Using Internet of Things technology to aid in Earth and Environmental Science Research

物联网(IoT)和无线传感器网络技术的创新组合有望在环境传感方面取得重大进展。本项目的目的是在传感器网络系统中使用一些物联网技术，以证明该概念更适合环境感知。山区环境对气候变化最敏感，凯恩戈姆山脉拥有英国最脆弱的一些栖息地。这些试验将在一个已经由邓迪大学的研究人员监测的区域内进行，因此拥有测试这项技术的科学家和挑战的理想组合。受物联网启发的传感器网络提供了一种革命性的新方法来调查环境。通过将传感器嵌入到景观中，许多偏远或危险的环境可以在一整年中第一次被实时测量。季节变化的过程结合在一起控制了这种脆弱环境的演变，泥炭干燥、鹿吃草和风蚀在夏季很重要，再加上积雪融化、径流和冻土过程。无线传感器网络已经被用于环境科学。在过去的几年里，一些小规模的传感器网络项目侧重于一系列环境，这些项目表明，专门为地球和环境科学需求量身定做的系统产生最有用的数据。然而，它们传统上是以研究为基础的，很难管理。传感器网络研究的下一个阶段是彻底改变它们的用户友好性和互操作性，以增加环境科学家对它们的使用。然而，受物联网启发的传感器网络并不是简单地将WiFi添加到所有东西上。例如，电力使用量太高，物联网设备通常使用的无线电频率对于潮湿环境来说太高。这就是为什么该项目必须进行研究，以调整环境监测的新技术。该项目的潜在成果和成功的衡量标准将包括：1)证明受物联网启发的无线传感系统在环境科学方面具有重大优势。2)衡量标准包括：部署时间/轻松、电池寿命、管理和修复容易3)经过验证的受物联网启发的环境传感系统，将帮助未来的研究人员为其他环境开发下一代传感器网络。

Innovative combinations of technologies from the "Internet of Things" (IoT) and Wireless Sensor Networks promise a major advance in environmental sensing. The aim of this project is to use some IoT technologies in a sensor network system to prove that the concept is better for environmental sensing. Mountain environments are among the most sensitive to climate change, and the Cairngorm Mountains contain some of Britain's most vulnerable habitats. The trials will be carried out within an area which is already being monitored by researchers from the University of Dundee and thus has an ideal combination of scientists and challenges to test the technology. IoT inspired sensor networks offer a revolutionary new way of investigating the environment. By embedding sensors into the landscape, many remote or hazardous environments can be measured "live" for the first time throughout the whole year. Seasonally variable processes combine to control the evolution of this vulnerable environment, with peat desiccation, deer grazing and wind erosion being important in summer, combined with snow melt and runoff and frozen ground processes. Wireless sensor networks have already been used for environmental science. Over the last few years a number of small-scale sensor network projects have focused on a range of environments, and these have shown that systems tailored specifically to Earth and Environmental Science needs generate the most useful data. However they have traditionally been very research based and difficult to manage. The next phase in sensor network research is to revolutionise their user friendliness and interoperability in order to increase their use by environmental scientists. However an IoT inspired sensor network does not simply mean adding WiFi to everything. Power use would be too high and the radio frequency normally used in IoT gadgets is too high for a wet environment for example. This is why the project has to carry out research in tuning the new technology for environmental monitoring.The potential outcomes and measures of success of this project will include 1) Proof that IoT inspired wireless sensing systems have major advantages for environmental science.2) Measures include: deployment time/ease, battery lifetime, ease of administration and fixing3) A proven IoT-inspired environmental sensing system that will help future researchers develop the next generation of sensor networks for other environments.