Terrestrial sensor network vs underwater sensor network-Difference terrestrial sensor network and underwater sensor network

This page on Terrestrial sensor network vs underwater sensor network describes difference terrestrial sensor network and underwater sensor network.

Terrestrial sensor network

Terrestrial sensor network

The terrestrial sensor networks are designed to operate on the land. It needs air as communication channel for communication. A typical terrestrial sensor network composed of transmitter and receiver part. It uses electromagnetic radio waves for carrying the information (data or voice).
Refer Terrestrial Communication➤➤

Underwater Sensor Network

underwater wireless communication

The underwater sensor networks are designed to operate under water. Water is used as communication channel for communication. A typical underwater sensor network composed of transmitter and receiver part. It uses electromagnetic radio waves, optical waves and acoustic waves for communication.

EM waves propagate at longer distances through conductive sea water at very low frequencies (i.e. 30 to 300Hz). This needs large antenna and high power for transmission. Hence it is not ideal for underwater communication.

In contrast to EM waves, optical waves do not suffer from very high attenuation. However optical communication under water suffers from scattering loss. Moreover it needs high precision narrower laser beams for carrying the information. Hence optical waves are suitable for short range communication in underwater environment.

Due to limitations of EM waves and Optical waves acoustic waves are used for communication in underwater sensor based networks.
Refer Underwater Wireless Communication➤➤

Difference between Terrestrial sensor network and underwater sensor network

Following are the differences between the two communication technologies:

• Size and Cost: In Terrestrial network air is the communication medium, in underwater network water is the communication medium.

• terrestrial sensor nodes are inexpensive due to smaller size, underwater sensors are expensive devices. This is due to the fact that underwater transceiver hardware need to protected from extreme underwater environment and hence are costly.

• Deployment: Terrestrial sensor networks are densely deployed, while for underwater case deployment is more sparse due to cost and challenges involved.

• Power:The power required in acoustic underwater communication is higher compare to terrestrial communication due to greater distance and more complex signal processing needed at the receiver. Better signal processing is required under water due to complex channel conditions. In underwater networks more energy consumption is needed and hence battery capacity requirement is higher.

• Memory: Terrestrial sensor nodes have very limited storage capacity. Underwater sensor nodes require more data catching due to intermittent channel requirement.

Adhoc network vs Cellular network

Ad Hoc network

Refer Adhoc network vs Cellular network >> for more information.

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