Wireless Sensors Networks: Channel Propagation Measurements and Simulations

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is an important field of study as more and more applications are enhancing daily life. The technology trend is to achieve small-sized, cheap, and power efficient sensor nodes, which will make the system reliable and efficient. The Crossbow Technologies MICAz mote is an example used in this thesis. Measurements for its propagation characteristics in a realistic environment will help the deployment and installation of these motes to form a WSN. The CST Microwave Studio is used to build a simulation for the MICAz. The Rhino software is used to build Spanagel Hall, which is the location of the simulation. All of these elements are integrated in Urbana. Urbana is a simulation tool used to simulate the propagation decay around the mote and investigate the irregularity of the electromagnetic field for the indoor environment of the motes. The results and comparisons between empirical and simulated data are intended for assisting in the design and future studies and deployment of WSNs in the real world.