Abstract

Mobile phones are a vital part of daily life; thus, the rate of usage of mobile phones is increasing on a daily basis. Because they work in connection with base stations, number of base stations has to be boosted as long as the trend in the use of them continues. Because each base station runs by radiating electromagnetic waves, this is a disturbing condition for people from a medical point of view. Thus, it is important to analyze radiation of base stations until we are sure that they are definitely non-harmful in the long term. Mapping of electromagnetic pollution from base stations may be of much importance in this context. This paper aimed at mapping the electromagnetic pollution at 1800 MHz in Konya. To do this, electromagnetic radiation from base stations was measured at 185 points in Konya. Then, electromagnetic pollution maps were accomplished by uniting transactions like database query, statistical analysis with visualization and maps-based spatial analysis. They provide useful information to enable us to analyze and explain some probable health problems, which may be caused by GSM (global system for mobile communication) radiation in future.

Key words: Electromagnetic pollution, GSM, base stations GIS, geographic information system, mapping.