Title: Optimal number of clusters in wireless sensor networks: a FCM approach

Authors: Ajay Singh Raghuvanshi; Sudarshan Tiwari; Rajeev Tripathi; Nand Kishor

Addresses: Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad 211004, India. ' Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad 211004, India. ' Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad 211004, India. ' Department of Electrical Engineering, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad 211004, India

Abstract: Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are resource constrained systems that needs efficient utilisation of all available resources. Clustering is well-known technique to achieve high scalability and efficient resource allocation in WSNs. This paper presents an approach to determine optimal number and location of cluster head. The Fuzzy c-Means (FCM) clustering algorithm that uses X-axis and Y-axis coordinates of spatially distributed sensor nodes to form clusters is used in study. A random deployment of 100 nodes in 100 × 100 m² area is considered here. The optimal number of cluster heads (CHs) so determined is also compared with those obtained by analytical method. The life time analysis in terms of first node dead is also presented in optimally clustered network.

Keywords: WSNs; wireless sensor networks; fuzzy clustering; optimal clusters; FCM; fuzzy c-means; energy efficiency; cluster heads.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSNET.2012.047707

International Journal of Sensor Networks, 2012 Vol.12 No.1, pp.16 - 24

Accepted: 20 Jan 2012
Published online: 08 Jul 2012 *

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