A method and wireless communication device for estimating wireless signal strength value of a wireless signal transmission for an unpopulated cell in an array corresponding to a geographic area. The method includes populating at least one cell along a route within the array with a corresponding received wireless signal strength value, selecting a number of populated cells within a predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell, identifying one of the number of populated cells within a predetermined distance of the unpopulated cell, determining a maximum wireless signal strength value from among the received wireless signal strength values, estimating a first wireless signal strength value for the unpopulated cell based at least on a wireless strength value for the identified one of the number of populated cells and the maximum wireless signal strength value, and storing the first estimated wireless signal strength value.