28,309 research outputs found
Structural Changes in Data Communication in Wireless Sensor Networks
Wireless sensor networks are an important technology for making distributed
autonomous measures in hostile or inaccessible environments. Among the
challenges they pose, the way data travel among them is a relevant issue since
their structure is quite dynamic. The operational topology of such devices can
often be described by complex networks. In this work, we assess the variation
of measures commonly employed in the complex networks literature applied to
wireless sensor networks. Four data communication strategies were considered:
geometric, random, small-world, and scale-free models, along with the shortest
path length measure. The sensitivity of this measure was analyzed with respect
to the following perturbations: insertion and removal of nodes in the geometric
strategy; and insertion, removal and rewiring of links in the other models. The
assessment was performed using the normalized Kullback-Leibler divergence and
Hellinger distance quantifiers, both deriving from the Information Theory
framework. The results reveal that the shortest path length is sensitive to
perturbations.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, Central European Journal of Physic
Supporting Cyber-Physical Systems with Wireless Sensor Networks: An Outlook of Software and Services
Sensing, communication, computation and control technologies are the essential building blocks of a cyber-physical system (CPS). Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are a way to support CPS as they provide fine-grained spatial-temporal sensing, communication and computation at a low premium of cost and power. In this article, we explore the fundamental concepts guiding the design and implementation of WSNs. We report the latest developments in WSN software and services for meeting existing requirements and newer demands; particularly in the areas of: operating system, simulator and emulator, programming abstraction, virtualization, IP-based communication and security, time and location, and network monitoring and management. We also reflect on the ongoing
efforts in providing dependable assurances for WSN-driven CPS. Finally, we report on its applicability with a case-study on smart buildings
Evaluating the more suitable ISM frequency band for iot-based smart grids: a quantitative study of 915 MHz vs. 2400 MHz
IoT has begun to be employed pervasively in industrial environments and critical infrastructures thanks to its positive impact on performance and efficiency. Among these environments, the Smart Grid (SG) excels as the perfect host for this technology, mainly due to its potential to become the motor of the rest of electrically-dependent infrastructures. To make this SG-oriented IoT cost-effective, most deployments employ unlicensed ISM bands, specifically the 2400 MHz one, due to its extended communication bandwidth in comparison with lower bands. This band has been extensively used for years by Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) and Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET), from which the IoT technologically inherits. However, this work questions and evaluates the suitability of such a "default" communication band in SG environments, compared with the 915 MHz ISM band. A comprehensive quantitative comparison of these bands has been accomplished in terms of: power consumption, average network delay, and packet reception rate. To allow such a study, a dual-band propagation model specifically designed for the SG has been derived, tested, and incorporated into the well-known TOSSIM simulator. Simulation results reveal that only in the absence of other 2400 MHz interfering devices (such as WiFi or Bluetooth) or in small networks, is the 2400 MHz band the best option. In any other case, SG-oriented IoT quantitatively perform better if operating in the 915 MHz band.This research was supported by the MINECO/FEDER project grants TEC2013-47016-C2-2-R (COINS) and TEC2016-76465-C2-1-R (AIM). The authors would like to thank Juan Salvador Perez Madrid nd Domingo Meca (part of the Iberdrola staff) for the support provided during the realization of this work. Ruben M. Sandoval also thanks the Spanish MICINN for an FPU (REF FPU14/03424) pre-doctoral fellowship
An Outline of Security in Wireless Sensor Networks: Threats, Countermeasures and Implementations
With the expansion of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the need for securing
the data flow through these networks is increasing. These sensor networks allow
for easy-to-apply and flexible installations which have enabled them to be used
for numerous applications. Due to these properties, they face distinct
information security threats. Security of the data flowing through across
networks provides the researchers with an interesting and intriguing potential
for research. Design of these networks to ensure the protection of data faces
the constraints of limited power and processing resources. We provide the
basics of wireless sensor network security to help the researchers and
engineers in better understanding of this applications field. In this chapter,
we will provide the basics of information security with special emphasis on
WSNs. The chapter will also give an overview of the information security
requirements in these networks. Threats to the security of data in WSNs and
some of their counter measures are also presented
Monitoring wild animal communities with arrays of motion sensitive camera traps
Studying animal movement and distribution is of critical importance to
addressing environmental challenges including invasive species, infectious
diseases, climate and land-use change. Motion sensitive camera traps offer a
visual sensor to record the presence of a broad range of species providing
location -specific information on movement and behavior. Modern digital camera
traps that record video present new analytical opportunities, but also new data
management challenges. This paper describes our experience with a terrestrial
animal monitoring system at Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Our camera network
captured the spatio-temporal dynamics of terrestrial bird and mammal activity
at the site - data relevant to immediate science questions, and long-term
conservation issues. We believe that the experience gained and lessons learned
during our year long deployment and testing of the camera traps as well as the
developed solutions are applicable to broader sensor network applications and
are valuable for the advancement of the sensor network research. We suggest
that the continued development of these hardware, software, and analytical
tools, in concert, offer an exciting sensor-network solution to monitoring of
animal populations which could realistically scale over larger areas and time
spans
A Survey on Communication Networks for Electric System Automation
Published in Computer Networks 50 (2006) 877–897, an Elsevier journal. The definitive version of this publication is available from Science Direct. Digital Object Identifier:10.1016/j.comnet.2006.01.005In today’s competitive electric utility marketplace, reliable and real-time information become the key factor for reliable delivery of power to the end-users, profitability of the electric utility and customer satisfaction. The operational and commercial demands of electric utilities require a high-performance data communication network that supports both existing functionalities and future operational requirements. In this respect, since such a communication network constitutes the core of the electric system automation applications, the design of a cost-effective and reliable network architecture is crucial.
In this paper, the opportunities and challenges of a hybrid network architecture are discussed for electric system automation.
More specifically, Internet based Virtual Private Networks, power line communications, satellite communications and wireless communications (wireless sensor networks, WiMAX and wireless mesh networks) are described in detail. The motivation of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the hybrid network architecture that can provide heterogeneous electric system automation application requirements. In this regard, our aim is to present a structured framework for electric utilities who plan to utilize new communication technologies for automation and hence, to make the decision making process more effective and direct.This work was supported by NEETRAC under
Project #04-157
A new wireless underground network system for continuous monitoring of soil water contents
A new stand-alone wireless embedded network system has been developed recently for continuous monitoring of soil water contents at multiple depths. This paper presents information on the technical aspects of the system, including the applied sensor technology, the wireless communication protocols, the gateway station for data collection, and data transfer to an end user Web page for disseminating results to targeted audiences. Results from the first test of the network system are presented and discussed, including lessons learned so far and actions to be undertaken in the near future to improve and enhance the operability of this innovative measurement approac
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