One Classification and Evaluation Methodology for the WSN Simulators

Creating a physical environment for wireless sensor network (WSN) experimentation is often cost-prohibitive and impractical, particularly in the early stages of research, design, and development. As a result, a plethora of simulators have emerged to analyze network protocols, topology, communication aspects, quality of service, and more. These simulators vary in their approaches, from enhancing existing mathematical software with WSN toolboxes to developing new, specialized WSN simulators tailored to specific requirements. This diversity presents a significant challenge in comparing WSN simulation applications and frameworks. In this paper, we delve into the complexities of the WSN simulator landscape, explain the primary tasks in WSN experimentation, and align them with the features supported by various software solutions. We propose a machine-friendly classification and evaluation methodology aimed at streamlining the assessment process.