A survey of optimization algorithms for wireless sensor network lifetime maximization

•The survey examines research on the WSN lifetime maximization problem.•Differences between WSNs having various characteristics are explored.•Algorithms that solve extensions to WSN lifetime problems are compared.•Future research challenges in the WSN optimization field are outlined.

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) consist of a set of sensors and collection sinks that gather and analyze environmental conditions. Spurred by the growing need for data collection and transmission, WSN research topics have gained interest in recent years. WSNs are often deployed in hostile or inaccessible locations in which sensor replacement or repair is impractical. This survey explores various research approaches and extensions to the problem, which include online routing, clustering approaches, and lifetime maximization on specially structured networks. We additionally consider the impact of having mobile and/or multiple sinks and delay-tolerant routing. Finally, we expand our analysis to examine multicriteria optimization problems, and outline future research challenges in the field.