Efficient deployment of connected sensing devices using circle packing algorithms

Abstract

In this paper, we explore different sensor deployment problems and how these problems can be solved optimally using the current packing approaches in terms of small-scale problems. In addition, we consider the deployment of either homogenous or heterogeneous sensing devices. The deployment objectives are to maximize the coverage of the monitored field and use the best of the sensing devices characteristics as well as developing a connected deployment scheme. We propose a novel algorithm named Sequential Packing-based Deployment Algorithm (SPDA) for the deployment of heterogeneous sensors in order to maximize the coverage of the monitored field and connectivity of the deployed sensors. The algorithm is inspired from the packing theories in computational geometry where it benefits from many of the observations properties that are captured from the optimal packing solutions. The algorithm efficiency is examined using different case studies.