Model driven framework to enhance sensor network design cycle
Abdenour Kifouche, Rédha Hamouche, Rémy Kocik, Abderrezak Rachedi, Geneviève Baudoin · Transactions on Emerging Telecommunications Technologies · 2019
Abstract Recent advances in sensor network provide more and more equipment with a large amount of sensors and actuators. However, their adoptions in modern life face several challenges. First, sensor network design is complex and requires several steps including network sizing, hardware and software development, deployment, and data exploitation. Often, each step is managed by a particular tool. These tools are rarely connected to each other. Therefore, descriptions are required in each used tool. These multiple descriptions are costly in terms of development time and can lead to design errors. In order to address these issues, we propose a new model‐driven framework named Modesene to efficiently design a sensor network for different kind of application. Modesene is designed to ensure four main process including multifacets modeling, network simulations, deployment, and data exploitation. The proposed framework supports sensor network tools by providing bridges with these tools. Therefore, one description in Modesene can be automatically transformed in each used tool. The framework can perform simulations and code generation. It promotes a data‐driven approach; in fact, data obtained by simulations is used to drive design choices. We validate our framework through use case of smart building with two possible solutions. Based on Omnet++ simulator, Modesene can assess node lifetime, costs, and packets loss. Thereafter, the obtained results drive the choice of the suitable solution. Then, the code generator provides source codes for sensor nodes, gateway nodes, and for data exploitation. Compared to existing frameworks, Modesene deals with all design steps.