WSN performance based on node placement by genetic algorithm at smart home environment

TELKOMNIKA, Vol.17, No.1, February 2019, pp.299~306
ISSN: 1693-6930, accredited First Grade by Kemenristekdikti, Decree No: 21/E/KPT/2018
DOI: 10.12928/TELKOMNIKA.v17i1.11621  299
Received May 31, 2018; Revised October 11, 2018; Accepted November 15, 2018
WSN performance based on node placement by genetic
algorithm at smart home environment
Mochammad Hannats Hanafi Ichsan*
1
, Wijaya Kurniawan
2
, Gembong Edhi Setyawan
3
,
Irma Asri Kartika Sandy
4
Faculty of Computer Science, University of Brawijaya,
Veteran St., Malang, East Java, Indonesia, telp/fax: +62 341 551611/+62 341 565420
*Corresponding author, e-mail: hanas.hanafi@ub.ac.id
1
, wjaykurnia@ub.ac.id
2
, gembong@ub.ac.id
3
,
ikartikasandy1903@gmail.com
4
Abstract
Wireless sensor connectivity is one of several factors that determines the communication
reliability of each node. The placement of the node depends on the area that covered by wireless coverage
area, so the node placement should be optimally placed. But the other aspect is the sensor coverage area.
Sensor coverage area sometimes could be different with wireless sensor coverage area. Based on that
situation, it needs to optimize that situation. Genetic Algorithm is an algorithm that utilizes a heuristic
approach that uses biological mechanism evolution. It used to evolution the best position of Sensor Node
based on Wireless and Sensor coverage area. After the position of each node generated by Genetic
Algorithm, it still needs to evaluate the wireless sensor node performance. The performance indicates that
the genetic algorithm can be used to determine sensor node placement in the smart home environment.
The smart home environment used to monitor event at the house such as wildfire. In this research used
Quality of Services (QoS) to measure wireless sensor performance. The experimental testing scenario will
be used to place several nodes that generated. The QoS performed systems reliability that produced
based on 3, 4 and 5 testing nodes, the minimum and maximum of each: delay is 6.21 and
8.74 milliseconds, jitter is 0.11 and 1.59 Hz and throughput is 68.83 and 90.49 bps. Based on ETSI
classification, the performance of sensor node placement is Good and acceptable in real-time systems.
Keywords: genetic algorithm, node placement, sensor coverage area, smart home.wireless sensor
network
Copyright © 2019 Universitas Ahmad Dahlan. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is the most important technologies that have been
developed rapidly at large research area and its implementation [1]. The area that could
implement WSN such as Military, Habitat [2], Health [3], Environment [4], Classroom, Home [5]
and habitat [6]. Since its sensor has the ability to sense any object on the real word, the wireless
sensor network has many benefits. WSN could be generally which has low-cost, low power,
multifunctional and has limited computational and capabilities could be deployed randomly and
deterministically [7, 8]. The WSN itself has a major challenge to its application, services,
communication protocol, sensor technology and system [9]. Several problems with it service is
localization coverage, security, synchronization, data aggregation, cross-layer and
optimization [10-14]. Wildfire problem at the house is one of much concern, it caused much
damage. This problem is one of much concern of monitoring system at smart home
environment [15].
The connectivity of its sensor nodes depend on the placement itself, so need to pay
attention to laying of sensor nodes to improve the performance depends on the sensor
placement. To deploy a little amount of WSN at small area could be manually placed, but there
is many problems to place it in a wide area and a huge amount of sensor itself. It could be
uneffective that place manually. This problem is one of several problems from WSN services at
coverage area. Such as inefficient placing sensors that have large disjoint area. Laying the
position of an irregular sensor at a location will cause a new problem as it does not guarantee
that the entire area has been covered by the sensor. The objective reason using sensor
networks is effectively monitored and detect a target of interest [16].

