Maximizing Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) Positioning in 5G Wireless Communication and Beyond Using Genetic Algorithms for Enhanced Spectral Efficiency

Abstract IRS technology, which consists of passive elements that reflect signals with controlled phase shifts, offers a promising solution for improving signal quality and coverage without requiring additional active components. However, improving spectrum efficiency in IRS-Assisted wireless communication systems has proven extremely difficult due to the strategic placement of IRS phase elements, which has received little attention in academia. The performance degradation problem in IRS-assisted communication arises from the imperfect strategic positioning of IRS elements to achieve these objectives in complex IRS wireless environments. To fill this gap between fixed-height and variable-height IRS configurations, this paper addresses the challenge of optimizing IRS placement to maximize spectral efficiency while minimizing interference and resource usage. Fixed-height and variable-height IRS configurations were considered, and comprehensive system models were developed to tackle this challenge. The optimization problem, characterized by its highly non-linear nature, was approached using Genetic Algorithms. An equal phase shift IRS configuration was initially taken into consideration, in which all IRS elements applied the same phase shift to the incident signals. Because this configuration simplifies and reduces the complexity of the architecture. The findings from the simulations demonstrate that strategic IRS placement can lead to a significant improvement in spectral efficiency significantly compared to non-optimized placements. The study also reveals that even by simplifying equal phase shifts, IRS technology can effectively enhance system performance in scenarios where traditional line-of-sight communication is compromised. These results provide insights into how IRS placement can be optimized in various wireless communication scenarios.Finally, According to our findings, both fixed-height and variable-height IRS systems perform better than non-optimized systems; however, the variable-height IRS configuration shows the greatest increase in spectral efficiency.