Relay node deployment strategies in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks: single-hop communication case

Device deployment is a major challenge to successful implementation of large scale wireless sensor network (WSN) applications. The number and positions of devices determine many intrinsic properties of a WSN system. However, the deployment issue has mostly been confined to studies concerning coverage and connectivity. The impact of device deployment on the usability or system lifetime has been largely neglected. In this research, we investigate how a deployment strategy can affect both connectivity and network lifetime of a WSN. Based on quantitative analysis of such effects, we propose three deployment strategies, namely, connectivity-oriented, lifetime-oriented, and hybrid deployment. The performance of the three strategies is evaluated through simulation. The results of this research provide tangible guidance of efficient provisioning for large scale WSNs.