Journals Proceedings

Abstract

Wireless networking is an emerging technology that allows users to access information and services electronically, regardless of their geographic position. Applications for the use of wireless networking have become increasingly popular and more sophisticated. One of the most important applications based on the use of wireless networks is for motorway surveillance. In a wireless Motorway Surveillance System (MSS), a series of cameras capable of transmitting images wirelessly are placed along a roadway. In an ‘infrastructure-less’ MSS, one important consideration is the placement of the cameras in a specific topology. Topology imposes several constraints on the amount of data of images that can be transmitted through the network, which leads to effects on the network’s overall performance. This paper evaluates and analyzes the effects of topology on the performance of a motorway surveillance system comprised of wireless cameras placed along a roadway. Two different types of configurations were considered: single line topology and double line topology. These topology configurations can be used as a starting point for the initial design of a new MSS based on an ‘infrastructure-less’ network. The main purpose of the new design would be to enable the motorway users to quickly access data (images) collected by wireless cameras placed along a motorway in order to stay informed of driving conditions. It is a conclusion of this study that the double line based topology results in better network performance as compared to the single line based topology.