Detecting Coverage Holes in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Connected Component Labeling and Force-Directed Algorithms

2025-11-02

AI Summary

Detecting coverage holes caused by node failures in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) remains challenging, as existing approaches rely on prior knowledge—such as node coordinates and sensing ranges—leading to low accuracy, high energy consumption, and poor real-time performance. To address this, we propose a purely topological, geography-agnostic hole detection method that explicitly identifies hole boundaries through topological evolution. Our approach innovatively integrates connected component labeling (CCL) with a force-directed (FD) graph layout algorithm, eliminating dependence on physical parameters—unlike conventional contour-tracking (CT)-based methods. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a 12.6% improvement in detection accuracy, a 3.2× speedup in processing time, and approximately 40% reduction in energy overhead. These gains significantly enhance both efficiency and robustness in large-scale WSNs for coverage hole localization.

Technology Category

• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Distributed CSP/Optimization
• Intelligent Robots: Localization, Mapping, and Navigation

Application Category

• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Robustness and generalizability of Web mining methods
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterization

Abstract

Contour detection in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is crucial for tasks like energy saving and network optimization, especially in security and surveillance applications. Coverage holes, where data transmission is not achievable, are a significant issue caused by factors such as energy depletion and physical damage. Traditional methods for detecting these holes often suffer from inaccuracy, low processing speed, and high energy consumption, relying heavily on physical information like node coordinates and sensing range. To address these challenges, we propose a novel, coordinate-free coverage hole detection method using Connected Component Labeling (CCL) and Force-Directed (FD) algorithms, termed FD-CCL. This method does not require node coordinates or sensing range information. We also investigate Suzuki's Contour Tracing (CT) algorithm and compare its performance with CCL on various FD graphs. Our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of FD-CCL in terms of processing time and accuracy. Simulation results confirm the superiority of FD-CCL in detecting and locating coverage holes in WSNs.

Problem

• Detects coverage holes in wireless sensor networks
• Addresses inaccuracy and high energy consumption issues
• Proposes coordinate-free method using CCL and FD algorithms

Innovation

• Coordinate-free coverage hole detection using CCL and FD algorithms
• Combines Connected Component Labeling with Force-Directed graph methods
• Eliminates need for node coordinates and sensing range information