This paper presents a field-based evaluation of Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) signal propagation conducted at two locations within the Aerial Experimentation and Research Platform for Advanced Wireless (AERPAW) testbed: Lake Wheeler Field and NC State University's Centennial Campus. Three distinct transmission platforms were deployed, a ground vehicle, a multirotor drone at 50 meters, and a helikite at a steady altitude of 150 meters and 300 meters approximately. These platforms enabled a comparative study on how altitude, mobility, and terrain influence wireless signal reception across a LoRaWAN gateway network. We analyze received signal strength (RSSI) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as functions of distance and spreading factor (SF). Three complementary metrics are visualized: SNR versus distance with demodulation thresholds, probability of successful reception, and SNR boxplots grouped by distance bins. These plots reveal link degradation patterns and demonstrate the role of adaptive SF selection in maintaining communication reliability. To characterize propagation behavior, we apply a log-distance path loss model to empirical data from the ground vehicle experiment, which encompass both rural and urban non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions. Model parameters are optimized through error minimization techniques. Our results show that the helikite platform, due to its stable high-altitude position, provided the most reliable and consistent link performance. Conversely, the drone and vehicle exhibited higher variability due to movement, obstructions, and terrain-induced multipath. These findings demonstrate the influence of platform dynamics and altitude on LoRaWAN reception performance, providing support for future aerial network planning efforts.

翻译：本文基于先进无线空中实验与研究平台（AERPAW）的实验场地——惠勒湖农场和北卡罗来纳州立大学世纪校园的两个地点，对长距离广域网（LoRaWAN）信号传播进行了实地评估。研究部署了三种不同的传输平台：地面车辆、50米高度多旋翼无人机以及稳定高度约为150米和300米的系留气球。这些平台使得能够对比研究高度、移动性和地形对LoRaWAN网关网络中无线信号接收的影响。我们分析了作为距离和扩频因子（SF）函数的接收信号强度（RSSI）与信噪比（SNR）。通过三种互补指标进行可视化：含解调阈值的信噪比-距离关系图、成功接收概率图以及按距离区间分组统计的信噪比箱线图。这些图表揭示了链路退化规律，并展示了自适应SF选择在维持通信可靠性中的作用。为表征传播特性，我们将对数距离路径损耗模型应用于地面车辆实验的实测数据，该数据涵盖了乡村和城市非视距（NLOS）条件。通过误差最小化技术优化模型参数。结果表明，系留气球平台凭借其稳定的高空位置，提供了最可靠且最一致的链路性能。相比之下，无人机和车辆因移动、遮挡及地形引发的多径效应而表现出更高的变异性。这些发现证明了平台动态特性和高度对LoRaWAN接收性能的影响，为未来空中网络规划提供了支持。