HYDERABAD, April 24: Speakers at a conference on wireless sensor networks have stressed that wireless underwater acoustic communication system had become one of the most promising technologies for the development and deployment of future ocean observation and sensor networks.

They were speaking at the first international conference on wireless sensor networks for developing countries which began at the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology on Wednesday. The event would continue till April 26.

Prof Javier Poncela from University of Malaga, Spain, who gave a keynote speech on wireless underwater acoustic communication system, said the technology’s applications ranged from oil prospecting and transportation to aquaculture, and included pollution control, climate recording, prediction of natural disturbances, search and survey missions.

MUET Pro-vice-chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Aslam Uqaili said that it was the first of its kind of conferences organised by MUET in collaboration with International Islamic University, Malaysia, Erasmus Mundus Strongties programme, Springer CCIS, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan Science Foundation, National ICT R&D Fund Pakistan and Pakistan Science Foundation.

The conference is aimed at providing opportunities to national and international researchers and practitioners to present the most recent advancements and future challenges in the fields of computer and software engineering, electronics, telecommunication, Green ICT, energy management and simulation.

The chairman of Pakistan Science Foundation and Economic Cooperation Organisation-Science Foundation, Prof Dr Manzoor H. Soomro, said that with the emergence of electronics and nanotechnology, the pervasive and ubiquitous environments were becoming a reality.

“We have seen a lot of wireless sensor network advancements during recent past in military domain.

The world is now well aware of the power of WSN and its applications in agriculture, roads and traffic monitoring, body health area monitoring, water conservation, smart buildings, energy management and smart grid,” he said.

The conference was largely attended by researchers, telecom industry professionals, faculty members and students.