Wireless Sensor Networks for Environmental Monitoring Applications: A Design Framework

With the advances in wireless communication technologies, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are becoming more and more attractive because they can provide services that are not possible or not feasible before. In this paper, we address the design issues of an important type of WSN, i.e., WSNs that enable environmental monitoring applications. We first provide an overview and analysis for our ongoing research project about the WSN for coastal area acoustic monitoring. Based on the analysis, we then propose a novel framework that can be used to guide the design of future WSNs that provide environmental monitoring services. The focus of the framework is the network layer design. In our framework, we consider that 1) the future WSN shall be heterogeneous, 2) the network layer design shall better meet the requirements of applications and services, 3) the network layer design shall be able to utilize advanced wireless communication technologies, and 4) the network layer can provide the monitoring functionality.