Evaluating LPWAN Technologies: Performance of LoRaWAN and 802.11ah for Smart City

Smart city applications require efficient, reliable, and cost-effective communication networks due to the rapid advancement of IoT technology. This study compares the real-world performance of LoRaWAN and 802.11ah for IoT-based environmental monitoring in smart cities. Through practical experiments, key performance metrics such as Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and data throughput were measured while connecting various sensors to the end devices, taking into account factors like distance, Line of Sight (LoS), and Fresnel zone obstructions. The results were analyzed using machine learning library-based statistical analysis and regression analysis to uncover deeper relationships and insights. This comprehensive analysis led to the conclusion that 802.11ah outperforms in terms of signal strength and data throughput over short distances, while LoRa Wanexcels in long-range communication but exhibits performance variability in obstructed environments. To achieve coverage equivalent to LoRaWAN, 802.11ah would require 157.83 times more access points, thereby increasing costs. These insights provide guidelines for deploying LPWAN technologies in smart city applications, balancing performance, range, and cost-effectiveness. Further-more, this paper discusses the implementation of the network-based IoT system on the web, enabling monitoring within a smart city environment.