WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS

Wireless Sensor Networks

Table of Contents

WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS1

Wireless Sensor Networks1

Wireless Sensor Networks2

Abstract2

Table of Contents3

Acknowledgements12

Introduction13

1.1 Problem Specification13

1.2 Aims and Objectives of the Dissertation13

1.3 Context of the Dissertation14

1.3.1 Challenges in Sensor Networks14

1.3.2 Research Questions18

1.4 Structure of the Study19

Literature Review20

2.1 About the Wireless Sensor Networks20

2.2 Applications of WSNs26

2.2.1 Vibration monitoring.26

2.2.2 Structural monitoring27

2.2.3 Urban terrain monitoring.28

2.2.4 Proactive agriculture.28

2.2.5 Emergency response29

2.2.6 National security35

2.2.7 Deployable autonomous sensor systems.36

2.2.8 Surveillance systems37

2.2.9 Target localization37

2.2.10 Target detection.37

2.3 Target Localization and the Parameter Estimation Problem38

2.3.1 Overview of current algorithms.38

2.3.2 Routing Protocols43

2.3.2.1 Classification of Wireless Sensor Network Routing Protocols43

Network Structure43

Multipath-based44

Clock Synchronization44

Clock Synchronization45

2.3.2.2 Wireless Sensor Network Routing Protocols45

Flooding45

Power Management47

Research Design and Methodology52

3.1 Overview:53

3.2 The Models developed for Wireless Sensor Networks and Wireless Infrastructure networks:55

3.3 The Simulation setup and execution:66

3.4 The Simulation Outcome:71

Chapter 4: Analysis of Results, Conclusions and Generalizations75

4.1 Analysis of results of the Simulation76

4.2 Reasons for the superior performance of Wireless Sensor Networks90

4.3 Advantages and Limitations of simulations100

Conclusions and Generalisations104

Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks107

Structural Health Monitoring - Smart Structures109

Industrial Automation109

Application Highlight - Civil Structure Monitoring110

References112

Appendix A120

Abstract

This dissertation presents analysis of performance advantages of Wireless Sensor Networks over the traditional wireless networks by virtue of design and topological advantages. Given that wireless sensor networks comprise of independent intelligent low power nodes that possess at least one dedicated channel each, the overall throughput of the network is much higher than the infrastructure wireless networks because the latter has all the channels consolidated in the base station that in turn may not be able to dedicate a channel per node on the network. Hence, the more nodes that are on the Network, the less is the throughput. Given this advantage, the WSNs possess much smaller delays compared to the traditional infrastructure wireless networks. The delays in WSNs are significantly lesser than delays in Infrastructure wireless networks. The researcher has carried out simulation based experimentation using OPNET IT GURU and proved this fact experimentally.

Table of Figures

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Figure 1

The physical layout of wireless sensor node designed by IEEE (Source: Culler and Estrin et al. 2004)

Figure 2

The four network lifetime considerations in Wireless Sensor Networks (Source: Chen. 2005)

Figure 3

WLAN Characteristics of the basic WLAN Workstation that has been selected by the researcher to represent wireless sensor in the Wireless Sensor Network

Figure 4

Wireless Access Point Configuration in the model Babatunde1

Figure 5

First step of creating the first Model - the name is selected as “Babatunde” and the scenario name as “WSN”

Figure 6

Creation of an Empty Scenario such that nodes and links can be configured from the Object Palette.

Figure 7

Network Scale is selected as “Office” to represent that the range of the network devices is short.

Figure 8

The Object Palette can be configured using this screen - the nodes and links can be added/deleted using this screen.

Figure 9

The Object Palette is displayed after configuring in the previous screen (the node used for representing the wireless sensors is shown highlighted in the figure.

Figure 10

The Application, Profile and Task configuration models are shown in this screen.

Figure 11

The final network model of Wireless Sensor Network named as ...