Network lifetime optimization with non-uniform K-connectivity in underwater wireless sensor networks

Underwater wireless sensor networks are used for many underwater applications such as monitoring underwater threats, tracking environmental parameters in underwater environment. Reliable functionality is an essential requirement in these networks. This can be provided by uniform k-connectity approach where all sensor nodes have at least k distinct paths to the base station. However, observed energy consumption is high in this strategy, especially when k value is high. However, non-uniform k-connectivity can provide a solution for the high energy consumption in which several critical sensor nodes operate with high k-connectivity while others have low k value. In this thesis, non-uniform k-connectivity approach is presented with a novel optimization framework which has never been investigated in the literature to the best of our knowledge. In this optimization model, balance between network lifetime and network reliability is analyzed. Results show that while providing high connectivity to critical sensor nodes it is possible to obtain significant improvement on network lifetime via non-uniform k-connectivity strategy.