Recursive Clustering Approach for Wireless Sensor Networks in Pipeline Monitoring Application

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have emerged as indispensable tools in numerous monitoring systems, demonstrating their reliability and efficacy. Users of these systems anticipate high fidelity for an extended period of time, particularly when the sensors are deployed across expansive distances. However, due to their inherent limitations in energy and sensing range, sensors may not always fulfill these expectations. Consequently, strategic deployment of sensor nodes (SN) becomes a critical factor that can potentially lead to unbalanced energy consumption, restricted sensing range, and reduced network lifetime. Currently, the node placement schemes in use are not suitable for linear topology networks, such as pipeline monitoring. This article, therefore, delves into the node placement strategies of WSNs specifically employed for pipeline monitoring. This article proposes a novel placement approach based on clustering techniques. This methodology clusters the SNs based on their power capacity and their proximity to the base station (BS), with the objective of balancing energy consumption within the same cluster. The requisite fidelity is maintained by restricting the distances between nodes. Each sensor node is designated to function as a cluster leader for a specified duration to ensure balanced energy consumption. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed approach, many simulations and real-world experiments have been carried out. The results are promising, indicating a 40% increase in the network’s lifespan compared to the prevalent approach.