International Journal of Bioelectronics

Wireless Sensor Networks: A Review of Environmental Applications

Abstract

Air quality is tightly linked to quality of life, with prolonged exposure to polluted air associated with major health risks. This review surveys seventeen studies on wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for environmental monitoring, emphasizing low-cost, portable sensors and their integration into WSNs. The works are categorized following the Next-Generation Air Pollution Monitoring System (TNGAPMS) framework—Conventional Stationary Monitoring Networks, Static Sensor Networks, Community Sensor Networks, and Vehicle Sensor Networks—highlighting trade-offs between node cost, spatiotemporal resolution, and data quality. Advances in frameworks, infrastructure, and hardware point to WSNs as a key alternative to conventional monitoring systems, with ongoing progress in energy harvesting, calibration, and IoT integration.

Keywords: WSN, wireless sensor networks, environmental monitoring.

Introduction

Research in atmospheric chemistry has driven innovation in detection technologies. Numerous studies connect poor air quality with cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality. Traditional fixed monitoring is costly and sparse; WSNs—composed of distributed nodes (sensor, microcontroller, transceiver, memory, power)—offer broader coverage and higher spatial resolution, particularly when mounted on mobile platforms. The paper compiles international deployments and notes that low-cost sensors, coupled with community and vehicular sensing, can complement official networks for street-level monitoring.

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs)

WSNs are grouped per TNGAPMS into CSMN, SSN, CSN, and VSN, balancing sensor-node cost, spatial coverage, data quality, and temporal resolution. SSN nodes often mount on poles or walls, enabling periodic calibration and maintenance; CSN uses citizens’ mobile devices; VSN leverages vehicles and bicycles; and CSMN remains the regulatory benchmark. The review summarizes advantages, limitations, and representative case studies across these categories.

Sensors and Communication

Common gas-sensing technologies include electrochemical, catalytic, solid-state, NDIR, and photo-ionization sensors, each with distinct accuracy, lifetime, interference, and power profiles. On communications, ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 appears prominent for low-power links, while Sub-1 GHz ISM bands extend range and reduce energy consumption. Integration with IoT platforms raises interoperability challenges (standards, data formats, protocols) but expands capabilities for real-time, geo-referenced monitoring and data fusion.

Conclusions

WSNs are evolving rapidly through energy harvesting, better calibration strategies, and AI-assisted analytics, positioning them as a robust, scalable option for environmental monitoring. Future work includes three-dimensional sensing with UAVs, adaptive sensor management, and intelligent networks that embed machine learning for drift correction, routing, and power optimization.

References

See source document for the complete bibliography (Akyildiz 2002; Wei 2015; Lewis & Edwards 2016; and others).

© 2019 International Journal of Bioelectronics (IJBIOE). Article licensed under CC BY 4.0.