Wireless sensor networks in permafrost research - concept, requirements, implementation and challenges

• Main Authors: Andreas Hasler, Igor Talzi, Christian Tschudin, Stephan Gruber
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: measurement; permafrost; PermaSense project; wireless sensor networks
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.149.3558; http://www.tik.ee.ethz.ch/~beutel/pub/HTBTG2008.pdf

In a joint project of computer- and geo-scientists, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are customized for permafrost monitoring in alpine areas. In this paper, we discuss requirements for a rugged setup of such a network that is adapted to operation in a difficult environment. The experiences with a first deployment at Jungfraujoch (Switzerland) show that, beside hardware modifications of existing WSN platforms, special emphasis should be given to the development of robust synchronization and low-power data routing algorithms. This results from the fact that standard software tools are not capable in dealing with the high-temperature fluctuations found in high-mountains without compromising the power consumption and the network topology. Enhancements resulted in a second deployment at Matterhorn (Switzerland), from where we expect results in the near future. Once the technology of WSNs is a science-grade instrument, it will be a powerful tool to gather spatial permafrost data in near real-time.