Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Recent Trends in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) – A Systematic Literature Review

  • Published:
Programming and Computer Software Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) is an emerging technology for the monitoring of aquatic assets and frequently applied in several domains like underwater information gathering, ocean sampling network, anonymous vehicles, disaster prevention and submarine detection. Recently, UWSNs have been getting significant attention of researchers from both academia and industry. As a result, several studies have been carried out to perform certain improvements in UWSNs techniques, tools, protocols and architectures. In this regard, there is a dire need to investigate and summarize the modern UWSNs trends altogether within a single study. To achieve this, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is performed in this article to comprehensively analyze the latest developments in UWSNs. Particularly, 34 research studies published during 2012-2020 have been selected and examined in the area of UWSNs. This leads to the identification of 21 modern routing protocols and 11 tools. Furthermore, 5 different architecture types and 3 communication media technologies are presented in the context of UWSNs. Finally, a comparative analysis of routing protocols is done on the basis of important evaluation metrics. It has been concluded that there exist adequate approaches, protocols and tools for the monitoring of UWSNs. However, the design verification capabilities of existing approaches are insufficient to meet the growing demands of UWSNs. In this context, the findings of this article provide solid platform to enhance the current UWSNs tools and techniques for large and complex networks.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Ayaz, M., Abdullah, A., Faye, I., and Batira, Y., An efficient dynamic addressing based routing protocol for underwater wireless sensor networks, Comput. Commun., 2012, vol. 35, no. 4.

  2. Haitao Yu, Nianmin Yao, and Jun Liu, An adaptive routing protocol in underwater sparse acoustic sensor networks, Ad Hoc Networks, 2015, vol. 34, pp. 121–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Das, A.P. and Thampi, S.M., Fault-resilient localization for underwater sensor networks, Ad Hoc Networks, 2017, vol. 55, pp. 132–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Liu, J., Zhou, Z., Peng, Z., Cui, J.-H., Zuba, M., and Fiondella, L., Mobi-sync: efficient time synchronization for mobile underwater sensor networks, IEEE Trans. Parallel Distrib. Syst., 2013, vol. 24, no. 2.

  5. Coutinho, R.W.L., Boukerche, A., Vieira, L.F.M., and Loureiro, A.A.F., A novel void node recovery paradigm for long-term underwater sensor networks, Ad Hoc Networks, 2015, vol. 34, pp. 144–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. oh, Y., Lee, U., Wang, P., Sung Chul Choi, B., and Gerla, M., VAPR: void-aware pressure routing for underwater sensor networks, IEEE Trans. Mobile Comput., 2013, vol. 2, no. 5

  7. Coutinho, R.W. L., Boukerche, A., Vieira, L.F.M., and Loureiro, A.A.F., GEDAR: geographic and opportunistic routing protocol with depth adjustment for mobile underwater sensor networks, Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. on Communications (ICC), Sydney, 2014.

  8. Noh, Y., Lee, U., Lee, S., Wang, P., Vieira, L.F.M., Cui, J.-H., Gerla, M., and Kim, K., HydroCast: pressure routing for underwater sensor networks, IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., 2016, vol. 65, no. 1.

  9. Bharamagoudra, M.R., Manvi, S.K.S., and Gonen, B., Event driven energy depth and channel aware routing for underwater acoustic sensor networks: agent oriented clustering based approach, Comput. Electr. Eng., 2017, vol. 58, pp. 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen, H., Wu, X., Liu, G., and Wang, Y., A novel multi-module separated linear UWSNs sensor node, IEEE Sens. J., 2016, vol. 16, no. 11.

  11. Ghaleb, M., Felemban, E., Subramaniam, S., Sheikh, A.A., and Qaisar, S.B., A performance simulation tool for the analysis of data gathering in both terrestrial and underwater sensor networks, IEEE Access, 2017, vol. 5, pp. 4190–4208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Xi, Z., Kan, X., Cao, L., Liu, H., Manogaran, G., Mastorakis, G., and Mavromoustakis, C.X., Research on underwater wireless sensor network and MAC protocol and location algorithm, IEEE Access, 2019, vol. 7, pp. 56606–56616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ullah, I., Liu, Y., Su, X., and Kim, P., Efficient and accurate target localization in underwater environment, IEEE Access, 2019, vol. 7, pp. 101415–101426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang, B., Wang, Y., Wang, H., Guan, X., and Zhuang, Z., Tracking a duty-cycled autonomous underwater vehicle by underwater wireless sensor networks, IEEE Access, 2017, vol. 5, pp. 18016–18032.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ullah, I., Chen, J., Su, X., Esposito, C., and Choi, C., Localization and detection of targets in underwater wireless sensor using distance and angle based algorithms, IEEE Access, 2019, vol. 7, pp. 45693–45704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Tan, D.D., Le, T.T., and Kim, D.-S., Distributed cooperative transmission for underwater acoustic sensor networks, Proc. IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conf. Workshops (WCNCW), Shanghai, 2013.

