Efficient Node Distribution Strategies for Minimizing Energy Hole Problem in WSN

Wireless Sensor Networks provide coverage over a wide area using sensor nodes that handle large volume of traffic directed towards a sink node. As nodes nearer to the sink handle large number of data transfers, they deplete their energy faster resulting in energy holes disrupting the data transfer in the network. Avoiding of energy holes is a major challenge in WSN when large number of data transfers take place. While energy holes cannot be avoided in WSN, it can be minimized by efficiently distributing the nodes in the network. In this paper we evaluate the performance of two types of node distribution strategies, namely non-uniform and geometric in terms of the remaining energy of the network. It is observed from the results that geometrically distributed node arrangement provides less residual energy and hence sub-balanced energy depletion in the network. This in turn improves the lifetime of the network.