Power-aware clustering and routing protocol utilizing virtual hexagonal cells and computational intelligence for smart cities with dual mobility and power-constrained IoT sensors
Reem Riyad Elyyan, Khalid Ahmad Darabkh · Results in Engineering · 2025
The Internet of Things (IoT) enables smart cities to collect vast data from wireless sensors, supporting predictive maintenance and infrastructure management. However, energy-efficient design remains a critical challenge for IoT-enabled Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). This paper proposes a novel strategy that partitions smart city WSNs into uniform hexagonal cells and employs an advanced meta-heuristic algorithm for optimal cluster head selection. Two mobile sinks traverse predefined hexagonal paths to collect sensory data efficiently. A cost-effective routing protocol is developed to extend sensor node lifetime. Simulation results demonstrate significant reductions in average energy consumption and substantial improvements in network longevity, achieving up to a 372-fold increase in the first node-to-die metric compared to the energy-efficient geographic routing protocol based on mobile sinks, and a 669-fold improvement compared to reduced k-means and rendezvous-based routing protocols. The proposed energy-aware clustering and routing framework offers a scalable solution for sustainable IoT-WSN deployments in smart cities.