We are pleased to announce that we have released Terrain Analysis Package (TAP™) 7.7.6, featuring the new P25 Threshold Assistant in TAP™ and Reliability Calculations for Aggregate Coverage study outputs in TAP™ Mapper. A Batch 3D Export function has also been incorporated in Mapper amongst several upgrades across TAP™, including a refresh of basemaps and reverse path rendering for path studies.. As with all other components in TAP™, the embedded Help includes extensive information on this new capability. Click here to view a tutorial video describing the new features.
P25 Threshold Assistant
The P25 Threshold Assistant can be found on the Calculators ribbon bar. The tool calculates a Faded Performance Threshold (FPT) that can be used as the RX Sensitivity in Fixed and Mobile Facilities for area coverage studies. The calculated adjustments apply the methods in TSB 88.1-F for Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems, including Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure, operating below 1 GHz. For examples of the calculations used, see TSB 88.1-F, Section C.2. This tool adjusts for: (1) user-defined Delivered Audio Quality (DAQ) level (see TSB 88.1-F, Table 3); (2) user-defined Environmental Noise (see TSB 88.2-H, Section 5.5); and (3) user-defined Reliability, based on a log-normal fading model (see TSB 88.1-F, Section 5.3.4). More detailed information on this capability can be found in the TAP™ embedded help documentation. These calculations are available for TAP™ licenses with a maintenance date of 01 April 2026 or later.
Reliability Calculations
In TAP™ Mapper, for TAP™ Aggregate Coverage study results, Reliability Calculations are performed using the methods in TSB 88.1-F, for the measures defined in sections 5.3.5, 5.3.6, and 5.3.7. The calculations are accessed in the Reliability tab in the shape file layer settings. TAP™ calculates the respective Bounded Area Percent Coverage (BAPC), Covered Area Reliability (CAR), Service Area Reliability (SAR), and BAPC-CAR . The reliability calculations are intended to be used for tile studies covering a service area (typically from a bounded tile study), and where the propagation model produced a median field strength estimate (i.e., LR(50,50)). Note that, as TalkOut and TalkBack Aggregate Coverage studies use different methods to define performance thresholds, the reliability calculations for each type are distinct. More detailed information on this capability can be found in the help documentation accessible on the Reliability tab dialog. These Reliability Calculations are available for TAP™ licenses with a maintenance date of 01 April 2026 or later.
3D Batch Export
The 3D Batch Export function exports shape files to KML or KMZ files. It can be found on the Utilities ribbon bar in TAP™ Mapper. The Batch Export dialog includes a multi-select list of all shape file layers that are currently loaded in the current Mapper instance, from which the user selects which shape files to export. The user sets the Output Format as KML or KMZ and browses to set the Output Folder where the KML/KMZ files will be written, with the option to overwrite existing files of the same name. When the user clicks Export, each selected shape file layer exports directly as shape information to a KML / KMZ file of the same name in the user-selected output folder. This capability is available for TAP™ licenses that include both the 3D Display and AutoCoverage modules and have a maintenance date of 01 April 2026 or later.