Sustainable wireless sensor networks for long term monitoring of corrosion of water pipes

我们正在见证无线传感器网络（WSNs）领域取得的巨大进展，以监测大规模的战略资产，即城市地下水供应系统，道路和桥梁，以及自然栖息地。几十年来，为大量无线传感器供电是设计无线传感器网络的一个关键挑战。一个大规模的无线传感器网络的可靠性，寿命和有用性是由它的电源。 因此，在这个建议中，我们专注于供电无线传感器网络与非传统电源。具体来说，我们将在无线传感器网络中进行研究，该网络由从各个传感器的环境中收集的电能供电。能量收集带来了新的计算和通信挑战，包括可用能量的不稳定性，这导致能量供应在某些时间不可用或不足以满足某些需求。我们的两个行业合作伙伴是CiscoTech Ltd.和Technologie Sanstream。他们感兴趣的是：（i）设计一个可持续的无线传感器网络，用于监测通过众所周知的SACP（牺牲阳极阴极保护）技术保护的水管的腐蚀特性;（ii）为城市供水系统运行一个原型无线传感器网络;以及（iii）估计SACP保护系统的使用寿命。我们称一个无线传感器网络与能量收集（EH）传感器节点的EH-WSN。在本提案中，我们将通过追求O 1-O3三个目标，专注于可持续的EH-WSNs，用于长期监测城市家庭供水钢管。在O 1中，我们将设计一个分层的低功耗EH-WSN SACP应用。在O2中，我们将设计一个调度器，用于EH-WSN中传感器节点的最佳操作，其中能量从SACP站点周围的地面收集。在O3中，我们将设计一个模型来估计SACP系统的使用寿命。该合作项目将为Cistech和Sanstream提供尖端研究成果，以设计可持续的无线传感器网络，用于关键基础设施的长期监控。 加拿大的其他好处包括无线传感器网络的新应用，减少温室气体排放，降低新兴智能城市的供水成本，以及减少由于预防性维护而造成的供水中断。

We are witnessing much progress in the field of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to monitor large scale strategic assets, namely, underground water supply systems in municipalities, roads and bridges, and the natural habitat. Powering a large number of wireless sensors for decades is a key challenge in designing WSNs. The reliability, life time, and usefulness of a large-scale WSN is determined by its power sources. Therefore, in this proposal we focus on powering up WSNs with non-conventional power sources. Specifically, we will conduct research in WSNs powered with electrical energy harvested from the environment of the individual sensors. Energy harvesting poses new computing and communication challenges, including the intermittency of available energy, which leads to energy supply being unavailable at certain times or inadequate for certain needs. Our two industry partners are Cistech Ltd. and Technologie Sanstream. They are interested in: (i) designing a sustainable WSN for monitoring the corrosion characteristics of water pipes protected by means of the well-known SACP (Sacrificial Anode for Cathodic Protection) technique; (ii) operating a prototype WSN for a city's water supply system; and (iii) estimating the service life of an SACP protection system. We call a WSN with energy harvesting (EH) sensor nodes an EH-WSN. In this proposal, we will focus on sustainable EH-WSNs for long-term monitoring of steel pipes supplying water to homes in a city by pursuing three objectives O1-O3. In O1, we will design a hierarchical low-power EH-WSN for SACP applications. In O2, we will design a scheduler for the optimal operation of sensor nodes in an EH-WSN where energy is harvested from the ground around an SACP site. In O3, we will design a model to estimate the service life of an SACP system. This collaborative project will provide Cistech and Sanstream with cutting edge research results to design sustainable WSNs for long term monitoring of critical infrastructure. Additional benefits to Canada include new applications of WSNs, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, lower cost of delivering water in emerging smart cities, and less disruption in water supply due to preventive maintenance.