A Comprehensive Review of Coverage and Connectivity in 3D Wireless Sensor Networks

As wireless sensor networks (WSNs) rapidly move into widespread deployment in diverse three-dimensional (3D) environments from urban infrastructures to natural ecosystems, the utilizations of WSNs has increased. Such 3D settings lend themselves to unique coverage and connectivity challenges and opportunities. In this review paper, we discuss in detail various current state of the art techniques and methodologies to improve the coverage and connection in 3D WSNs. We then explore systematically a variety of approaches, including: sensor placement algorithms, network topology control, and energy efficient communication protocols. We also talk about the trades-offs and metrics that affect the design and deployment of 3D WSNs. By presenting these results, and using this review, we identify promising doors for future work that will lead towards developing more efficient and resilient 3D WSNs. The findings we report provide useful guidance for researchers and practitioners interested in the most effective ways to deploy and operate WSNs in highly three-dimensional spaces.