SNDT: A genetic algorithm-based protocol selection tool for wireless network design

There is a growing need for tools that could help Wireless Network system designers in selection of different protocols before a practical network deployment. A Genetic Algorithm(GA)-based Sensor Network Design Tool(SNDT) is proposed in this work for wireless sensor network design in terms of performance, considering application-specific requirements, deployment constrains and energy characteristics. SNDT relies on offline simulation analysis to help resolve design decisions and could be applied to other types of wireless network. A GA is used as the optimization tool of the proposed system and an appropriate fitness function is derived to incorporate many aspects of network performance. The configuration attributes optimized by SNDT comprise the communication protocol selection and the number of nodes deployed in a fixed area.