Wireless sensor network wave propagation in vegetation

Abstract

The Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) total path losses of a greenhouse based on the two popular empirical vegetation attenuation models are used to predict the connectivity and the maximum coverage of wireless nodes within the communication path. The foliage imposed effect on the propagating waves is examined, simulated and the total path losses concluded as a function of antenna height and a separation distance of WSN nodes in a field of various densities of vegetation inside a greenhouse. The implemented library of foliage propagation model can be embedded easily with other WSN simulator platforms. The best antennas height based on greenhouse environment and total path loss is shown to be with the 3.5 m and 1 m height for transceivers of main and end nodes, where less total path loss is obtained and perfect connectivity of (100%) when used with MED vegetation models for all vegetation depths, less than 50 m, while ITU model shows perfect connectivity for same height combination but with less foliage depth of 40 m while it shows 88% connectivity for higher foliage depth than 40 m.