Credibility Problems and Tradeoff between Realistic and Abstraction in WANET and WSN Simulation

Abstract-Wireless network Simulation is challenging due to the effect of the dynamic and fading channel. The task is even more challenging in Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), adding the factor of energy source limitation. Validating simulation results with real implementation are still an unresolved question in wireless research in general and in particular WSN. There are few standard procedures to follow which guarantee accuracy and credibility in terms of answering the question in hands. On one hand, simulation results are aimed towards as realistic as possible conforming to real world implementation. On the other hand, abstraction can eliminate the fragmentation of hardware prototypes, operating system models and different simulation tools. In our research we try to tackle credibility problem in WSN with tradeoffs between realistic and abstraction, and setup the principles and guideline for practical simulations in WSN.