Detecting Coverage Holes in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Connected Component Labeling and Force-Directed Algorithms

Contour detection in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is crucial for tasks like energy saving and network optimization, especially in security and surveillance applications. Coverage holes, where data transmission is not achievable, are a significant issue caused by factors such as energy depletion and physical damage. Traditional methods for detecting these holes often suffer from inaccuracy, low processing speed, and high energy consumption, relying heavily on physical information like node coordinates and sensing range. To address these challenges, we propose a novel, coordinate-free coverage hole detection method using Connected Component Labeling (CCL) and Force-Directed (FD) algorithms, termed FD-CCL. This method does not require node coordinates or sensing range information. We also investigate Suzuki's Contour Tracing (CT) algorithm and compare its performance with CCL on various FD graphs. Our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of FD-CCL in terms of processing time and accuracy. Simulation results confirm the superiority of FD-CCL in detecting and locating coverage holes in WSNs.