Data Aggregation in Wireless Sensor Networks: Previous Research, Current Status and Future Directions

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) consist of large number of small sized sensor nodes, whose main task is to sense the desired phenomena in a particular region of interest. These networks have large number of applications such as habitat monitoring, disaster management, security and military etc. Sensor nodes are very small in size and have limited processing capability as these nodes have very low battery power. WSNs are also prone to failure, due to low battery power constraint. Data aggregation is an energy efficient technique in WSNs. Due to high node density in sensor networks same data is sensed by many nodes, which results in redundancy. This redundancy can be eliminated by using data aggregation approach while routing packets from source nodes to base station. Researchers still face trouble to select an efficient and appropriate data aggregation technique from the existing literature of WSNs. This research work depicts a broad methodical literature analysis of data aggregation in the area of WSNs in specific. In this survey, standard methodical literature analysis technique is used based on a complete collection of 123 research papers out of large collection of 932 research papers published in 20 foremost workshops, symposiums, conferences and 17 prominent journals. The current status of data aggregation in WSNs is distributed into various categories. Methodical analysis of data aggregation in WSNs is presented which includes techniques, tools, methodology and challenges in data aggregation. The literature covered fifteen types of data aggregation techniques in WSNs. Detailed analysis of this research work will help researchers to find the important characteristics of data aggregation techniques and will also help to select the most suitable technique for data aggregation. Research issues and future research directions have also been suggested in this research literature.