Sensor deployment strategy for chain-type wireless underground mine sensor network

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are very important for monitoring underground mine safety. Sensor node deployment affects the performances of WSNs. In our study, a chain-type wireless underground mine sensor network (CWUMSN) is first presented. A CWUMSN can monitor the environment and locate miners in underground mines. The lowest density deployment strategies of cluster head nodes are discussed theoretically. We prove that the lifetime of CWUMSN with a non-uniform deployment strategy is longer than with a uniform deployment strategy. Secondly, we present the algorithm of non-uniform lowest density deployment of cluster head nodes. Next, we propose a dynamic choice algorithm of cluster head nodes for CWUMSN which can improve the adaptability of networks. Our experiments of CWUMSN with both non-uniform lowest density and uniform lowest density deployments are simulated. The results show that the lifetime of CWUMSN with non-uniform lowest density deployment is almost 2.5 times as long as that of the uniform lowest density deployment. This work provides a new deployment strategy for wireless underground mine sensor networks and then effectively promotes the application of wireless sensor networks to underground mines.