Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are widely recognized as a promising solution to build next-generation monitoring systems. Their industrial uptake is however still compromised by the low level of trust on their performance and dependability. Whereas analytical models represent a valid means to assess non-functional properties via simulation, their wide use is still limited by the complexity and dynamicity of WSNs, which lead to unaffordable modeling costs. To reduce this gap between research achievements and industrial development, we present a framework for the assessment of WSNs based on the automated generation of analytical models. The framework hides modeling details, and it allows designers to focus on simulation results to drive their design choices. Models are generated starting from a high-level specification of the system and by a preliminary characterization of its fault-free behavior, by exploiting behavioral simulators. The benefits of the framework are shown in the context of two case studies, based on the wireless monitoring of civil structures.

The full article can be found here: http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/TC.2011.96