A resilient, wireless, mesh network for the Black Rock Forest field station

所有生物野外站都需要适合其情况的现代通信和信息网络，以最佳地支持正在进行的研究和教育计划，并促进新的研究方向。研究人员需要访问环境数据、传感器和传感器站、远程访问现场站点和设备、访问互联网和服务器，以及通过标准化数据方案有效地从远程位置上传和传输数据的能力。这个项目将更新和扩大纽约黑岩森林野外站（http://blackrockforest.org）现有的无线电遥测网。预期的影响将是更大的研究生产力，增加未来的研究能力，通过数据共享扩大合作机会，以及通过教育和推广产生更广泛的社区影响。新的网络将能够扩大森林中更偏远地区的连接和数据传输，在那里将开始新的研究工作。这些对黑岩森林基础设施的长期改善将为教学和学习创造机会，向包括公众在内的更广泛的受众传播环境信息，并增加与实地站互动的不同群体的参与。改进将包括一个新的离网无线网状网络，用20多个新的自供电无线接入点（存储和转发网状数据节点）扩展旧网络，两个新的传输塔，一个支持所有用户的应用程序编程接口（API），以及一个新的研究专用门户网站。基于开源软件，该安装将简化各种传感器类型的聚合和不同数据流的管理，供广泛的研究人员和机构使用。该系统设计简单，可通过使用适用于任何地方森林环境的基本模块进行扩展。新的网络将扩大森林西部更偏远地区的连接和数据传输，在那里已经提出了新的研究工作。它将有助于提高每年访问黑岩森林的13,000名学生的科学素养和对自然世界的理解，增加STEM培训和大学准备，增加特别是女性和代表性不足的少数民族对STEM活动的参与，并增加BRFC公共和公民科学项目的活动。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

All biological field stations need modern communications and information networks tailored to their situations to optimally support ongoing research and education programs and facilitate new lines of research. Researchers need access to environmental data, sensors and sensor stations, remote access to field sites and equipment, access to the internet and servers, and the ability to efficiently upload and transmit data from remote locations via standardized data schemes. This project will update and expand an existing radiotelemetry network at the Black Rock Forest field station (http://blackrockforest.org) in New York. The expected impacts will be greater research productivity, increased future research capacity, expanded opportunities for collaboration through data sharing, and substantial broader community impacts through education and outreach. The new network will enable expansion of connectivity and data transmission in the more remote portions of the forest where new research efforts will be initiated. These long-term enhancements to the Black Rock Forest's infrastructure will create opportunities for teaching and learning, dissemination of environmental information to a broader audience including the public, and for increasing the involvement of the diverse groups who interact with the field station.The improvements will consist of a new off-grid wireless mesh network, extending the old network with more than twenty new, self-powered wireless access points (store and forward mesh data nodes), two new transmission towers, an application programming interface (API) to support all users, and a new research-dedicated web portal. Based on open source software, this installation will simplify aggregation of a variety of sensor types and management of different data streams for use by a wide range of researchers and institutions. The system is designed to be simple and expandable through the use of foundational modules applicable to forest environments anywhere. The new network will enable expansion of connectivity and data transmission in the more remote western side of the forest where new research efforts have been proposed. It will contribute to increased science literacy and understanding of the natural world among the 13,000 students who visit Black Rock Forest each year, increased STEM training and college preparation, increased participation particularly of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM activities, and increased activity in BRFC public and citizen science programs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.