Using NViz tool for Environmental Sensor Networks

Abstract

Visualization tools help users to observe the status of the Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Although various visualization tools have been created for certain projects so far, these tools can only be used in certain scenarios, due to their hard-coded packet formats and network’s properties. To speed up development process, a visualization tool which can adapt to any kind of WSN is essentially necessary. A generalpurpose visualization tool - NViz, which can represent and visualize data for all WSN applications, is proposed. NViz allows user to set their network’s properties and packet formats through XML files. Based on properties defined, user can choose the meaning of them and let NViz represents the data respectively. Furthermore, a better Replay mechanism, which lets researchers and developers debug their WSN easily, is also integrated in this tool. NViz is designed based on a layered architecture which allows for clear and well-defined interrelationships and interfaces between each components. As a demonstration, NViz is used for designing an environmental sensor network.