In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by an apparatus from each of a plurality of wireless sensor devices in a wireless sensor network, clock drift information associated with a clock in the corresponding wireless sensor device; determining for each wireless sensor device, by the apparatus, an expected clock drift based at least on the clock drift information from the corresponding wireless sensor device; and sending, by the apparatus to each wireless sensor device, a corresponding drift compensation command for correcting the corresponding expected clock drift, enabling controlled synchronization of the corresponding wireless sensor device within the wireless sensor network.