As the field of communications networks continues to evolve, the challenging area of wireless sensor networks is rapidly coming of age. Recent advances have made it possible to make sensor components more compact, robust, and energy efficient than ever, earning the idiosyncratic alias of "Smart Dust." Production has also improved, yielding larger, more cost-efficient quantities for specialized telecommunications applications. However, network designers and planners for emerging telecommunication networks face specific challenges in finding the best way to integrate new network-specific circuits with existing network systems.

The Handbook of Sensor Networks: Compact Wireless and Wired Sensing Systems captures the current state of sensor networks and deals with particular technical challenges such as software protocols, data processing, security, and limited power sources for remote sensors. Other topics include architecture, artificial perception, location management, dynamic power management, data funneling, and applications such as tracking, biological data acquisition, industrial sensor networking, security measures, and energy-saving techniques.

A selection of highly respected professionals and researchers from leading institutions worldwide contribute their expertise to assemble a referential set of 40 brand new, in-depth articles that cover various aspects of sensor networks, from basic concepts to research-grade material, including future directions.

Sensor networks continue to grow in importance for modern communication networks. The fruit of recent efforts aimed at miniaturization and highly advanced functionality, smart dust sensor networks offer powerful, cost-effective solutions to densely distributed, high-resolution applications. In chapters carefully selected from the popular Handbook of Sensor Networks, Smart Dust: Sensor Network Applications, Architecture, and Design supplies a sharply focused reference on the applications, design, and performance of smart dust that is ideal for specialists in the field. Providing a succinct survey of the principles and technologies associated with smart dust networks, this book focuses on eight main areas: applications; architecture; protocols; tracking technologies; data gathering and processing; energy management; security, reliability, and fault tolerance; and performance and design aspects. Following a look at the opportunities and challenges facing the field, expert contributors authoritatively cover sensor network management, miniaturizing sensor networks with MEMS, sensor network architecture, energy-efficient technologies, positioning and tracking, comparison of cooperative computing in sensor networks, dynamic power management, low-power design for smart dust networks, and more. Smart Dust: Sensor Network Applications, Architecture, and Design details the applications and technologies that are at the frontier of modern sensor networks. It is an ideal reference for anyone interested in designing, planning, or building emerging sensor and communications networks.

Sensor networks continue to grow in importance for modern communication networks. Communication protocols are at the core of these networks, determining their ability to function, their capabilities, and the environments in which they are able to operate. In chapters carefully selected from the popular Handbook of Sensor Networks, Sensor Network Protocols supplies a sharply focused reference on protocols, security, data processing, and energy management in communication sensor networks that is ideal for specialists in the field. Providing a succinct guide to the protocols currently used in advanced sensor networks, this book focuses on four main areas: routing protocols; data gathering and processing; security and reliability; and energy management. The book opens with a survey of the challenges and opportunities facing the field. Then, expert contributors authoritatively discuss routing technologies, next-generation enabling technologies, comparative study of energy efficient protocols for wireless sensor networks, techniques to reduce computation and communication energy consumption, energy-aware routing, localized algorithms for sensor networks, and much more. Sensor Network Protocols details the techniques and technologies that are at the heart of modern sensor networks. It is an ideal reference for anyone interested in designing, planning, or building emerging sensor and communications networks.