This paper analyses the probability that randomly deployed sensor nodes triangulate any point within the target area. Its major result is the probability of triangulation for any point given the number of nodes lying up to a specific distance (2 units) from it, employing a graph representation where an edge exists between any two nodes close than 2 units from one another. The expected number of un-triangulated coverage holes, i.e. uncovered areas which cannot be triangulated by adjacent nodes, in a finite target area is derived. Simulation results corroborate the probabilistic analysis with low error, for any node density. These results will find applications in triangulation-based or trilateration-based pointing analysis, or any computational geometry application within the context of triangulation. Categories and Subject Descriptors F.2.2 [Nonnumerical Algorithms and Problems]: Geometrical problems and computations
Xiaoyun Li, David K. Hunter