Revitalizing a field wireless network for research, education and outreach at the Harvard Forest

环境科学的研究越来越依赖于传感器阵列、计算机网络、近实时数据处理和可视化。在哈佛森林，野外无线网络将大学计算机网络扩展到几乎没有手机接收的研究森林。自2010年以来，Field Wireless与来自许多不同机构的研究人员一起支持了广泛的研究项目，导致（截至2021年3月）27个数据集公开在线和291个相关科学出版物。其中许多项目是与LTER和AmeriFlux网络相关的长期实验；还有一些是研究人员的短期项目，他们被森林的基础设施和长期数据所吸引。Field Wireless使科学家能够远程监控和控制他们的设备并收集数据，从而减少了旅行成本和由于问题而导致的数据丢失，而这些问题在上次亲自访问后可能会被发现。近年来，特别是在大流行病爆发后，野外无线网络支持了虚拟实地考察和远程教学，扩大了森林教育和外联工作的受众和地理范围。该项目将通过显著增加网络带宽和具有Wi-Fi功能的站点数量，大大提高Field Wireless的性能。这些改进将为研究带来令人兴奋的新可能性，包括从更广泛的传感器阵列、视频流和近实时生态预测中收集数据。它们还将扩大可用于远程教学的实地站点的数量和多样性，特别是使在科学领域代表性不足的群体受益，这些群体由于距离、费用或实际可达性往往无法亲自参观森林。虚拟实地考察和通过现场无线进行远程学习，在疫情消退后很长一段时间内仍将是接触更广泛受众的主要手段。该项目将扩展和振兴哈佛森林野外无线网络，该网络于2010年在美国国家科学基金会、美国能源部和哈佛大学的支持下投入使用，由森林和哈佛网络运营共同管理。Field Wireless目前为分布在375公顷Prospect Hill Tract的现场站点提供互联网接入，包括10个主要站点，配备步入式设备棚、24端口网络交换机和无线接入点（AP），以及10个小站点，配备仪器箱和数据记录器或物候照相机。站点通过运营商级无证扩频无线电连接：5.8 GHz无线电用于无遮挡视线的塔对塔通信，900 MHz无线电用于穿过森林冠层的塔对地通信。网络带宽受到无线电的限制，根据站点的不同，带宽范围在2到5mbps之间。一个专用的虚拟专用网（VPN）允许研究人员在不在森林的时候远程访问他们的设备。该项目将保留现场无线的基本设计，但通过以下方式大大提高其性能：(1)用至少快一个数量级的新无线电替换现有的无线电（不再可用），(2)增加两个新的实验站点，(3)在目前缺乏Wi-Fi功能的九个站点增加Wi-Fi功能，以及(4)在四个经常用于教育和推广的站点增加Wi-Fi功能。由此带来的网络带宽和Wi-Fi可用性的增加将显著改善对数据密集型研究项目、虚拟实地考察和远程教学的支持；通过改善沟通，它还将加强在哈佛森林展望山地区工作的学生和科学家的安全（https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu）.This)。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智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Research in environmental science is increasingly dependent on sensor arrays, computer networks, and near-real-time data processing and visualization. At the Harvard Forest, the Field Wireless Network extends the university computer network into the research forest where there is little or no cell phone reception. Since 2010 the Field Wireless has supported a wide range of research projects with investigators from many different institutions, resulting in (as of March 2021) 27 datasets publicly available online and 291 related scientific publications. Many of these projects are long-term experiments associated with the LTER and AmeriFlux networks; others are short-term projects by researchers drawn to the Forest because of its infrastructure and long-term data. The Field Wireless enables scientists to monitor and control their equipment and collect data remotely, reducing travel costs and loss of data from problems that would otherwise have gone undetected since the last in-person visit. In recent years, and especially after the onset of the pandemic, the Field Wireless has supported virtual field trips and remote instruction, broadening the audience and geographic reach of the Forest’s education and outreach efforts. This project will greatly improve the performance of the Field Wireless by significantly increasing network bandwidth and the number of sites with Wi-Fi capability. These improvements will enable exciting new possibilities for research, including data collection from more extensive sensor arrays, video streaming, and near-real-time ecological forecasting. They will also expand the number and diversity of field sites available for remote instruction, especially benefiting groups that are underrepresented in the sciences and often unable to visit the Forest in person due to distance, cost, or physical accessibility. Virtual field trips and remote learning via the Field Wireless will remain a major means for a reaching a broader audience long after the pandemic has receded.This project will expand and revitalize the Harvard Forest Field Wireless Network, which was commissioned in 2010 with support from NSF, DOE, and Harvard University and is jointly managed by the Forest and Harvard Network Operations. The Field Wireless currently provides Internet access to field sites spread across the 375-ha Prospect Hill Tract, including 10 major sites with a walk-in equipment shed, 24-port network switch, and wireless access point (AP), and 10 minor sites with an instrument enclosure and data logger or phenology camera. Sites are connected by carrier-grade unlicensed spread-spectrum radios: 5.8 GHz radios for tower-to-tower communications with unobstructed line of sight and 900 MHz radios for tower-to-ground communications through the forest canopy. Network bandwidth is limited by the radios and ranges from 2 to 5 Mbps, depending on the site. A dedicated virtual private network (VPN) allows researchers to access their equipment remotely when not at the Forest. This project will retain the basic design of the Field Wireless but greatly improve its performance by (1) replacing the current radios (which are no longer available) with new radios at least an order of magnitude faster, (2) adding two new experimental sites, (3) adding Wi-Fi capability at nine sites that currently lack it, and (4) augmenting Wi-Fi at four sites that are regularly used for education and outreach. The resulting increase in network bandwidth and Wi-Fi availability will significantly improve support for data-intensive research projects, virtual field trips, and remote instruction; by improving communications, it will also enhance safety for students and scientists working in the Prospect Hill Tract of the Harvard Forest (https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu).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.