A textbook authored by a University of Missouri-Rolla professor will soon help students at universities across the country understand how control systems are critical to ensure quality and to effectively manage network traffic.

Dr. Jagannathan Sarangapani, professor of electrical and computer engineering at UMR, is the author of “Wireless Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: Protocols, Performance, and Control,” recently published by Taylor and Francis (or CRC Press). This is his third textbook. His first book appeared in 1999 and is widely used at universities around the world. His second book was published last year.

With modern communication networks continuing to grow in traffic, size, complexity, and variety, control systems are critical to ensure quality and effectively manage network traffic. Based on years of research and practical experience, “Wireless Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: Protocols, Performance, and Control” examines the technical concepts underlying the design, implementation, research, and invention of both wired and wireless networks.

Sarangapani’s book provides a deeply detailed yet conveniently practical guide to quality of service implementation. Since the wireless ad hoc and sensor networks do not require any fixed infrastructure, these networks find applications in forest fire monitoring, search and disaster recovery operations, infrastructure monitoring, network centric systems, and other military applications.

Sarangapani has been a UMR faculty member since 2001. He received a bachelor of science degree in 1986 from Anna University in Tamil Nadu, India. Sarangapani earned a master of science degree in 1989 from the University of Saskatchewan at Saskatoon, Canada, and a Ph.D. in 1994 from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Prior to coming to UMR, Sarangapani served as assistant professor and director of the intelligent systems laboratory in the electrical and computer engineering department at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He also worked four years with Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria, Ill., as a program manager in the systems and controls research division. He has published over 180 refereed journal and conference papers, holds 17 patents with several in process, numerous invited presentations, several awards and medals, and has received over $6 million dollars for research.