The Smart Sensor Web

Roland Piquepaille writes "As writes Vincent Tao for GEO World, integrating the billions of sensors already present in our environment with the power of the Web will represent 'a revolutionary leap in earth observation.' 'In short, the Sensor Web offers full-dimensional, full-scale and full-phase sensing and monitoring of Earth at all levels: global, regional and local.' The Sensor Web will need to have five characteristics to be successful. It must be interoperable, intelligent, dynamic, flexible and scalable. And the Sensor Web architecture will have four layers: a sensor layer, a communication layer, a location layer and an information layer. When it's here, it will have 'extraordinary significance for science, environmental monitoring, public safety and many other domains of activity.' This summary contains the essential concepts of the original and dense article."

Comments

butterfly?

[SHEENmaster]

Can we finally kill that damn butterfly and stop these hurricanes?

Sensory Overload

[l810c]

These Buzzwords are killing me...

interoperable, intelligent, dynamic, flexible and scalable Arggg.

a sensor layer, a communication layer, a location layer and an information layer Ahhhh.

Depending on the properties of sensors, geographic coverage, network access capabilities and, more importantly, domain applications, the physical architecture (i.e., the first three layers) can be very different. The information layer serves as a backbone and shares a commonality. This layer is a gateway to integrate and fuse observations from spatially referenced sensors. It connects widely distributed in-situ sensors and remote sensors over wired or wireless networks. Interoperability becomes a key to enable the information layer's integration capability. Uppercut.

Well it sure Sounds Cool...

Re:Sensory Overload

[stewby18]

These Buzzwords are killing me...

interoperable, intelligent, dynamic, flexible and scalable Arggg.

Just because something is a buzzword doesn't mean that it doesn't have meaning or that it isn't important.

• interoperable - There's going to be a ton of different architectures, software, etc. out there. Unless a system can communicate whith all of them, it can't make use of them.
• intelligent - That's a heck of a lot of data; it's going to have to be processed quite a bit before humans deal with it, or it's useless.
• dynamic - The sensors will be moving around and going on- and off-line all the time. You have to take that into consideration when designing.
• flexible - If it won't be a centrally-controlled deployment, then the ability to do as much of what you want as possible with what is available is very important. Also, see 'dynamic'.
• scalable - There are a heck of a lot of sensors. You can't say "let's have them all communicate directly with one central server." Scalability is perhaps the most important feature of any large, dynamic network.

Sometimes things get to be buzzwords because they actually matter. Horsepower is a buzzword in the car arena, but that doesn't mean that it's not important to look for if you want a truck that will tow heavy things.

"...billions of sensors already present"

[Anonymous Coward]

There are that many X10 webcams out there already?

Get ready for some tinfoil hats

[BizidyDizidy]

This is precisely the kind of article that lends itself to conspiracy theory. Typically, I'm skeptical of that kind of reaction, but this is getting a little creepy.

The real task is to rely on government (or corporate interests?) to not abuse the power that such an in-depth system can provide. Does anyone trust them to do so?

I'm all for the "oh, neat" factor, but it often seems that the people producing such things aren't cognizant enough of ALL of the ramifications.

Tell me more!

[orthogonal]

[I]ntegrating the billions of sensors already present in our environment with the power of the Web will represent 'a revolutionary leap in earth observation.'

This sounds great!

Please send me more information about how I can use these sensor nets to make a difference!

You can email me at: John.Poindexter@Technically.Not.A.Convicted.Felon. gov

PS, I'm sure my friend John would be interested too! You can email him a prospectus at:
JAshcroft@We.Run.A.Christian.DOJ.gov

PPS, don't worry if you get the email addresses wrong. I've got some friends who monitor almost all email, and I'm sure they'll pass along anything interesting!

Great Idea

[code_echelon]

This is a great idea and another really good use of the web. Once it is the later stages of the project this really could lead to a lot of advancements in research in the areas that apply. Here are a few other links I found interesing on this topic:

• Sensor Webs at Nasa
• Sensor Web Whitepaper
• PC Magazine article

In Democratic America. . .

[kfg]

Smart sensors watch YOU!

No, wait. That can't be right. Let me try again.

In Soviet Russia smart sensors didn't EXIST!

No, that doesn't quite seem right either.

Wait, wait, let me try again. I'll get it sooner or later.

KFG