NC URSI: National Committee of the Union radio-scientifique internationale
The International Union of Radio Science (Union Radio-Scientifique Internationale) is organized in different commissions and Switzerland is active in 6 of them: B (fields and Waves), C (Radiocommunication system and signal processing), D (Electronics and Photonics), E (Electromagnetic Environments and Interferences), F (Propagation) and K (Electromagnetics in Biology and Medecine).
The main point in 2023 was the treinnial URSI General Assembly that was held in Sapporo, Japan from Aug 19 to Aug 24. The attendees included the chairs of the Swiss URSI commissions C, E, and F, who actively participated in the Commission meetings, presented several articles and one of participated as expert in a special dissemination event.
A number of articles were published in scientific journals and presented at conferences by the members of the differnet commissions.
The chair of Swiss URSI Commission F (Ivica Stevanovic) attended the URSI-ITU Inter-Union Working Group meeting.
The activities within the Swiss URSI Commission F were related to the radio propagation matters in support of the World Radio Conference 2023 (WRC-23), ITU-R Study Group 3 (SG 3: Radio Propagation), and the European Electronic Communications Committee (ECC).
There are six software implementations and validation data, available as digital supplements to ITU-R Recommendations on the SG 3 web page “Software, Data and Validation examples for ionospheric and tropospheric radio wave propagation and radio noise” at https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/study-groups/rsg3/Pages/iono-tropo-spheric.aspx. These implementations and validation data are being regularly updated and maintained by Ivica Stevanovic (https://github.com/eeveetza):
- Recommendation ITU-R P.368-10: Ground-wave propagation prediction method for frequencies between 10 kHz and 30 MHz
- Recommendation ITU-R P.452-17: Prediction procedure for the evaluation of interference between stations on the surface of the Earth at frequencies above about 0.1 GHz
- Recommendation ITU-R P.528-5: A propagation prediction method for aeronautical mobile and radionavigation services using the VHF, UHF and SHF bands
- Recommendation ITU-R P.1546-6: Method for point-to-area predictions for terrestrial services in the frequency range 30 MHz to 4 000 MHz
- Recommendation ITU-R P.1812-6: A path-specific propagation prediction method for point-to-area terrestrial services in the frequency range 30 MHz to 6 000 MHz
- Recommendation ITU-R P.2001-4: A general purpose wide-range terrestrial propagation model in the frequency range 30 MHz to 50 GHz
Journal Articles
V. Cooray, G. Cooray, M. Rubinstein, and F. Rachidi-Haeri, “Heuristic Estimation of the Vacuum Energy Density of the Universe: Part I—Analysis Based on Time Domain Electromagnetic Radiation,” Journal of Electromagnetic Analysis and Applications, vol. 15, no. 06, pp. 73–81, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.4236/jemaa.2023.156006.
C. I. Villagrán Asiares et al., “Ionospheric Variations Induced by Thunderstorms in the Central Region of Argentina during the RELAMPAGO–CACTI Campaign,” Atmosphere, vol. 14, no. 9, p. 1386, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14091386.
V. Cooray, G. Cooray, M. Rubinstein, and F. Rachidi, “Hints of the Photonic Nature of the Electromagnetic Fields in Classical Electrodynamics,” Journal of Electromagnetic Analysis and Applications, vol. 15, no. 03, pp. 25–42, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.4236/jemaa.2023.153003.
N. Duarte, A. De Conti, R. Silva Alipio, and F. Rachidi-Haeri, “Assessment of the transmission line theory in the modeling of multiconductor underground cable systems for transient analysis using a full-wave FDTD method,” Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 223, p. 109570, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2023.109570.
R. Alipio, N. Duarte, H. Karami, M. Rubinstein, and F. Rachidi, “Assessment of the Feasibility of Applying the Electromagnetic Time Reversal Theory to Locate Defects in Grounding Electrodes,” Energies, vol. 16, no. 13, p. 5104, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/en16135104.
R. Aramini et al., “Computation of the attenuation function of the lightning return-stroke current from electromagnetic fields measured in a short-duration time-window, Part I: Theoretical investigation,” Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 221, p. 109392, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2023.109392.
R. Aramini et al., “Computation of the attenuation function of the lightning return-stroke current from electromagnetic fields measured in a short-duration time-window — Part II: Numerical implementation,” Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 221, p. 109410, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2023.109410.
V. Cooray, G. Cooray, M. Rubinstein, and F. Rachidi-Haeri, “Exact Expressions for Lightning Electromagnetic Fields: Application to the Rusck Field-To-Transmission Line Coupling Model,” Atmosphere, vol. 14, no. 2, p. 350, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020350.
A. Houard et al., “Laser-guided lightning,” Nature Photonics, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-022-01139-z.
V. Cooray, M. Rubinstein, and F. Rachidi, “Current propagation type self-consistent leader-return stroke model,” Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 217, p. 109102, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2022.109102.
Z. Wang, S. He, R. Razzaghi, M. Paolone, Y. Xie, and F. Rachidi-Haeri, “A review of time reversal-based methods applied to fault location in power networks,” Frontiers in Energy Research, vol. 10, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2022.1060938.
Q. Li et al., “A review of the modeling approaches of the lightning M-component with special attention to their current and electric field characteristics,” Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 215, p. 108977, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2022.108977.
R. Alipio, A. De Conti, N. Duarte, and F. Rachidi-Haeri, “Influence of a lossy ground on the lightning performance of overhead transmission lines,” Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 214, p. 108951, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2022.108951.
