Modeling and detecting events for sensor networks

Event detection is an essential element for various sensor network applications, such as disaster alarm and object tracking. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to model and detect events of interest in sensor networks. Our approach models an event using the kind of spatio-temporal sensor data distribution it generates, and specifies such distribution as a number of regression models over spatial regions within the network coverage at discrete points in time. The event is detected by matching the modeled distribution with the real-time sensor data collected at a gateway. Because the construction of a regression model is computation-intensive, we utilize the temporal data correlation in a region as well as the spatial relationships of multiple regions to maintain the models over these regions incrementally. Our evaluation results based on both real-world and synthetic data sets demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach.

Research Highligts► Model an event using the spatio-temporal sensor data distribution it generates. ► Regression modeling of sensor data distributions of events in spatial regions. ► Absolute and relative regions with timestamps for event modeling. ► Region matching at the sensor network gateway for event detection. ► Good detection accuracy and small response time upon parameter defect or data loss.