On the scalability and coverage of LoRa mesh for monitoring linear infrastructure

This paper investigates the scalability and coverage of long range (LoRa) mesh networks deployed for monitoring linear infrastructure, such as railways and pipelines. Although the monitored infrastructure is linear, the network topology is a mesh. The study addresses the challenges posed by the scalability of such networks, considering constraints imposed by duty cycle regulations in license-free frequency bands, particularly within the European Union where a 1% duty cycle limitation exists. A deployment strategy is proposed to optimize the placement of LoRa mesh nodes along linear infrastructure. A comprehensive analysis of scalability and coverage yields their bounds, along with the condition necessary to achieve the upper bounds. To enhance scalability and coverage, a novel routing algorithm is proposed considering the number of hops and the received signal strength indicator. Additionally, a LoRa mesh simulator, LoRaMeshSim, is developed to validate the system analysis and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed routing algorithm. The findings provide valuable insights into the practical deployment of LoRa mesh networks for monitoring linear infrastructure.