Articles presented at conferences:
F. Rachidi and M. Rubinstein, “An Exceptional Lightning Research Facility in the Swiss Alps,” URSI GASS, Sapporo, Japan, Aug 21-25, 2023.
R. Alipio, N. Duarte, and F. Rachidi, “Comparison of Different Formulations to Compute the Ground Return Parameters in the Analysis of High-Frequency Pulse Propagation Along a Wire Above a Lossy Ground,” URSI GASS, Sapporo, Japan, Aug 21-25, 2023. doi: https://doi.org/10.23919/URSIGASS57860.2023.10265582.
S. Rajabi, H. Karami, M. Rubinstein, and F. Rachidi, “Lightning Localization Using Three-Dimensional Time Reversal MUltiple SIgnal Classification (TR-MUSIC) Algorithm,” URSI GASS, Sapporo, Japan, Aug 21-25, 2023. doi: https://doi.org/10.23919/URSIGASS57860.2023.10265493.
R. Alipio, F. Rachidi, M. Rubinstein, and M. Azadifar, “Assessment of the Transient Response of Wind Turbine Grounding Systems to Upward Negative Lightning,” Joint International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA) & CIGRE International Colloquium on Lightning and Power Systems, Suzhou, China, October 9-13, 2023.
S. Mohammadi, H. Karami, M. Rubinstein, and F. Rachidi, “On the Efficiency of MW-FDTD Methods Based on Parallel Computing Using OpenMP, OpenACC, and CUDA Python: Application to Lightning Electromagnetic Fields,” Joint International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA) & CIGRE International Colloquium on Lightning and Power Systems, Suzhou, China, October 9-13, 2023.
R. Barmak, M. Paolone, H. Kohlmann, M. Rubinstein, F. Mondada, and F. Rachidi, “On the use of photovoltaic modules as lightning detection sensors,” Joint International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA) & CIGRE International Colloquium on Lightning and Power Systems, Suzhou, China, October 9-13, 2023.
N. Duarte, R. Alipio, and F. Rachidi, “An FDTD-Based Formulation for Solving the Transmission Line Equations for a Bare Wire Buried in a Dispersive Soil,” Joint International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA) & CIGRE International Colloquium on Lightning and Power Systems, Suzhou, China, October 9-13, 2023.
A. Smorgonskii, F. Rachidi, and M. Rubinstein, “Lightning Incidence Analysis with Special Attention to Wind Turbines,” Joint International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA) & CIGRE International Colloquium on Lightning and Power Systems, Suzhou, China, October 9-13, 2023.
H. Kohlmann, D. Kuklin, W. Schulz, and F. Rachidi, “Open-source FDTD solvers: The applicability of Elecode, gprMax and MEEP for simulations of lightning EM fields, Joint International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA) & CIGRE International Colloquium on Lightning and Power Systems, Suzhou, China, October 9-13, 2023.
R. Alipio, N. Duarte, H. Karami, M. Rubinstein, and F. Rachidi, “On the Use the Electromagnetic Time Reversal Theory to Locate Breakpoints in Grounding Electrodes, Joint International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA) & CIGRE International Colloquium on Lightning and Power Systems, Suzhou, China, October 9-13, 2023.
E. Mansouri, A. Mostajabi, H. Kohlmann, C. Tong, M. Rubinstein, and F. Rachidi, “Portability of Single-Station ML.Based Lightning Nowcasting Models,” Joint International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA) & CIGRE International Colloquium on Lightning and Power Systems, Suzhou, China, October 9-13, 2023.
Invited Lecture
M. Rubinstein, F. Rachidi, and V. Cooray, “Fundamentals of Coupling of Lightning Fields to Overhead Lines,”
Joint International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA) & CIGRE International Colloquium on Lightning and Power Systems, Suzhou, China, October 9-13, 2023.
Organized Session
The Swiss URSI commissions C and E organized a session on lightning electromagnetics at the URSI General Assembly in Sapporo, Japan, Aug 21-25, 2023.
Participation at Meet the Experts event
The Swiss representatives of Commission C and commission E participated as expert in the Meet the Experts event during the URSI General Assembly in Sapporo, Japan, Aug 21-25, 2023.
The Swiss URSI commissions C and E organized a session on lightning electromagnetics at the URSI General Assembly in Sapporo, Japan, Aug 21-25, 2023.
URSI-ITU Inter-Union Working Group
Ivica Stevanovic, Chair of Swiss URSI Commission F, actively participated in the URSI-ITU Inter-Union Working Group meeting during the URSI GASS in Sapporo.
ITU and URSI have always cooperated, with URSI being a member of ITU since its inception. However, this cooperation has waned in the last decade.
In an attempt to rekindle the cooperation, URSI GASS 2023 invited the Counsellor of the ITU-R Study Group 3 (David Botha) to present ITU-R activities to the URSI Council. The aim was to explore possible ways of making more URSI researchers aware of the ongoing work in ITU-R and to encourage them to contribute to this work. Prof. David Michelson (Canada) also presented a draft proposal for a strategic plan for a URSI-ITU Inter-Union Working Group that would be mandated to facilitate this cooperation. There are still some administrative issues related to functioning of URSI that would need to be resolved before the collaboration could be endorsed and initialized. However, there are no problems from the ITU-R side, as URSI is an ITU-R member.