Opportunities and challenges of wireless sensor networks using cloud services

Abstract

Technological advance in integrated, low-power microcontroller and wireless communication devices as well as Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors make it viable to embed tiny networked objects deeply into the physical world. The unique characteristics of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) make them attractive for application to a variety of challenging problems, e.g., the global energy crisis, climate change and population ageing. As WSNs become ubiquitous, the technology itself gives rise to some technical challenges to which Cloud Computing may offer solutions. In this position paper, we try to establish what WSNs and Cloud Computing mean from a practical perspective, and how they can help us achieve various objectives, e.g., to monitor civil infrastructure or public health, by building a new computing, communication, and management system architecture for sensing, processing, and storing physical data. In addition, we present the opportunities and challenges of jointly applying WSN and Cloud Computing technologies. Hopefully, this can help researchers realise the potential gains available from the combination of WSN and Cloud Computing. © 2011 ACM.