Wireless network sensors that are energy efficient for monitoring and early warning

Wireless sensor networks can be a convenient monitoring system for wide areas, because they are economically advantageous and they should be more specialized than remote sensing. Many different systems have been proposed as wireless sensor networks. Some networks are based on an IP protocol, as a web of objects. However, other solutions can be adopted when mostly the network is realized outside of an internet framework or when the internet connection can be limited at a few nodes. Architectures based on ZigBee protocol are an evident example. The IEEE 802.15.4 standard communication protocol of Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) defines the best characteristic of low-power, but limited data rate. It is a good candidate as the standard communication for many applications and monitoring activities. After the introduction of trends in the field of low power sensors networks, the design of a particular monitoring network will be presented: the early-warning of flood river control and intervention management. © 2011 WIT Press.