and Simulcast aggregation results from any combination of previously calculated individual coverage studies using parameters appropriate for the multi-site system.
Component coverage studies of interest may be loaded individually as Mapper layers for use in Aggregate Coverage or, alternatively, all TAP™ studies may be imported with a single button click.  In the image below, two bounded tile studies for two sites in Douglas County, CO, are loaded as Mapper layers.
Component Bounded Tile Studies
Click on the Aggregate Coverage button of the Utilities tab of the main window to launch the new tool.  The default Tile From Study selection to define the Aggregate Coverage area allows the user to select a master study to define the Aggregate Coverage area.  Then select Maximum, Best Server, or Simulcast as the Study Operation and click the run button.  A detailed help file is included with the new Mapper installation to describe all pertinent options.
An example Simulcast output is shown below.  The results initially appear in the Aggregate Coverage window itself.  This allows users to iterate with various settings and component studies.  In the image below, the coverage area is color-coded to show the regions served by each transmitter as well as the regions of no service due to low signal or not meeting Capture Margin or Simulcast Delay Spread criteria.
Example Simulcast Study Result

When finished working with Aggregate Coverage, the results can be loaded in Mapper using the “Exit and Load in Mapper” button.  As shown below, the resulting Mapper layer may be styled using all Mapper functionality and the component study transmitter sites may be marked and labeled.

Example Aggregate Coverage Study in Mapper
If desired, use the Analysis tab on the Layer Settings window to view the coverage statistics for the Aggregate Coverage study result.  This report may be exported as a Word or pdf document for sharing.
Example Aggregate Coverage Study Statistics
For more information on the new Aggregate Coverage module or how to update software maintenance or subscribe to Mapper, please contact Curt Alway at (800) 728-4033×1 or curt.alway@softwright.com.

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