Positioning System in Wireless Sensor Networks Using NS-2

The practical difficulties of setting up a wireless sensor network (WSN) and analysing its performance have made simulation essential for the study of WSNs. The ns-2 network simulator is one of the most widely used tools by researchers to investigate the characteristics of WSNs. ns-2 has the basic properties and capabilities to support simulations of different localisation techniques. There are only a limited number of generic and reusable modules for ns-2 that can be significantly customised to support specific research areas. Therefore, building a complete localisation system requires in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of ns-2 and selecting between a large number of implementation options. This paper presents an extension of ns-2 that will enable a user with a basic knowledge of ns-2 to simulate a localisation system within a wireless network and explains how to implement new localisation algorithms using the extended ns-2. The technical content of this paper would be beneficial to new ns-2 users regarding how a simulation project is built and structured.