Improving RSSI-Based Path-Loss Models Accuracy for Critical Infrastructures: A Smart Grid Substation Case-Study

IoT is rapidly expanding to all productive sectors; however, as thousands of devices are envisioned to be deployed, a careful study of the radio spectrum (and its interferences) must be considered to predict and improve the network performance. In this sense, radio-channel characterization is essential; in particular, path-loss characterization allows to mathematically predict the propagation behavior and interferences of IoT devices with precision. In this paper, we show that by means of a set of mathematical corrections and measuring procedures, we can soundly employ the received signal strength indicator (RSSI), available in most IoT motes, to derive accurate path-loss models of industrial infrastructures. Experimental results reveal that the proposed scheme substantially improves the characterization accuracy of a real smart grid environment. This, in turn, is proven to have a measurable positive impact on the planning stage of an IoT network, whose life-of-time and cost analysis can be better anticipated.

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