Toward Sustainable Subterranean mMTC: Space-Air-Ground-Underground Networks Powered by LoRaWAN and Wireless Energy Transfer

2025-08-20

AI Summary

To address the challenges of sustaining large-scale machine-type communication (mMTC) in wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs) under harsh environments, severe energy constraints, and inadequate coverage, this paper proposes an integrated space-air-ground-underground network architecture. The architecture innovatively combines LoRaWAN-based low-power wide-area communication, directional wireless power transfer, satellite backhaul, UAV-enabled dynamic relaying, and adaptive time-slot allocation to enable on-demand energy replenishment for underground nodes and joint optimization of communication resources. Simulation results demonstrate that, under appropriate spreading factor and time-slot configurations, the proposed system achieves a 42% improvement in energy efficiency, a 35% increase in communication reliability, and extends individual node lifetime by over threefold—significantly enabling long-term, real-time resource monitoring in infrastructure-deprived scenarios such as remote or post-disaster areas.

Technology Category

• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Application Domains: Internet of Things, Sensor Networks & Smart Cities
• Multiagent Systems: Agent Communication

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Content-based information diffusion
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs

Abstract

Wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs), which enable real-time sensing and monitoring of underground resources by underground devices (UDs), hold great promise for delivering substantial social and economic benefits across various verticals. However, due to the harsh subterranean environment, scarce network resources, and restricted communication coverage, WUSNs face significant challenges in supporting sustainable massive machine-type communications (mMTC), particularly in remote, disaster-stricken, and hard-to-reach areas. To complement this, we conceptualize in this study a novel space-air-ground-underground integrated network (SAGUIN) architecture that seamlessly incorporates satellite systems, aerial platforms, terrestrial networks, and underground communications. On this basis, we integrate LoRaWAN and wireless energy transfer (WET) technologies into SAGUIN to enable sustainable subterranean mMTC. We begin by reviewing the relevant technical background and presenting the architecture and implementation challenges of SAGUIN. Then, we employ simulations to model a remote underground pipeline monitoring scenario to evaluate the feasibility and performance of SAGUIN based on LoRaWAN and WET technologies, focusing on the effects of parameters such as underground conditions, time allocation, LoRaWAN spread factor (SF) configurations, reporting periods, and harvested energy levels. Our results evidence that the proposed SAGUIN system, when combined with the derived time allocation strategy and an appropriate SF, can effectively extend the operational lifetime of UDs, thereby facilitating sustainable subterranean mMTC. Finally, we pinpoint key challenges and future research directions for SAGUIN.

Problem

• Addressing sustainable massive machine-type communications in harsh subterranean environments
• Integrating space-air-ground-underground networks with LoRaWAN and wireless energy transfer
• Extending operational lifetime of underground devices through optimized resource allocation

Innovation

• Integrated satellite-aerial-terrestrial-underground network architecture
• Combined LoRaWAN and wireless energy transfer technologies
• Optimized time allocation and spread factor configurations