 ISSN: 1693-6930
TELKOMNIKA Vol. 17, No. 1, February 2019: 299-306
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Placing the node location could be performed with several algorithms. One of several
algorithms that can perform evolution is Genetic Algorithm (GA). GA is a powerful heuristics
algorithm for solving the problems of optimization [17]. The individual solution that generated
randomly would be evaluated in order to find the best solution. GA could implement at variety
problem that not suited by another algorithm such as Ant Colony, Fuzzy Logic, Neural Network,
Swarm Optimization etc. Several researchers have been successfully implemented GA in a
WSN in order to locate the node [16]. Their research is only how to place many nodes with GA,
but they didn’t place it in real condition and didn’t measure how quality that provides by their
design. Another problem is if that sensor works did the wireless works too. The sensor has a
different coverage area that reads data. Both wireless and it sensor have a circular coverage
area, but their coverage area is different. Usually, the wireless coverage area is bigger than the
sensor coverage area [18].
In order to solve the problem is needs to evaluate the quality of WSN services itself
based on wireless and sensor node coverage area. The sensor used that low cost and efficient
is the Flame Sensor 5 channel that has coverage area 700-100nm, the wireless that used is
nRF24L01 and Arduino Uno. The measurement to prove the quality is QoS (Quality of Services)
includes Delay, Jitter, and Throughput. This research is focused to measure how the sensor
works and the process of sending data, by ignoring some parameters such as energy
consumption, reading data error on the sensor, the power used an obstacle. The sensor placed
inside a room that doesn’t have an obstacle. To perform this research needs to do the several
amounts of procedure to evaluate their performance. First, it needs to create the models of GA.
After models created, it will be implemented and tested so it would be got the result of reliability
between GA which is implemented with wireless coverage area and sensor parameters.
2. Research Method
This research aim is placing WSN nodes in the smart home environment. The
environment here is not all of each room at home. This research is to models a room inside a
house with several parameters. The size of a room at home is very varied, as needed. But the
average requirement of the house area ranging from 2, 3 and 4 square meters [19, 20]. So this
research used 3 square meters as a case study, that is an average area at house room. This
research focused to generate at one room only, the room represent at the smart home
environment. A room used is 3 meters square with implementing one Coordinator and several
Sensor Node that illustrated in Figure 1. That figures represent a case study which is a room
that contain one coordinator and several sensor node that modelled by genetic algorithm.
Figure 1. Research focus scenario
The communication between the Coordinator and Sensor Node would analyze the
quality of their service. So it can meet how much the sensor node that requires that room. It will

TELKOMNIKA ISSN: 1693-6930 
WSN performance based on node placement… (Mochammad Hannats Hanafi Ichsan)
301
be implemented with 3 (1 Coordinator, 2 Sensor Node, 4 (1 Coordinator, 3 Sensor Node) and
5 (1 Coordinator, 4 Sensor Node). Based on that amount of Coordinator and Sensor Node can
be set at simulator about their range and amount too.
Step by step at this research represents in Figure 2 that is creating nodes, generating
GA, testing and analysis. The first step is creating WSN nodes from 5 channel flame sensor and
nRF24L01 combined in Arduino Uno. 5 channel flame sensor has some characteristic that is
Vin DC 3.3V-9V, sensor range 1200, digital output, sensor range is 100 cm [21]. The nRF24L01
is a radio transceiver that has single chip and microcontroller used is Arduino Uno.
Figure 2. Research methods
Communication Protocol used in nRF24L series is Enhanced Shockburst Protocol
(ESB), it provides radio communication, ease of use, small code size and consuming a small
power consumption (Low Power). Each node communication would communicate with ESB that
has a bi-directional data link. It is the basic protocol that was embedded in the nRF24L series.
This protocol supporting two-way communication, it is the basic protocol that sent packet
buffering, acknowledgment, and automatic re-transmission of loss packet [22-23]. The ESB
would not discuss deeply, this research just makes use of this protocol.
After nodes created and well communicated, the GA method will be created in Matlab.
Matlab and Simulink have Genetic Algorithm toolbox that presents a familiar and unified
environment for control engineer. That toolbox uses to develop or simulate at control system
engineering [24]. At this research, GA used to generate node based on user requirement. But
on this system designed by representing in one room at the house only. So in one room, we just
need one Coordinator Node and more than one sensor node. The GA input has several
parameters which are used to model the real world could see at Figure. 2, that each is:
a. Node Quantity: this input model how many nodes that would be implemented at a certain
area
b. Node Range: node range is the characteristic of the node that would be used to give node
range parameters, this about how wide the distance is owned by the node
c. Amount Fitness Iteration: we could give the number of iteration. The iteration could be
determined manually. It would affect is that the greatest fitness will be generated. The
greater the iteration value given, will not have much effect on the amount of fitness
generated. But the best or greatest fitness is dependent on several aspects suppose to the
number of initially generated nodes, the node range, and the range area all affect the best
fitness value to be generated.
d. Population Quantity: is how many parents that generated randomly based on user input. We
could determine how much a parent for this problem.
e. Area Range: this research used the nRF24L01 range as parameters, we could change
range if we use other hardware.

