- Author
- Remley, K. A. | Koepke, G. | Holloway, C. | Camell, D. | Grosvenor, C.
- Title
- Measurements in Harsh RF Propagation Environments to Support Performance Evaluation of Wireless Sensor Networks.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Bolder, CO
- Journal
- Sensor Review, Vol. 29, No. 3, 211-222, 2009
- Keywords
- sensors | performance evaluation | communication networks | radio waves | radio equipment | signals | oil refineries | floors | industrial plants | automobiles | wires
- Identifiers
- communication technologies; wideband channel characteristics; excess path loss; RMS delay spread; factory floor: automotive assemply plant
- Abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe common methods for evaluating the performance of wireless devices such as wireless sensors in harsh radio environments. Design/methodology/approach: The paper describes how measurements of real-world propagation environments can be used to support the evaluation process, then presents representative measurement data from multipath environments where sensor networks are likely to be deployed: a fixed-infrastructure, process-control environment (here an oil refinery), and a heavy industrial environment (here an automotive assembly plant). Findings: Results on the characterization of multipath in the propagation channel are summarized and how these results may be used in the performance evaluation of sensor networks is discussed. Originality/value: The paper describes measurement results from environments where little open-literature data exists on point-to-point propagation, specifically high-multipath environments. These highly reflective scenarios can present difficulties for deployment of sensor networks.