  17. Dehnavi, S.M., Ayati, M., and Zakerzadeh, M.R., Three dimensional target tracking via underwater acoustic wireless sensor network, Proc. Conf. Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (IRANOPEN), Tehran, 2017.

  18. Liu, J., Wang, Z., Cui, J.-H., Zhou, S., and Yang, B., A joint time synchronization and localization design for mobile underwater sensor networks, IEEE Trans. Mobile Comput., 2016, vol. 15, no. 3.

  19. Mandal, P. and De, S., New reservation multiaccess protocols for underwater wireless ad hoc sensor networks, IEEE J. Oceanic Eng., 2015, vol. 40, no. 2.

  20. Zhou, Z., Yao, B., Xing, R., Shu, L., and Bu, S., E-CARP: an energy efficient routing protocol for UWSNs in the Internet of underwater things, IEEE Sens. J., 2016, vol. 16, no. 11.

  21. Wang, Z., Han, G., Qin, H., Zhang, S., and Sui, Y., An energy-aware and void-avoidable routing protocol for underwater sensor networks, IEEE Access, 2018, vol. 6, pp. 7792–7801.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Su, Y., Fan, R., Fu, X., and Jin, Z., DQELR: an adaptive deep Q-network-based energy- and latency-aware routing protocol design for underwater acoustic sensor networks, IEEE Access, 2019, vol. 7, pp. 9091–9104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Di Valerio, V., Lo Presti, F., Petrioli, C., Picari, L., Spaccini, D., and Basagni, S., CARMA: channel-aware reinforcement learning-based multi-path adaptive routing for underwater wireless sensor networks, IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., 2019, vol. 37, no. 11.

  24. Khan, Z.A., Awais, M., Alghamdi, T.A., Khalid, A., Fatima, A., Akbar, M., and Javaid, N., Region aware proactive routing approaches exploiting energy efficient paths for void hole avoidance in underwater WSNs, IEEE Access, 2019, vol. 7, pp. 140703–140722.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Al Salti, F., Alzeidi, N., and Arafeh, B.R., EMGGR: an energy-efficient multipath grid-based geographic routing protocol for underwater wireless sensor networks, Wireless Networks, 2017, vol. 23, no. 4.

  26. Hao, K., Shen, H., Liu, Y., Wang, B., and Du, X., Integrating localization and energy-awareness: a novel geographic routing protocol for underwater wireless sensor networks, Wireless Networks, 2018, vol. 23, no. 5.

  27. Mazinani, S.M., Yousefi, H., and Mirzaie, M., A vector-based routing protocol in underwater wireless sensor networks, Wireless Pers. Commun., 2018, vol. 100, no. 18.

  28. Wahid, A., Lee, S., Kim, D., and Lim, K.-S., MRP: a localization-free multi-layered routing protocol for underwater wireless sensor networks, Wireless Networks, 2014, vol. 77, pp. 2997–3012.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Venkateswarulu, B.V., Subbu, N., and Ramamurthy, S., An efficient routing protocol based on polar tracing function for underwater wireless sensor networks for mobility health monitoring system application, J. Med. Syst., 2019, vol. 43, art. no. 218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Srimathi, C., Park, S.-H., and Rajesh, N., Proposed framework for underwater sensor cloud for environmental monitoring, Proc. 5th Int. Conf. on Ubiquitous and Future Networks (ICUFN), Da Nang, 2013.

  31. Aoun, C.G., Alloush, I., Kermarrec, Y., Champeau, J., and Zein, O.K., A mapping approach for marine observatory relying on enterprise architecture, Proc. Conf. OCEANS – MTS/IEEE, Washington, 2015.

  32. Liu, M., Ji, F., Guan, Q., Yu, H., Chen, F., and Wei, G., On-surface wireless-assisted opportunistic routing for underwater sensor networks, Proc. 11th ACM Int. Conf. on Underwater Networks & Systems, Shanghai, 2016.

