The widespread adoption of wireless systems for industrial automation calls for\nthe development of efficient tools for virtual planning of network deployments similarly\nas done for conventional Fieldbus and wired systems. In industrial sites the radio signal\npropagation is subject to blockage due to highly dense metallic structures. Network planning\nshould therefore account for the number and the density of the 3D obstructions surrounding\neach link. In this paper we address the problem of wireless node deployment in wireless\nindustrial networks, with special focus on WirelessHART IEC 62591 and ISA SP100 IEC\n62734 standards. The goal is to optimize the network connectivity and develop an effective\ntool that can work in complex industrial sites characterized by severe obstructions. The\nproposed node deployment approach is validated through a case study in an oil refinery\nenvironment. It includes an ad-hoc simulation environment (RFSim tool) that implements\nthe proposed network planning approach using 2D models of the plant, providing connectivity\ninformation based on user-defined deployment configurations. Simulation results obtained\nusing the proposed simulation environment were validated by on-site measurements.
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