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Sensor Webs Unwire Ecology

Posted by timothy on from the can-you-hear-me-roar-now? dept.

jonbrewer writes "Pioneered by CENS, Sensor Networks are rapidly becoming a mainstream environmental monitoring tool. The NY Times has an article today with a quick tech overview and info on RiverNet, EarthScope, NEON, and Neptune. The Times reports 'scientists want to deploy millions of these kinds of devices over large tracts for long periods, opening new windows on nature.'"

5 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. yeah, to study nature by _Shorty-dammit · · Score: 2, Insightful

    yeah, that's the ticket. It's not to test equipment before the next Big Brother steps at all.

    1. Re:yeah, to study nature by LarsWestergren · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yes, unfortunately it is a technology that is possible to abuse, but what technology isn't? The Internet was developed in close collaboration with the US military, but nevertheless it became a world wide technology that benefits all of mankind. Linux might be used to guide missiles, does that make it evil?

      With the large number of libertarian and conservative pundits and lobbyists who are claiming that environmentalism is rubbish (Lomborg for instance...), I welcome more hard data to refute them with.
      ...or the data could refute my beliefs of course, which will be a blow to my ego in the short term, but in the long term will make me sleep better at night. :-)

      --

      Being bitter is drinking poison and hoping someone else will die

  2. Re:Impact? by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Right. But changing behavior isn't necessarily 'bad'. Isn't necessarily good, either.

    But how are we to study these environments (and hopefully learn how not to screw them up anymore than we already have) without some human interaction? We are on this planet. Interaction is going to happen. Maybe these little sensors are less intrusive than other ways of monitoring.

  3. Re:I wonder how much the "cool" factor influences. by detritus` · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Sorry to tell you this but real scientists in the real world usually dont base a whole lot of their research on hollywood movies, especially ones with obvious agendas such as this one. To be honest this is the type of movie anyone with any understanding of the scientific method finds extremely annoying as suddenly everyone walking around is an "expert" on global warming because they saw this movie. Just because you saw it on TV doesnt make it true.

    --
    drunk chemists
  4. closing by __aahlyu4518 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    opening new windows on nature.

    Which ofcourse will be closed with a simple click on the right top corner by politicians who think that the short term economy is much more important.

    Not thinking about how much it will cost (in terms of money and health) in the long run to undo (if still possible) the stupid decisions made now.