Towards a web simulator for optimizing the placement of mesh nodes in a wireless mesh network

Abstract

Wireless mesh networks offer a promising solution for bridging the digital divide. Utilizing multi-hop communication, these networks can extend the coverage of conventional wireless systems to cover larger areas. However, their deployment requires careful planning, typically preceded by simulations to determine the optimal placement of routers. While several simulators exist for wireless network planning and performance analysis, they often pose significant challenges. Most are complex, requiring advanced expertise in programming and network administration, making them inaccessible to non-experts. This complexity hinders community-driven deployment efforts, particularly in regions where local expertise is scarce. To address these challenges, this work aims to simplify the deployment process by developing a user-friendly simulator for planning wireless mesh networks and determining the geographic placement of routers in a target area. We created a web-based simulator using the GeoDjango framework. The planning process leverages a multi-objective node placement optimization model to identify optimal router locations.