San Diego, CA , Sept. 25, 2012—  Driven by standards based solutions, adoption of wireless sensor networking (WSN) is accelerating in the industrial sector, according to global technology research company ON World.

Installed wireless industrial field devices will increase by 553% between 2011 and 2016 when there will be nearly 24 million wireless-enabled sensors and actuators, or sensing points, deployed worldwide. At this time, 39% will be used for new applications that are only feasible with wireless sensor networking.

"Wireless mesh is the fastest growing industrial WSN technology," says Mareca Hatler, ON World's research director. "Most wireless mesh deployments are currently in refineries and manufacturing plants but adoption is also increasing for outdoor and remote applications such as pipeline operations and wellhead automation."

ON World's research study is based on nearly 300 interviews and surveys with individuals from over a dozen industries including oil and gas, chemicals, electric power, water/wastewater, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, pulp & paper, automotive, metals and mining.

The survey was completed in collaboration with the International Society of Automation (ISA), HART Communication Foundation (HCF) and the Wireless Industrial Networking Alliance (WINA).

A few of the survey's findings include the following:

* Over half the respondents are using a wireless mesh sensor network and 20% percent are using wireless mesh for the majority of their WSN deployments.

* 48% of the surveyed end users are "Satisfied" or "Most satisfied" with their WSN technology's data reliability but only 28% are satisfied with the technology's battery lifetime.

* Data reliability is becoming less of a concern with 46% of the end users indicating this is an adoption inhibitor compared with 71% in ON World's previous 2010 survey.

ON World's recently published report, "Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks," covers the global market for industrial wireless sensor networking with input from over 150 organizations in over a dozen industries. It includes 802.15.4/mesh and non-mesh solutions as well as other wireless technologies used for sensor networking such as WiFi, Bluetooth, sub 1 GHz/long range and proprietary.

The report synopsis and a free executive summary is available from: http://www.onworld.com/smartindustries/

About ON World:
ON World provides global business intelligence on smart technology markets. Our research reports and information services are sold to Fortune 1000 companies, startups, and investors worldwide. http://www.onworld.com

Media Contact:
Mary E. Purvis
email: purvis at onworld.com
ph: 858-259-2397