Optimal sensor deployment for WSNs in grid environment

A mechanism for deploying a minimum number of sensors to cover all targets that are randomly placed in a grid environment is discussed. The sensors are deployed at grid points that do not have targets. In the presented method, condideration is given to a grid point, called the sink, to start deploying the sensors. From the sink location, movement is in one of four possible directions (up, down, left, right) to find the next grid point for placing the sensor depending on the maximum number of targets covered by the new sensor. In case there is no path to move due to target placement, a random grid point is chosen as the next location. This is done till all targets are covered. This process is carried out for each possible sink location and the sink location corresponding to the minimum number of sensors is noted.