Effective design of WSNs: From the lab to the real world

Abstract

Abstract-Distributed environmental monitoring with wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is one of the most challenging research activities faced by the embedded system community in the last decade. Here, the need for pervasive, reliable and accurate monitoring systems has pushed the research towards the realization of credible deployments able to survive in harsh environments for long time. Design an effective WSN requires a good piece of engineer work, not to mention the research contribution needed to provide a credible deployment. As a matter of fact, to solve our application, we are looking for a monitoring framework scalable, adaptive with respect to topological changes in the network, power-aware in its middleware components and endowed with energy harvesting mechanisms to grant a long lifetime for the network. The paper addresses all main aspects related to the design of a WSN ranging from the -possible-need of an ad-hoc embedded system, to sensing, local and remote transmission, data storage and visualization; particular attention will be devoted to energy harvesting and management aspects at the unit and network level. Two applications, namely monitoring the marine environment and forecasting the collapse of rock faces in mountaineering areas will be the experimental leitmotiv of the presentation.

Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks in Marine Environment Monitoring: A Survey

“…The energy supply of a wireless sensor network is generally provided by batteries which have limited energy [ 27 ]. In addition, in marine environment monitoring systems, wireless sensor nodes are often deployed in unapproachable sea surface areas, and they are mostly planned for long-time operation, therefore, it is not convenient to replace the sensor batteries.…”

“…While the development and deployment of an adaptive, scalable and self-healing WSN system need to address a number of critical challenges such as autonomy, scalability, adaptability, self-healing and simplicity [ 25 , 26 ], the design and deployment of a lasting and scalable WSN for marine environment monitoring should take into account the following challenges different from those on land [ 22 ]: Higher water resistance: Sensor nodes of a marine monitoring system require greater levels of water resistance; Stronger robustness: A marine monitoring system needs stronger robustness, since the marine environment with waves, marine currents, tides, typhoons, vessels, etc. , is aggressive and complex, and causes movement of nodes; Higher energy consumption: Energy consumption is higher due to long communication distances and an environment in constant motion; More unstable line-of-sight : The oscillation of the radio antenna can cause a more unstable line-of-sight between transmitters and receivers [ 27 ]. Other problems: There are also some other problems including the difficulty for deployment and maintenance of nodes, the need for buoy and mooring devices, sensor coverage problems [ 2 ], and possible acts of vandalism.…”

“…More unstable line-of-sight : The oscillation of the radio antenna can cause a more unstable line-of-sight between transmitters and receivers [ 27 ].…”

Multi-technique approach to rockfall monitoring in the Montserrat massif (Catalonia, NE Spain)

“…To reduce the cost and effort of cabling sensors to one or several CS dataloggers, and also its visual impact, a new concept of distributed wireless data acquisition network has been implemented, based on ZigBee loggers (ZBLoggers) following other recent developments in wireless sensor networks (WSN) for rock mechanics under different environmental conditions ([Alippi et al 2008], [Hasler et al 2008], [Beutel et al 2011] and [Kawamura et al 2014]). A ZBLogger is a low-power, low-cost system of ICGC's own design with 3 single-ended (or 1 differential plus 1 single-ended) input channels and a wireless connection, based on ZigBee protocols (IEEE 802.15.4 standard), which can communicate with other ZBLoggers as well as with the CS datalogger.…”

Survey of Energy Harvesting Systems for Wireless Sensor Networks in Environmental Monitoring

“…As in the case of monitoring the air quality, the purity and quality of water has an increasing importance for the economy and society. In this regard, there are systems that monitor the quality of inland water reservoirs [47], rivers [48], seas, and oceans [49]. Depending on the needs, either surface or abyssal parameters of water and aquatic environment are measured.…”