Combain’s Cell Polygon Service is revolutionary for law enforcement forensics and other situations where understanding the actual coverage of a mobile cell tower is essential.
Real-world mobile cell coverage
The Combain Cell Polygon Service is a cutting-edge geospatial mapping solution that provides accurate and reliable mobile network cell coverage representations. Unlike theoretical models commonly offered by mobile network operators, this service leverages real-world data to create detailed polygon footprints that reflect the actual coverage areas of cell towers.
Over 60% of connections are outside the theoretical Voronoi polygon of the connected tower (ArXiv).
How It Works
The Combain Cell Polygon Service begins with collecting anonymized data from millions of mobile devices worldwide. During regular usage, these devices continuously report key metrics, such as signal strength, cell IDs, and environmental conditions.
Combain then processes this massive volume of raw data with our advanced machine-learning algorithms and proprietary analysis tools.
The result is a precise, polygon-based map of actual cell coverage, visually illustrating the areas where network signals are accessible. These polygons are generated dynamically and updated regularly to reflect real-world changes, such as new tower installations or environmental shifts.
The final dataset is made available via Combain’s cloud platform, ensuring seamless access for users worldwide. Customers can retrieve these polygons using the Location API, which integrates easily into their applications or platforms. This access provides unparalleled flexibility, enabling users to query data for specific regions, mobile operators, or countries.
Why Real-World Cell Polygons Are Superior
Theoretical cell coverage maps often rely on predictive models that assume ideal conditions. These models estimate coverage areas based on the placement of cell towers, radio frequency, and assumed signal propagation, often leading to overestimation or inaccuracies.
In contrast, Combain Cell Polygons represent empirical data collected from actual network performance, ensuring that every coverage area depicted reflects real-world conditions unaffected by theoretical assumptions. The result is a more accurate and actionable dataset that eliminates guesswork and improves decision-making for various applications.
Visualizing the Value
To illustrate the difference, consider a theoretical coverage sector representing a cell tower as having three equal pie-shaped zones. While visually neat, these maps rarely account for signal obstruction by buildings, interference from other networks, or environmental conditions like trees and hills.
With Combain’s Cell Polygon Service, you see an organic and dynamic representation of the actual coverage footprint. These polygons contour naturally around obstacles and reflect the true reach of the cell tower. Visual comparisons highlight the dramatic difference in accuracy and reliability between theoretical sectors and Combain’s real-world polygons.
The Benefits of Combain Cell Polygons
The Combain Cell Polygon Service delivers exceptional value across industries. Businesses and organizations can make better-informed decisions using accurate data reflecting real-world conditions. For example:
- Telecom Operators can identify service gaps more effectively and plan expansions with precision.
- Developers of Location-Based Services can integrate more reliable data into their applications, enhancing user experience.
- IoT Solution Providers benefit from assured connectivity in deployment areas by aligning their operations with validated cell coverage.
- Public Sector and Emergency Services can improve planning and response strategies with trustworthy and updated coverage maps.
- Law enforcement forensics can access precise and reliable information, eliminating the uncertainty associated with theoretical cell coverage models. Read more in the case example below.
How to Access Combain's Service
The Combain Cell Polygon Service is hosted on a secure cloud platform, allowing users to access it on-demand. Customers can easily integrate the service into their systems through a straightforward API, enabling seamless access to updated polygon data. Whether you need a one-time query or continuous updates, Combain’s flexible licensing options cater to diverse operational needs.
Choose Combain for Real-World Precision
In an industry where theoretical assumptions often fail, Combain Cell Polygons provides the accuracy and reliability that modern businesses demand. By replacing outdated theoretical models with data-driven insights, Combain empowers users to unlock the full potential of their location-based applications, networks, and services.
Contact us to experience the Combain Cell Polygon Service or request a demo.
Use case example: Forensics
Benefits of Combain Cell Polygon Service for Law Enforcement Forensics
Combain Cell Polygon Service offers unmatched accuracy in mapping real-world mobile network coverage, providing a significant advantage for law enforcement and forensic investigations. By utilizing actual coverage polygons based on real-world data, investigators can access precise and reliable information, eliminating the uncertainty associated with theoretical cell coverage models.
A Real-World Scenario: Pinpointing a Suspect’s Location
Imagine a scenario in which a crime occurs at a specific location, and law enforcement is analyzing the mobile phone activity of a suspected criminal.
