Review on Clustering, Coverage and Connectivity in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks: A Communication Techniques Perspective

With a wide scope to explore and harness the oceanic sources of interest, the field of underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) is attracting a growing interest of researchers. Owing to the real-time remote data monitoring requirements, underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) emerged as a preferred network to a great extent. In UASN, the limited availability and non-rechargeability of energy resources along with the relative inaccessibility of deployed sensor nodes for energy replenishments necessitated the evolution of several energy optimization techniques. Clustering is one such technique that increases system scalability and reduces energy consumption. Besides clustering, coverage and connectivity are two significant properties that decide the proper detection and communication of events of interest in UWSN due to unstable underwater environment. Underwater communication is also possible with non-acoustic communication techniques like radio frequency, magnetic induction, and underwater free-space optics. In this paper, we surveyed clustering, coverage, and connectivity issues of UASN and qualitatively compared their performance. Particularly, the impact of these non-conventional communication techniques on clustering, coverage, and connectivity aspects is demonstrated. Additionally, we highlighted some key open issues related to the UWSN. This paper provides a broad view of existing algorithms of clustering, coverage, and connectivity based on acoustic communication. It also provides a useful guidance to the researchers in UWSN from various other communication techniques’ perspective.