Wireless Sensor Network based Data Fusion and Control Model for an Oil Production Platform

In this chapter the authors propose methodologies for improving the efficiency of a control system in an industrial environment, specifically an oil production platform. They propose a data fusion model that consists of four steps – preprocessing, classification and association, data association and correlation association, and composite decision. The first two steps are executed at the sensor network level and the last two steps are done at the network manager or controller level. Their second proposal is a distributed hierarchical control system and network management system. Here the central idea is that the network manager and controller coordinate in order to make delays in feedback loops as well as for increasing the lifetime of the sensor network. The authors finally conclude the control system proposal by giving a controlling model using sensor networks to control the flow of hydrocarbons in an oil production platform.