Objectives of ARSG3
ITU-R STUDY GROUP 3 (Radio propagation)
Radiocommunication Study Group 3 is concerned with radiowave propagation at all frequencies and under any conditions. Recommendations (standards) deal with topics such as rain attenuation on earth-space paths, diffraction from terrain for terrestrial mobile systems, radio noise, High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) propagation through the ionosphere. In the process of developing such Recommendations, background scientific work in areas such as statistical descriptions, rain-rate distribution modelling, climatic zones, ionospheric properties and atmospheric refractivity profiles is also considered, discussed, and documented. The specific study program of the group is defined by a set of formal Questions which outline areas identified as necessary for the ongoing work of the ITU; these are classified as either "urgent" or "important'.
On an international level, participants in SG 3 are noted scientists and engineers from all regions of the world and from a wide range of specialities within the propagation community. Technical work is carried out in four Working Parties, which typically meet once a year, in parallel, for two weeks. Every year, the Study Group meets to consider the results of the Working Parties and they submit draft new and revised Recommendations to a postal ballot of Administrations. A successful ballot results in adoption and publication. Complete texts of current Recommendations are also published every four years.
National Administrations contribute to the work of the Study Groups by submitting formal input documents to the Working Party meetings, by sending delegates, and by voting on the documents developed by the Working Parties. Input documents generally suggest changes to existing Recommendations; however, they may also propose revisions to the SG 3 Questions or propose new Recommendations or Questions. Additionally, SG 3 continues to develop Handbooks on propagation topics to assist the users of the Recommendations in applying the information.
AUSTRALIAN RADIOCOMMUNICATION STUDY GROUP 3
Within Australia, Australian Radiocommunication Study Group 3 mirrors the work of the international Study Group 3. ARSG 3, chaired by Mrs. Carol Wilson of CSIRO, deals with propagation through ionized and non-ionized medium. As with all Australian Radiocommunication Study Groups, the operation is guided by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The main purpose of these groups is to form a common Australian position on the issues being considered at the international level, and to provide input to the international meetings, either through written contributions or through attendance. However, participation in the group also allows for interchange between people involved in various aspects of propagation research. A regular item on the agenda allows members to give a short presentation on their work, and useful collaboration has resulted from the discussions that follow. Meetings are generally scheduled twice a year, and material is distributed by mail or email between meetings.
ARSG 3 MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to any person or organisation with an interest in radiowave propagation, and their participation will be beneficial both through the international contact and access to ITU documents and through collaboration with other Australian researchers. However, members should be willing to make contributions to the international work which is the main goal of the group, either by developing input documents or by assisting in formulating an Australian position on the documents sent for approval. In order to preserve an active membership, members are asked to either attend meetings or present their apologies. The names of those who have not attended (or presented apologies) at two consecutive meetings will be dropped from the list of active ARSG 3 members.
Two points are of particular importance with regard to participation in the international meetings. Firstly, the documents are submitted through the Australian Administration, specifically the Australian Communications and Media Authority, and delegates attend as representatives of the Australian Administration, rather than representing their own organisation or company (in practice, in Study Group 3, this is not usually a problem). A delegation brief, approved by the ACMA, outlines the Australian interests in the meetings. However, the cost of attending the meetings is borne by the individuals or their organisation. Secondly, experience has shown that an input document is likely to be neglected at the Working Party meeting unless a delegate is present to support it in person. In recent years the burden has fallen on the organisations involved directly in propagation research. Therefore, organisations should realise that their interests can be served by developing input documents, if these interests will, in general, align with Australian policy, and if they can supply a delegate, or find a suitable representative, to attend the international meeting. As with the local meetings, it is recognised that attendance at the international meetings is generally of benefit to the individual and the sponsoring organisation as well as to the national work.