- Theoretical Cell Sector Data:
- In traditional investigations, the data from mobile network operators is often represented as broad, triangular “sectors” extending from a cell tower. Suppose the suspect’s phone is connected to a nearby cell tower, but the theoretical sector coverage places the suspect outside the crime scene’s vicinity. Based on this data, it may appear that the suspect could not have been at the crime scene during the time in question.
- Combain Cell Polygon Data:
- When using Combain’s service, the investigators can access real-world coverage polygons that reflect the actual reach of the cell tower, shaped by environmental factors like buildings, terrain, and network interference. The precise polygon data may reveal that the cell tower’s coverage includes the crime scene. This means that the suspect’s phone connection to the tower aligns with them potentially being present at the location of the crime.
In this case, the accurate coverage map provided by Combain closes a critical gap in the investigation, allowing law enforcement to validate or refute alibis with confidence.
Key Benefits for Law Enforcement
- Improved Accuracy in Location Verification:
- By providing real-world cell coverage data, Combain ensures that investigators can access the most reliable information, reducing the risk of false conclusions based on theoretical models.
- Enhanced Evidence Validation:
- Combain’s polygons can help corroborate or challenge a suspect’s claims. Suppose a suspect states they were outside the crime scene, but the polygon shows coverage. In that case, this evidence can be pivotal in proving their presence.
- Reduced Investigative Blind Spots:
- Theoretical maps often oversimplify coverage and fail to account for real-world obstructions or inconsistencies. Combain eliminates these blind spots, providing a more comprehensive understanding of cell tower reach.
- Stronger Courtroom Evidence:
- Accurate cell coverage data from Combain can be a powerful tool in legal proceedings. It offers an empirically validated representation of mobile network coverage that stands up to scrutiny.
Example Case: Uncovering the Truth
In a high-profile theft case, the crime occurred at a warehouse at 11:00 PM. The suspect claimed to be at home, nearly 2 kilometers away.
- Theoretical cell sector data from the network operator indicated that the suspect’s phone was connected to a nearby cell tower, and the theoretical map showed no overlap with the crime scene.
- Using Combain’s cell polygon data, investigators discovered that the same tower’s actual coverage footprint included the warehouse. This critical insight placed the suspect’s phone—and potentially the suspect—at the crime scene during the theft.
This revelation prompted further investigation, leading to corroborative evidence and, ultimately, a conviction.
Conclusion
Combain’s Cell Polygon Service is a game-changer for law enforcement forensics. Its ability to provide precise, real-world data ensures that investigators have the tools to uncover the truth with confidence. In critical cases where the difference between theoretical assumptions and real-world coverage can mean solving or losing a case, Combain delivers the clarity and accuracy needed to make justice possible.
Key Takeaways
What is Combain Cell Polygons?
- Real mobile network cell coverage maps built from empirical device data.
- You see the tower’s actual footprint rather than a theoretical sector.
Why does this matter?
- Over 60 percent of connections occur outside the tower’s theoretical Voronoi polygon.
- Real polygons remove guesswork and improve decisions.
How does it work?
- Millions of devices contribute anonymized measurements, such as cell IDs and signal strength.
- Machine learning turns these into polygon footprints.
- Polygons update regularly and reflect network and environmental changes.
How do you access the data?
- Query polygons using the Location API.
- Filter by region, operator, or country.
- The dataset is hosted on Combain’s cloud and integrates into your applications.
Who benefits and how?
- Operators plan expansions and find gaps.
- LBS developers improve user experience.
- IoT providers align deployments with verified coverage.
- Public sector and emergency services plan and respond with better maps.
- Law enforcement gains defensible coverage for casework.
What privacy properties apply?
- Training data is anonymized. It is never shared with third parties.
- Your API usage remains private.
Can this be used without operator data?
Yes. The polygons are independent of operators and are based on measured usage.
What is the forensic value?
- You verify whether a crime scene falls inside a tower’s real coverage, not a broad sector guess.
- This tightens timelines, reduces blind spots, and strengthens evidence in court.
How do you start?
- Request a free API key.
- Integrate the API using the API Documentation.
- Use one-time queries or set up continuous updates based on the licensing that best fits your needs.
Submit anonymized training data to enhance service. Training data never shared with any third party.
The Combain polygons show the actual areas where devices have been used, instead of the planned cell coverage.
Can be used independently of operators
The service uses Combain’s global database of Cell IDs. Our algorithms continuously update the database by processing millions of positions from global crowdsourcing.