On the Significance of RSSI Modeling Studies for Wireless Sensor Networks in Mines

Mining of minerals can be either by underground or surface mining methods depending on the depth and orientation of deposit. An underground mine is a complex indoor environment consisting of a network of intricate roadways and undulating terrain. In such an environment, establishing a wireless radio network poses a real challenge as the propagation of radio waves is attenuated significantly due to diffraction, fading and shadowing effect. Thus, to assure the link performance of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) inside underground mines and to decide the transmission range between the nodes, due consideration must be given to indoor propagation models. Whereas implementation of the same in surface mines demands outdoor modeling studies. This paper presents a feasibility study of Zigbee wireless network in both underground and surface mines by comparing received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values with statistical propagation models. The results of trials carried out in an underground and a surface mine and analysis of the collected field data using R Studio has been presented in this paper.