Modernization and Expansion of the Ecosystem Monitoring Network for Scientists, Students and Educators at the Black Rock Forest Field Station

该合同为黑岩森林野外站环境传感器网络的改进提供了部分支持，该野外站位于纽约东南部，占地1585公顷，由纽约地区的一个学院和大学联盟拥有。每年有成千上万的学生、教育工作者和研究人员在该站参加活动；这些参与者来自纽约大都会和哈德逊河谷地区及其他地区的十多个机构。该传感器网络于1995年首次建立，由两个地面站、一个水文站和科教中心内的传感器组成。所收集的气象、生物地球化学、水文和其他数据在许多研究、大学水平和K-12教育经验以及野外站的管理中都有很大的用处。目前，来自传感器的数据可以在科学中心现场实时获取，有些数据经过一段滞后时间后可以通过互联网获取。传感器技术和电信的最新进展使网络的发展成为可能，这些网络可以从连接到互联网的任何计算机上快速获取具有高时间分辨率和准确性的多种形式的环境信息。利用该合同提供的资金，现有系统将被转换成一个现代化的、空间分布的传感器和电信网络，该网络将具有提高速度、可靠性和带宽的特点，覆盖范围将扩大到70%的森林，并将信息快速传递到互联网。该基站和所有现有基站的无线电和天线将得到升级。使用三个已经存在的塔（一个消防塔和两个顶篷访问塔），新的传感器将能够提供微气象和能量平衡信息，以及新的视频功能。新传感器的战略位置与现有传感器相结合，将能够覆盖该站的大部分地形。

This award provides partial support for improvements in an environmental sensor network at the Black Rock Forest field station, a 1585-hectare field station in southeastern New York owned by a consortium of colleges and universities in New York City area. The students, educators and researchers who participate in activities at the station number in the thousands each year; these participants come from more than a dozen institutions from the New York Metropolitan and Hudson River Valley regions and beyond. The sensor network, first established in 1995, consists of two terrestrial stations, a hydrologic station, and sensors within the Science and Education Center at the station. The meteorological, biogeochemical, hydrologic and other data collected have been of great use in a number of research studies, in college-level and K-12 educational experiences, and in management of the field station. Currently, data from the sensors are available on-site in real-time at the Science Center, and some of the data are available over the Internet after a lag period. Recent advances in sensor technology and telecommunications have enabled the development of networks that can provide rapid access to multiple forms of environmental information with high temporal resolution and accuracy from any computer that is connected to the Internet. With funds provided through this award, the existing system will be converted into a modern, spatially distributed sensor and telecommunications network that will feature improved speed, reliability, and bandwidth, with enhanced coverage that includes up to 70% of the forest, and will deliver information rapidly to the Internet. Radios and antennae will be upgraded at the base station and at all existing stations. Using three, already-existing towers (one fire tower and two canopy-access towers), new sensors will be able to provide micrometeorology and energy balance information, and new video capabilities. The strategic location of the new sensors, in conjunction with the existing sensors, will enable coverage of most of the station's terrain.