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After input generated with that criteria, it will conduct by standard GA includes
Initialization, Crossover, Mutation, Fitness [16], [25] and The biggest fitness that generated will
be nodes that implemented and tested. The node which has the biggest fitness is the node that
would be implemented and tested.
GA that used can be seen in Figure 3 started with Initialization, at initialization, it will
generate a random place node. We can set how much random place node generated based on
the amount of node what would place a room. At Initialization, the parameter that didn’t have the
effect of a random process is node and area range. The range could set dynamically based on
requirement too. The amount of iteration is set manually, the amount of iteration doesn’t affect
the quality of the biggest fitness that produced. The best fitness that produced based on a
random place node that generated, so it could be set differencing in every testing scenario.
The second step is generating data that produced by Initialization process to get the
best parent that will process to produce the best child. But it still long steps to get the new
generation. Several parents that selected is processed on Crossover, at this process several
selected couples would perform crossover. Crossover is combined with two parents (based on
biological crossover) that could produce an individual/a child for the next generation, at this
research use single point crossover. After that is Mutation process. Based on Crossover result,
the individual that produced by Crossover is processed. A mutation is an option that an
individual has a small change that produced by random probability option. This process
produced generic diversity and enabling GA to search a wider space for the individual that
produced. Mutation used probability that used to how much a chromosome that mutate.
A chromosome is the smallest part of the individual body. After that, it produced the individual
that have different fitness.
Figure 3. Genetic algorithm methods
The GA in this research would iterate based on user input, if the iteration given 100, the
Initialization, Crossover, Mutation, Produce and Comparing fitness will be processed 100 times.
If the iteration finished and we have a new generation, a new generation with the biggest fitness

303
is the solution of the node placement. The node placement is the node where the Coordinator
and Sensor Node would be placed. At this research, Coordinator Node is identified by number
“1” in the Matlab simulator, and the other node is Sensor Node. With an assumption, the
Coordinator has a sensor for sensing too.
Next process is measuring the QoS (Quality of Services). With the QoS measurement,
it would meet the accurate or reliable monitoring condition at a room in the smart home
environment. The QoS used is Delay, Throughput, and Jitter to measure between Sensor Node
to Coordinator Node. Packet Loss is not included in this scenario because this parameter used
to measure between Coordinator Node and this research use only one Coordinator Node [26].
Measuring the QoS is the next step after the node implementer. This is the testing scenario with
the direct trial scenario. The QoS used is a delay, jitter, and throughput [27]. Therefore the
system function is to monitor the environment such as a smart home environment and it could
measure well [28].
3. System Testing
GA implemented in Matlab with placing one coordinator and several node (one, two and
three other node). The result that produced by Matlab would be tested in this testing scenario
that can be seen at Figure 4. The room size used is 3 meter. At that room would be
implementing 3 Nodes (1 Gateway, 2 Sensor nodes), 4 Nodes (1 Gateway, 3 Sensor nodes)
and 5 Nodes (1 Gateway, 4 Sensor nodes). The simulation can be seen in Figure 4 that have
“x” and “y” coordinates that representing the room width and node placement. The “1”
coordinates are for Coordinator Node and “2”, “3” and “4” is a placement for Sensor Nodes.
After the node placement generated, the second scenario is direct testing
measurement. Each of Sensor Node sent data to Coordinator Node. After Coordinator Node
receiving data, it could measure the QoS. The testing scenario measured 60 times while sensor
detecting flames and data was sent. The testing includes 3, 4 and 5 nodes that placed. Each
placement would be measured 20 times.
Figure 4. Genetic algorithm implementation in matlab (each of x and y-axes using meter units)
The full result of the testing scenario is presented in Table 1. Testing on 4 Nodes. The
testing performed 20 times of sending data between each Sensor Nodes to Coordinator. At the
other nodes performed testing scenario in the same way. The QoS shows and ready to analyze.
All of the summary of the testing shown in Table 2 that inducted by average, min and max result
of all testing nodes.
This research was done by testing with 3, 4 and 5 nodes. Each testing always has
1 Coordinator Nodes and the rest of it is Sensor Node. This testing has several results that will
be explained below.

