Wireless Networks of Commercial Sensors

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in recent years have undergone a rapid development reaching great diffusion, due to the growing availability of smart sensors that are small, cheap, and low-power. These sensors are equipped with wireless interfaces to communicate with others, forming a network. The combination of WSNs with commercial sensors gives the opportunity to use these systems in many applications, such as monitoring indoor and outdoor air quality, detecting gas leaks in workplaces, evaluating plant health, and tracking wild animals. In this brief review we examine the most interesting recent contributions that apply WSNs in these new contexts, highlighting the sensing approaches and major trends in communication technologies.