Wireless Sensor Network-Based Monitoring Framework for Smart Grid Infrastructure

Abstract

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) provide a practical communication layer for observing geographically distributed smart-grid assets without the installation burden of extensive cabling. This methodology paper proposes a hierarchical WSN-based monitoring framework for distribution substations and feeder-level infrastructure. The framework combines low-power sensing, cluster-based data aggregation, multi-hop routing, traffic prioritisation, gateway-based protocol adaptation, and lightweight security. The design is motivated by the different delay, reliability, and energy requirements of routine measurements and critical fault events. A reproducible evaluation procedure is defined using packet delivery ratio, end-to-end delay, retransmission rate, node energy consumption, and network lifetime. A representative model-based evaluation indicates that priority-aware clustered forwarding can improve delivery reliability while reducing critical-event delay and communication energy relative to a non-prioritised baseline. The proposed methodology is intended as a structured basis for simulation and subsequent field validation rather than as a claim of utility-scale deployment. It is compatible with IEEE 802.15.4-class sensor links and a gateway connecting the sensor domain to supervisory control and data acquisition or utility data systems.