Node's localization is a key technology in Wireless Sensor Networks. There are only quite a few studies on 3D localization which is suffered in slow progress, actually, is one of the main difficulties in WSN localization. Based on the study of the application of terrain modeling, localization algorithm for sensor nodes in 3D condition has been focus on as well as the application of terrain model. The paper proposed a new algorithm named Multi-hop 3D AOA With Space-based Angle Transmission, and then combined the new algorithm with Delaunay triangulation algorithm for terrain modeling. The results of simulation have shown that as the ratio of beacon nodes and their communication radius changes, the algorithm's localization error rate range from 7% to 27%, and has a good terrain modeling accuracy, range from 59% to 98%. © 2013 Binary Information Press.
