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

该奖项提供部分支持，以改善在黑岩森林野外站，一个1585公顷的野外站在东南部纽约拥有的一个财团的学院和大学在纽约市地区的环境传感器网络。 每年参加空间站活动的学生、教育工作者和研究人员数以千计;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几个机构。该传感器网络于1995年首次建立，由两个地面站、一个水文站和该站科教中心内的传感器组成。收集的气象、地球化学、水文和其他数据在许多研究、大学和K-12教育经验以及野外站的管理中有很大的用处。目前，来自传感器的数据可以在科学中心现场实时获得，其中一些数据可以在滞后期后通过互联网获得。传感器技术和电信方面的最新进展使得能够开发网络，这些网络能够从连接到互联网的任何计算机以高时间分辨率和准确度快速获取多种形式的环境信息。 通过该奖项提供的资金，现有系统将被转换为现代化的空间分布式传感器和电信网络，该网络将具有更高的速度，可靠性和带宽，增强覆盖范围，包括高达70%的森林，并将信息快速传输到互联网。基地站和所有现有台站的无线电和天线都将升级。利用三个现有的塔（一个消防塔和两个树冠接入塔），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，加上现有的传感器，将能够覆盖空间站的大部分地形。

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.