Optimizing LoRaWAN Gateway Placement in Urban Environments: A Hybrid PSO-DE Algorithm Validated via HTZ Simulations

With rapid advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT), Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWANs) play a crucial role in expanding IoT’s capabilities while using minimal energy. Among the various LPWAN technologies, LoRaWAN (Long-Range Wide-Area Network) is particularly notable for its capacity to enab...

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Main Authors: Kanar Alaa Al-Sammak, Sama Hussein Al-Gburi, Ion Marghescu, Ana-Maria Claudia Drăgulinescu, Cristina Marghescu, Alexandru Martian, Nayef A. M. Alduais, Nawar Alaa Hussein Al-Sammak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Technologies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/6/256
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author Kanar Alaa Al-Sammak
Sama Hussein Al-Gburi
Ion Marghescu
Ana-Maria Claudia Drăgulinescu
Cristina Marghescu
Alexandru Martian
Nayef A. M. Alduais
Nawar Alaa Hussein Al-Sammak
author_facet Kanar Alaa Al-Sammak
Sama Hussein Al-Gburi
Ion Marghescu
Ana-Maria Claudia Drăgulinescu
Cristina Marghescu
Alexandru Martian
Nayef A. M. Alduais
Nawar Alaa Hussein Al-Sammak
author_sort Kanar Alaa Al-Sammak
collection DOAJ
description With rapid advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT), Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWANs) play a crucial role in expanding IoT’s capabilities while using minimal energy. Among the various LPWAN technologies, LoRaWAN (Long-Range Wide-Area Network) is particularly notable for its capacity to enable long-range, low-rate communications with low power needs. This study investigates how to optimize the placement of LoRaWAN gateways by using a combination of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Differential Evolution (DE). The approach is validated through simulations driven by HTZ to evaluate network performance in urban settings. Centered around the area of the Politehnica University of Bucharest, this research examines how different gateway placements on various floors of a building affect network coverage and packet loss. The experiment employs Adeunis Field Test Devices (FTDs) and Dragino LG308-EC25 gateways, systematically testing two spreading factors, SF7 and SF12, to assess their effectiveness in terms of signal quality and reliability. An innovative optimization algorithm, GateOpt PSODE, is introduced, which combines PSO and DE to optimize gateway placements based on real-time network performance metrics, like the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and packet loss. The findings reveal that strategically positioning gateways, especially on higher floors, significantly improves communication reliability and network efficiency, providing a solid framework for deploying LoRaWAN networks in intricate urban environments.
format Article
id doaj-art-4119d4c6d4b5423bb3f87ba4b2f3ed2f
institution Kabale University
issn 2227-7080
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
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spelling doaj-art-4119d4c6d4b5423bb3f87ba4b2f3ed2f2025-08-20T03:27:26ZengMDPI AGTechnologies2227-70802025-06-0113625610.3390/technologies13060256Optimizing LoRaWAN Gateway Placement in Urban Environments: A Hybrid PSO-DE Algorithm Validated via HTZ SimulationsKanar Alaa Al-Sammak0Sama Hussein Al-Gburi1Ion Marghescu2Ana-Maria Claudia Drăgulinescu3Cristina Marghescu4Alexandru Martian5Nayef A. M. Alduais6Nawar Alaa Hussein Al-Sammak7Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FSKTM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor 86400, MalaysiaCollege of Education for Pure Science, University of Kerbala, Karbala 56001, IraqWith rapid advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT), Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWANs) play a crucial role in expanding IoT’s capabilities while using minimal energy. Among the various LPWAN technologies, LoRaWAN (Long-Range Wide-Area Network) is particularly notable for its capacity to enable long-range, low-rate communications with low power needs. This study investigates how to optimize the placement of LoRaWAN gateways by using a combination of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Differential Evolution (DE). The approach is validated through simulations driven by HTZ to evaluate network performance in urban settings. Centered around the area of the Politehnica University of Bucharest, this research examines how different gateway placements on various floors of a building affect network coverage and packet loss. The experiment employs Adeunis Field Test Devices (FTDs) and Dragino LG308-EC25 gateways, systematically testing two spreading factors, SF7 and SF12, to assess their effectiveness in terms of signal quality and reliability. An innovative optimization algorithm, GateOpt PSODE, is introduced, which combines PSO and DE to optimize gateway placements based on real-time network performance metrics, like the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and packet loss. The findings reveal that strategically positioning gateways, especially on higher floors, significantly improves communication reliability and network efficiency, providing a solid framework for deploying LoRaWAN networks in intricate urban environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/6/256IoTLPWANLoRaWANgateway optimizationPSODE
spellingShingle Kanar Alaa Al-Sammak
Sama Hussein Al-Gburi
Ion Marghescu
Ana-Maria Claudia Drăgulinescu
Cristina Marghescu
Alexandru Martian
Nayef A. M. Alduais
Nawar Alaa Hussein Al-Sammak
Optimizing LoRaWAN Gateway Placement in Urban Environments: A Hybrid PSO-DE Algorithm Validated via HTZ Simulations
Technologies
IoT
LPWAN
LoRaWAN
gateway optimization
PSO
DE
title Optimizing LoRaWAN Gateway Placement in Urban Environments: A Hybrid PSO-DE Algorithm Validated via HTZ Simulations
title_full Optimizing LoRaWAN Gateway Placement in Urban Environments: A Hybrid PSO-DE Algorithm Validated via HTZ Simulations
title_fullStr Optimizing LoRaWAN Gateway Placement in Urban Environments: A Hybrid PSO-DE Algorithm Validated via HTZ Simulations
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing LoRaWAN Gateway Placement in Urban Environments: A Hybrid PSO-DE Algorithm Validated via HTZ Simulations
title_short Optimizing LoRaWAN Gateway Placement in Urban Environments: A Hybrid PSO-DE Algorithm Validated via HTZ Simulations
title_sort optimizing lorawan gateway placement in urban environments a hybrid pso de algorithm validated via htz simulations
topic IoT
LPWAN
LoRaWAN
gateway optimization
PSO
DE
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/6/256
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