How EMF Radar Works
Last Updated: February 2026
Why We Built This
Whether you're buying a home, choosing a school, or just curious about your neighborhood, understanding what's around you matters. EMF Radar maps the cell towers, power lines, and substations near any address in the United States and turns that data into a simple score — so you can make informed decisions without needing a science degree.
Good to Know
Our scores are estimates based on publicly available infrastructure data. They are not measurements of actual EMF levels at your location. For on-site measurements, we recommend a certified EMF professional with calibrated equipment.
Three Scores, One Clear Picture
Every location gets three scores so you know exactly what's contributing to exposure:
RF Score
Radiofrequency
How much wireless infrastructure is nearby — cell towers and antennas. Accounts for how close they are, how many there are, and what type of network they run.
ELF Score
Extremely Low Frequency
How close you are to power grid infrastructure — high-voltage transmission lines and electrical substations. Higher voltage means stronger fields.
Combined EMF Score
Your overall number
A single score driven by your dominant exposure source. If you're near a power corridor, ELF drives the score. Near a tower cluster? RF drives it.
What the Scores Mean
All scores use a 0–100 scale where lower is better, similar to the Air Quality Index:
| Score | Label | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 0–15 | Very Low | Minimal nearby infrastructure — typical of rural or well-separated areas |
| 16–30 | Low | Below-average exposure — common in outer suburbs |
| 31–50 | Moderate | Average — typical for most developed areas |
| 51–70 | Elevated | Above-average — noticeable infrastructure nearby |
| 71–85 | High | Significant — multiple sources in close proximity |
| 86–100 | Very High | Maximum — dense infrastructure very close by |
What Goes Into Your Score
Our scoring model is built on the basic physics of how electromagnetic fields behave in the real world: the closer you are to a source, the stronger the field — and some sources are stronger than others. Here's what we look at:
RF Score Factors
- Distance to nearest towers — closer towers have a much bigger impact than distant ones
- Network type — 5G, 4G LTE, 3G, and older technologies are weighted differently based on their characteristics
- Tower density — how many towers are in your area overall, not just the closest one
ELF Score Factors
- Distance to power lines & substations — magnetic fields from power infrastructure drop off with distance
- Voltage level — a 500 kV transmission line produces much stronger fields than a local distribution line
- Infrastructure density — how much power grid infrastructure is concentrated around you
The combined EMF score is driven by whichever type of exposure (RF or ELF) is dominant at your location. Living next to a highway of power lines but miles from the nearest cell tower? Your ELF score will be high and that will drive the combined number. In a downtown area packed with cell antennas but no major power lines? RF takes the lead. This way, your score reflects what actually matters at your specific location.
Address Scores vs. City Scores
📍 Address Scores
When you search a specific address, we calculate the score for that exact point on the map — checking what towers, power lines, and substations are nearby and how close they are.
🏙️ City Scores
City scores are averages based on multiple sample points across the area — not just one location. That's why you'll sometimes see a wide range (e.g., 12 to 78). Where you are within a city can make a big difference.
Where Our Data Comes From
We use publicly available US government datasets — the same data researchers and regulators rely on:
Cell Towers
FCC Registered Towers — official tower and antenna locations from the Federal Communications Commission, including network type and carrier information.
Power Infrastructure
HIFLD Program — transmission line routes and substation locations from the Department of Homeland Security's infrastructure database, including voltage ratings.
We regularly update our database to reflect new tower deployments and infrastructure changes. All source data is verifiable through the original government databases.
What We Can and Can't Tell You
What Our Scores Are Good For
- Understanding what infrastructure is near your home or a home you're considering
- Comparing locations — is one neighborhood better than another?
- Seeing whether RF (towers) or ELF (power lines) is the bigger factor at your address
- Getting a starting point before hiring a professional for on-site testing
- Staying informed with transparent, verifiable data
What Our Scores Don't Cover
- Actual measured EMF levels (you need meters for that)
- Indoor sources like WiFi routers, smart meters, or appliances
- How well your walls or building block signals
- Changes throughout the day as network traffic and power demand shift
- Health risk assessments or medical advice
- Small cells and unreported antennas not in public databases
Why Scores Are Estimates
Real-world EMF exposure depends on factors we can't measure from a database:
🏠 Building Materials
Concrete, brick, and metal can significantly reduce how much signal reaches your living space.
🌄 Terrain
Hills, other buildings, and even trees can block or redirect signals.
📱 Indoor Devices
Your WiFi router, baby monitor, and smart home devices add to your exposure but vary by household.
⏱️ Time of Day
Tower power and grid load fluctuate throughout the day and night.
📡 Unreported Sources
Small cells, private antennas, and new installations may not appear in public databases yet.
📏 Height
EMF levels vary depending on which floor you're on. Our estimates assume ground level.
The Science Behind It
Our scoring model is grounded in the well-established physics of how electromagnetic fields travel and weaken over distance. We apply these principles to real infrastructure data to produce consistent, reproducible estimates across the entire United States.
EMF exposure and health effects remain an active area of scientific research. EMF Radar is a data tool — we provide information, not health claims. That said, many people prefer to minimize exposure as a precaution, and we think good data helps you do that.
If you want to dig deeper, these organizations publish peer-reviewed research and guidelines:
- World Health Organization (WHO) — EMF Project
- International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
- BioInitiative Report — independent scientific review
Our position: EMF Radar provides data for informational purposes only. We don't make health claims or medical recommendations. If you have health concerns about EMF, please talk to your doctor or consult a certified EMF professional.
Questions?
We're happy to answer questions about how EMF Radar works. Reach us at emfradarapp@gmail.com.
For professional on-site EMF testing, look for a certified Building Biology Environmental Consultant (BBEC) in your area. They use calibrated meters to measure actual levels in your home.