Sensor networks allow for regions to be scanned for the presence of a particular object. Many small devices, each capable of making some measurements, can be distributed over the desired region. The types of measurements a sensor might make include taking temperature readings, detecting electromagnetic frequencies, and recording sound levels. A more complex sensor could process video footage and find valuable information automatically.
A critical consideration for sensor networks is the “blanket” of coverage that is produced. Wherever holes exist in this coverage, it is possible to miss critical information in the region we would like to scan.
If we have sophisticated sensors capable of measuring their exact position, then it is a fairly easy task to compute the coverage of the network. However, if we have simple sensors which can only record local information, then we are