Artificial bee colony optimization for modelling of indoor PLC channels: A case study from Turkey

• A PLC channel model is proposed based on electrical grids of Turkey.
• Experimental measurements are realized in different cities and various indoor places.
• PLC channel modelling process is carried out through curve fitting methods.
• Parameters of derived model are optimized by using artificial bee colony algorithm.
• Proposed PLC channel model can be used to perform conformance tests of prototypes.

In this study, a channel model which is based on practical channel measurements obtained from electrical networks in Turkey is proposed for power line communication (PLC) systems. Experimental measurements are realized in different cities and various indoor places such as laboratory, university office and apartment house in order to achieve a general and appropriate PLC channel model for different locations and environments. Acquired data from the electric grid are stored on a database and PLC channel modelling process is carried out depending on these data through curve fitting methods. Moreover, parameters of the derived mathematical model are optimized by using artificial bee colony algorithm. Results show that the PLC channel model proposed in this study can be utilized to simulate PLC systems and to perform conformance tests of prototypes.