Cluster Estimation in Terrestrial and Underwater Sensor Networks

In Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), clustering is considered as an efficient network topology which maximizes the received data at the sink by minimizing a direct transmission of data from the sensor nodes. Limiting direct communication between sensor nodes and the sink is achieved by confining sensor node’s transmission within a certain region known as clusters. Once data are being collected from all the sensors in the cluster it is sent to the sink by a node designated to communicate with the sink within a cluster. This technique not only reduces the network congestion, but it increases data reception, and conserves network energy. To achieve an increase in data received at the sink, it is necessary that the correct number of clusters are created within a sensing field. In this paper a new heuristic approach is presented to find the optimal number of clusters in a mobility supported terrestrial and underwater sensor networks. To maintain a strong association between sensor nodes and the node designated known as cluster-head (CH), it is necessary that sensor node’s mobility should also be considered during the cluster setup operation. This approach not only reduces the direct transmission between the sensor nodes and sink, but it also increases sensor node’s connectivity with its CH for the transmission of sensed data which results in the creation of a stable network structure. The proposed analytical estimate considers sensor node’s transmission range and sensing field dimensions for finding the correct number of the clusters in a sensing field. With this approach a better network coverage and connectivity during the exchange of data can be achieved, which in turn increases the network performance.