Antenna system strategies for wireless sensor networks in resource hungry smart cities

Abstract

The information and communication technology (ICT) backbone of any smart city system should be essentially a wireless sensor network (WSN) for it to be smart in any sense. It goes beyond doubt that such a system is extremely hungry in terms of information and resources. The vital resources like frequency spectrum, power of transmission, number of trans-receivers etc. have their own set of limitations in terms of feasibility, availability, safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness. Here, major limitations of a wireless communication network are discussed. A strategy of smart integrated network service (SINS), using directive antennas and phased arrays is proposed to do away with most of these problems.