The project seek to extend the data collection activities
in existing Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) scientific projects
currently underway, and funded through the Biological Sciences Division,
NSF, commencing with the University of Wisconsin North Temperate
Lakes LTER, with field sites near Trout Lake in Northern Wisconsin
and near Madison in Southern Wisconsin, and the Puerto Rican Tropical
Rainforest Luquillo LTER by the University of Puerto Rico and the
US Forest Service. In later phases it will reach other of the 21
NSF supported LTER site within the United States, including northern
Alaska, which represent very different data sensing, collection,
and communications challenges.
The project initially will study the current and projected
data collection activities, methods being used now, and the types
of scientific equipment in use at the Northern Temperate Lakes and
Luquillo LTER sites. Analysis of data types and rates will be done
to determine bandwidth and other technical requirements, as well
as the types of presentations and storage of the collected data
on computer networks which are needed to make the data useful to
the principal researchers, and accessible to others who have a reason
to access it from distant locations.
The project will survey the range of sensors available
or projected in the industry (some of which will not be made for
biological science but can be adapted to it).
Then the project will study and experiment with ways
to interface current sensory equipment to wireless devices, and
thence to networks used by the researchers in both field research
stations and to other institutions via the Internet. A particular
priority will be put on what it takes to providing real-time data
flows, with interactive controls, from remote sensors and sites
to distant laboratories using the Internet as part of the network
links between the sensors, field scientists, the forward res earch
stations, and institutions where the research is based. Most current
data collection is periodic, not real time, for lack of continuous
connectivity, which wireless affords, and is affordable.
Wireless links to sensors capable of sensing a variety
of physical, chemical, and biological variables will be created,
requiring in most cases solar, wind, or water driven battery re-charging
systems. Provisions will be made for long field stay times fo r
the equipment subject to environmental extremes and natural hazards.
Designs for such packages can expect to emerge. Wireless devices
which have the widest legal use, without special FCC licensing,
will have high priority for investigation. As will methods not requiring
commercial services within the LTER organization and field sensor
locations. Connection of data via sensors and linking to the Internet
via satellite links will be developed and tested, in order to develop
a model applicable to any study site in the world, whether it can
be reached with terrestrial wireless networks or not.
As lessons are learned from the initial experiments,
and cost-effectiveness of various methodologies are learned, bolder
attempts to collect and compare data from locations hitherto inaccessible
or for which modified sensors from other scientific discipl ines
might be appropriate will be attempted within the time and funding
of this project.
This project can develop hitherto untried models of
remote data collection for biological research by exploiting emerging
wireless technologies and new forms of low power devices which have
emerged over the last 10 years since new FCC Rules for Part 15 spread
spectrum, Ultra Wide Band, and other types of transmissions have
been promulgated, devices manufactured, and new satellite services
launched.