Designing a Firefly Algorithm-Enhanced Protocol for Efficient 3D Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks in Water Quality Monitoring

Ensuring the continual and sustainable provision of a crucial water supply for various life forms necessitates effective water quality monitoring. The integration of modern wireless network technologies, coupled with intelligent algorithms, significantly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of this monitoring process. Among the protocols designed for routing in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks (HWSN), TDEEC stands out for its simplicity, capacity to handle extensive data sets, and prolonged network lifespan. In this research, we propose the utilization of an adapted algorithm, FTDEEC, in conjunction with the firefly algorithm, aiming to optimize the routing of three-dimensional water quality data. This optimization is crucial for making real-time decisions. The study focuses on simulating and evaluating the optical detection of peroxide pollutants using the fluorescence quenching mechanism. The application of the firefly algorithm plays a pivotal role in optimizing the energy consumption during group leader election (CH) and hierarchical group formation, maximizing data flow, and extending network life. Simulation results demonstrate the commendable efficiency of our modified firefly algorithm-based hierarchical data clustering and routing protocol. This protocol achieves high throughput with lower time complexity during data collection and processing operations compared to alternative protocols.