Enhanced Network Lifetime in Wireless Sensor Networks Through Hierarchical Clustering and Routing

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have gained an emerging importance in different application domains especially in event tracking and monitoring. The sensor nodes in WSNs are observed to have shorter lifetime due to the continuous sensing and processing operations that result in quicker energy depletion. Based on the research works carried out, it is evident that clustering in an optimal solution to reduce the energy consumption and to enhance network lifetime. It is proposed to introduce a novel clustering technique called as Energy Efficient Hierarchical Clustering (E2HC) to optimize the network lifetime while consuming minimal energy. E2HC adapts three-tier architecture comprising of Hybrid Clustering, Rotational Cluster Head Selection and Hierarchical Packet Routing. In Hybrid clustering two distinct cluster categories are proposed viz., nearby cluster and distant cluster. The selection of nearby cluster is based on three parameters: distance between sensor nodes and base station, maximum number of sensor nodes that can be included in the nearby cluster and optimal distance (distance between the base station and the distant sensor node of nearby cluster).Fuzzy C-Means Clustering algorithm is used to cluster the remaining sensor nodes into multiple distant clusters. A residual energy assisted fitness function is adopted to select the cluster head in rotational fashion. To route the information collected by the sensor nodes, hierarchical packet routing uses distance between sender and base station. Extensive analysis of simulated WSNs over the proposed E2HC shows significant improvements in reduced energy consumption and extension of the network lifetime, as compared with the existing methods.