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a. Delay: minimum delay is 6.21 millisecond at 3 nodes and maximum delay is
8.74 millisecond at 4 nodes. But at the 5 nodes maximum delay is 8.39, the delay at 4
nodes is bigger than 5 nodes.
b. Jitter: minimum jitter is 0.11 Hz at 4 and 5 nodes, but at 3 nodes the minimum jitter is
0.88 Hz. Maximum jitter is 1.58 Hz at 5 nodes. 5 nodes could produce the minimum and
maximum jitter value.
c. Throughput: minimum throughput is 63.83 bps at 3 nodes and maximum throughput is
90.49 at 4 nodes. 5 nodes don’t produce minimum or maximum throughput.
Table 1. Testing on 4 Nodes
Testing
Number
4 Nodes
Delay (millisecond) Jitter (Hz) Throughput (bps)
1 8.04 1.05 90.45
2 8.39 1 76.11
3 6.96 0.47 65.16
4 6.88 0.85 69.12
5 8.74 1.05 90.46
6 7.68 1.1 76.12
7 6.96 0.11 65.17
8 6.31 0.11 69.13
9 8.15 1.15 90.47
10 8.18 1.2 76.13
11 6.96 0.69 65.18
12 6.96 0.11 69.14
13 8.23 1.25 90.48
14 8.28 1.3 76.14
15 6.33 0.11 65.19
16 6.98 0.47 69.15
17 7.68 1.35 90.49
18 8.32 1.4 76.15
19 6.22 0.29 65.2
20 6.96 0.11 69.16
Average 7.46 0.76 75.23
d. Based on the testing scenario produced the biggest delay at 4 nodes and the smallest delay
at 3 nodes. The 5 nodes have the biggest and smallest jitter. Smallest throughput at
3 nodes a maximum throughput at 4 nodes. That all testing result can be seen in Table 2,
each of testing scenario conducted by 20 times measurement.
Based on the ETSI classification range that produced by all testing scenario is:
a. Delay: an average delay that produced is smaller than 150 millisecond and categorized as
Very Good.
b. Jitter: average jitter that produced between 0 Hz to 75 Hz categorized as Good.
c. Throughput: average throughput that produced between 75 bps to 100 bps and categorized
as Good.
Table 2. All Testing Scenario
Testing Average Min Max
3 Nodes
Delay (millisecond) 7.32 6.21 7.88
Jitter (Hz) 1.01 0.88 1.09
Throughput (bps) 75.85 63.83 83.68
4 Nodes
Jitter (Hz) 0.76 0.11 1.4
Throughput (bps) 75.23 65.16 90.49
5 Nodes
Jitter (Hz) 0.86 0.11 1.58
Throughput (bps) 77.97 73.29 81.44
4. Conclussion and Future Works
This paper proposed Genetic Algorithm for implementing Node with Genetic Algorithm
(GA) which are Coordinator and Sensor Node to deploy sensor. GA used to determine which
place that planting sensor node which has several parameters like the amount of node, sensor

305
and wireless coverage area for its sensor. For GA itself conducted by the amount of iteration
and population range. System communication protocol using the standard communication that
is Enhanced Shockburst Protocol (ESB). ESB is standard communication at nRF24L series.
This system works functionally and tested by QoS. The QoS resulting based on 3, 4 and
5 nodes have a minimum delay is 6.21 millisecond and maximum 8.74 milliseconds. The
minimum jitter is 0.11 Hz and maximum jitter is 1.58, and the throughput minimum is 63.83 bps
and maximum is 90.49. Data sent will send if the sensor was sense fire. Based on ETSI
classification, the performance of sensor node placement is Good [27] and acceptable in
real-time systems.
The future works are how to implementing GA on a whole house in the smart system
environment. The sensor not only a flame sensor to implement, but there are many sensors to
implement such as temperature, gas or household equipment that could communicate so each
household equipment and the sensor to read environmental condition could communicate and
sent data each other. It could be improved by changing or adding several parameters that being
GA input, could be choosing the best routing protocol. After that all, it could be connected to the
internet or mobile phone. The other feature that could implement is placing node to control
environment that covered by the node that sensing environment. So the smart home
environment could be monitored and controlled well.
Acknowledgment
Thanks to Computer Engineering, Informatics Department, Brawijaya University that facilitate all
of the facility to support this research works. This paper is originally made and tested at
Computer System and Robotics Laboratory.
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