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

我们看到无线传感器网络(WSN)领域在监测大规模战略资产方面取得了很大进展，这些资产包括市政当局的地下水供应系统、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关键挑战。大规模无线传感器网络的可靠性、寿命和有用性取决于其电源。因此，在本提案中，我们将重点放在使用非常规电源为无线传感器网络供电上。具体地说，我们将对使用从单个传感器环境中获取的电能供电的无线传感器网络进行研究。能源收集带来了新的计算和通信挑战，包括可用能源的间歇性，这导致能源供应在某些时候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Cistech 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，用于监测通过著名的SACP(阴极牺牲阳极)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。我们将具有能量采集(EH)传感器节点的WSN称为EH-WSN。在这项提案中，我们将重点关注可持续的EH-WSN，通过追求三个目标O1-03来长期监测向城市家庭供水的钢管。在O1中，我们将设计一个适用于SACP应用的分层低功耗EH-WSN。在O2中，我们将为EH-WSN中传感器节点的最佳运行设计一个调度器，在EH-WSN中，能量从SACP站点周围的地面收集。在臭氧中，我们将设计一个模型来估计SACP系统的使用寿命。这一合作项目将为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，对关键基础设施进行长期监控。对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，以及减少预防性维护造成的供水中断。

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.