  33. Banaeizadeh, F. and Haghighat, A.T., An energy-efficient data gathering scheme in underwater wireless sensor networks using a mobile sink, Int. J. Inf. Technol., 2020, vol. 12, pp. 513–522.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Faheem, M., Butt, R.A., Raza, B., Alquhayz, H., Ashraf, M.W., Raza, S., and Ngadi, M.D.A.B., FFRP: dynamic firefly mating optimization inspired energy efficient routing protocol for Internet of underwater wireless sensor networks, IEEE Access, 2020, vol. 8, pp. 39587–39604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Ahmed, M., Salleh, M., and Channa, M.I., Routing protocols based on node mobility for Underwater Wireless Sensor Network (UWSN): a survey, J. Network Comput. Appl., 2017, vol. 78, no. 11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnca.2016.10.022

  36. Ahmed, M., Salleh, M., and Channa, M.I., Routing protocols based on protocol operations for underwater wireless sensor network: a survey, Egypt. Inf. J., 2018, vol. 19, no. 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eij.2017.07.002

  37. Jouhari, M., Ibrahimi, K., Tembine, H., and Ben-Othman, J., Underwater wireless sensor networks: a survey on enabling technologies, localization protocols, and Internet of underwater things, IEEE Access, 2019, vol. 7, pp. 96879–96899.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Coutinho, R.W.L. and Boukerche, A., Data collection in underwater wireless sensor networks: research challenges and potential approaches, Proc. 20th ACM Int. Conf. on Modelling, Analysis and Simulation of Wireless and Mobile Systems, Miami, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1145/3127540.3134267

  39. Chithra, T.V. and Milton, A., Energy proficient flooding scheme using reduced coverage set algorithm for unreliable links, Program. Comput. Software, 2018, vol. 44, pp. 381–387. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0361768818060117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Sreenivasulu, D. and Krishna, P.V., Deep learning based efficient channel allocation algorithm for next generation cellular networks, Program. Comput. Software, 2018, vol. 44, pp. 428–434. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0361768818060105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Ali, M.F., Jayakody, D.N.K., Chursin, Y.A., Affes, S., and Sonkin, D., Recent advances and future directions on underwater wireless communications, J. Arch. Comput. Methods Eng., 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11831-019-09354-8

  42. Massobrio, R., Nesmachnow, S., Tchernykh, A., et al., Towards a cloud computing paradigm for big data analysis in smart cities, Program. Comput. Software, 2018, vol. 44, pp. 181–189. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0361768818030052

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Kozyrev, V.P., Estimation of the execution time in real-time systems, Program. Comput. Software, 2016, vol. 42, pp. 41–48. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0361768816010059

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Anwar, M.W., Rashid, M., Azam, F., et al., A model-driven framework for design and verification of embedded systems through SystemVerilog, Des. Autom. Embedded Syst., 2019, vol. 23, pp. 179–223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10617-019-09229-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Kitchenham, B., Procedures for Performing Systematic Reviews, Elsevier, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Kuznetsov, M.B., UML model transformation and its application to MDA technology, Program. Comput. Software, 2007, vol. 33, pp. 44–53. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0361768807010069

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  47. Anwar, M.W., Azam, F., Khan, M.A., and Butt, W.H., The applications of Model Driven Architecture (MDA) in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) – techniques and tools, in Advances in Information and Communication. FICC 2019, Arai, K. and Bhatia, R., Eds., Cham: Springer, 2019.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Skiadopoulos, K., Tsipis, A., Giannakis, K., Koufoudakis, G., Christopoulou, E., Oikonomou, K., Kormentzas, G., and Stavrakakis, I., Synchronization of data measurements in wireless sensor networks for IoT application, IEEE Access, 2019, vol. 89, pp. 47–57.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Varshneya, S., Kumara, C., and Swaroop, A., Leach based hierarchical routing protocol for monitoring of overground pipelines using linear wireless sensor networks, in Proc. 6th Int. Conf. on Smart Computing and Communications ICSCC, Elsevier, 2017, pp. 208–214.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer and Software Engineering, College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (CEME) National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), 44000 NUST HQ, H-12, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan

    Ayesha Tariq, Farooque Azam, Muhammad Waseem Anwar & Tayyba Zahoor

  2. Department of Information Technology, College of Computing and Informatics Saudi Electronic University, An Narjis, 13323, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Abdul Wahab Muzaffar

Authors
  1. Ayesha Tariq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Farooque Azam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Muhammad Waseem Anwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tayyba Zahoor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Abdul Wahab Muzaffar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ayesha Tariq, Farooque Azam, Muhammad Waseem Anwar, Tayyba Zahoor or Abdul Wahab Muzaffar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tariq, A., Azam, F., Anwar, M.W. et al. Recent Trends in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) – A Systematic Literature Review. Program Comput Soft 46, 699–711 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0361768820080228

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0361768820080228

Search

Navigation