OPPORTUNISTIC-CR - Opportunistic Aggregation of Spectrum and Cognitive Radios: Consequences on Public Policies

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Publications

Wireless sensor networks for temperature and humidity monitoring within concrete structures

Publication . Barroca, Norberto; Borges, Luís M.; Velez, Fernando J.; Monteiro, Filipe; Górski, Marcin; Castro-Gomes, João

This paper presents the development of an automatic wireless sensor monitoring system for civil engineering structures. The objective is to provide a solution to measure both temperature and humidity inside a concrete structure. The research has been focused in the early age and curing phase period. Four solutions have been addressed. The first one involves the use of a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor and an IRIS mote allowing for the creation of an IEEE 802.15.4 network. However, the results have shown that the sensor measurements present a 5 !C standard deviation between the actual and the experimental values. The second one considers the use of the SHT15 (humidity/temperature) sensor, together with the PIC18F4680 microcontroller or the Arduino platform. The third solution involves the use of the SHT21S humidity/temperature) sensor and the eZ430-RF2500 wireless development tool platform for the MSP430 microcontroller. In this case, the temperature readings were successfully performed for the first 16 h, while the humidity values were successfully obtained for the first 24 h of the experiment. Although the set of measured values is very promising for the SHT15 and SHT21S sensors, both sensors have stopped working after some time, showing that direct contact between the sensor and the concrete alkaline environment causes its breakdown. Finally, the fourth solution considers both the SHT15 and SHT21S sensors completely shielded allowing for the creation of a long-term solution. As, the SHT15 and SHT12S sensors have not been affected by the alkaline environment for more than two months of operation, enabling real-time and continuous monitoring with almost non-intrusive tiny devices, the potential of applying the proposed inexpensive wireless sensor network approach is verified.

2013-03Journal article

Open access

Survey on the Characterization and Classification of Wireless Sensor Network Applications

Publication . Borges, Luís M.; Velez, Fernando J.; Lebres, António S.

Nowadays, wireless sensor network (WSN) users are demanding more and more in terms of choice and diversity of applications. Hence, as the diversity of applications is increasing, it is worthwhile to propose a structure for the set of characterization parameters that allows sketching a taxonomy for WSN applications. This taxonomy is established via an application-oriented approach, identifying the specific services offered by each application. In this survey, we fill this gap in the WSN literature by describing the characterization parameters, organized into six different categories. Our taxonomy for application classification is centered on the different sets of parameters that have high impact on a given future WSN application. Typical attributes and values from related research works are considered as a reference, but in this survey, we propose inter- and intra-connections among the considered application groups. Based on these connections, new application groups have been proposed for applications that share common characterization parameters, along with a holistic overview of WSN application taxonomy and the discussion of the three generations of WSNs toward communication between things and the Internet of Things , as well as future trends for the development of WSN applications. Moreover, detailed parameters from different projects and authors in the field of WSNs are joined together for comparison purposes.

2014Journal article

Open access

Spectrum opportunities for electromagnetic energy harvesting from 350 MHz to 3 GHz

Publication . Tavares, Jorge Miguel da Silva; Barroca, Norberto; Saraiva, Henrique M.; Borges, Luís M.; Velez, Fernando J.; Loss, Caroline; Salvado, Rita; Pinho, Pedro; Gonçalves, Ricardo; Carvalho, Nuno Borges

This paper presents spectrum opportunities for radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting identified through power density measurements from 350 MHz to 3 GHz. The field trials have been performed in two different cities (Covilha and Lisbon), by using the NARDA-SMR spectrum analyser with measuring antenna, and the Signal Hound spectrum analysers, respectively. The scope of our research considers RF energy harvesting devices, enabling to convert RF energy to direct current (DC), providing an alternative source to power supply wireless sensor network (WSN) devices. Printed antennas, able to operate at GSM (900/1800) bands, are proposed with gains of the order of 1.8-2.06 dBi and efficiency 77.6-84%. Guidelines for the choice of textile materials for a wearable antenna are also provided.

2013-03Conference object

Open access

Cognitive radio for medical body area networks using ultra wideband

Publication . Chavez-Santiago, Raul; Nolan, Keith E.; Holland, Oliver; De Nardis, Luca; Ferro, João M.; Barroca, Norberto; Borges, Luís M.; Velez, Fernando J.; Goncalves, Vânia; Balasingham, Ilangko

Wearable wireless medical sensors beneficially impact the healthcare sector, and this market is experiencing rapid growth. In the United States alone, the telecommunications services market for the healthcare sector is forecast to increase from $7.5 billion in 2008 to $11.3 billion in 2013. Medical body area networks improve the mobility of patients and medical personnel during surgery, accelerate the patients’ recovery, and facilitate the remote monitoring of patients suffering from chronic diseases. Currently, MBANs are being introduced in unlicensed frequency bands, where the risk of mutual interference with other electronic devices can be high. Techniques developed during the evolution of cognitive radio can potentially alleviate these problems in medical communication environments. In addition, these techniques can help increase the efficiency of spectrum usage to accommodate the rapidly growing demand for wireless MBAN solutions and enhance coexistence with other collocated wireless systems. This article proposes a viable architecture of an MBAN with practical CR features based on ultra wideband radio technology. UWB signals offer many advantages to MBANs, and some features of this technology can be exploited for effective implementation of CR. We discuss the physical and MAC layer aspects of the proposal in addition to the implementation challenges.

2012-08Journal article

Open access

Energy saving in the optimization of the planning of fixed WiMAX with relays in hilly terrains: Impact of sleep modes and cell zooming

Publication . Velez, Fernando J.; Oliveira, João; Robalo, Daniel Luís Silveira; Holland, Oliver; Aghvami, A. Hamid

Layered and cooperative elements such as femto-cells and relays can improve performance or energy efficiency in mobile networks; however, they consume energy per se and their durations in operational state must therefore be minimised. This paper investigates the use of relays in WiMAX network deployments and concentrates on the cost/revenue performance and energy efficiency trade-off in such cases. Specifically, it investigates the performance achievable by networks that are deployed in various sectorization configurations with and without relays, and matches this to varying traffic loads at different times of the day to maximise the use of sleep modes, where possible, by relays, also in consideration of coverage requirements. It does this for scenarios based on pioneering propagation measurements in the hilly area of Covilhã, Portugal. Results show that through the maximal use of power saving by relays at low traffic times, considerable energy savings in the relays' power consumption are achievable, typically 47.6%. These savings are shown to map to a financial saving for the operator of 10% in the operation and maintenance cost. However, it is also demonstrated that such solutions have to be used cautiously so as to maintain coverage requirements and not decrease the profit in challenging propagation scenarios such as investigated in this paper.

2012-08Conference object

Open access