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Life Under Your Feet: An End-to-End Soil
Ecology Sensor Network, Database, Web
Server, and Analysis Service
May 1, 2006
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Download PDF
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BibTex
Authors

Jim Gray
Published In

3rd Workshop on Embedded Networked Sensors (EmNets 2006)
Publication Type
Inproceedings
Book Title
3rd Workshop on Embedded Networked Sensors (EmNets 2006)
Pages
51-055
Number
MSR-TR-2006-90

Abstract

Related Info
Abstract
Wireless sensor networks can revolutionize soil ecology by providing measurements at temporal
and spatial granularities previously impossible. This paper presents a soil monitoring system we
developed and deployed at an urban forest in Baltimore as a first step towards realizing this
vision. Network motes measure and save soil moisture and temperature in situ every minute.
Raw measurements are periodically retrieved by a sensor gateway and stored in a central
database where calibrated versions are derived and stored. The measurement database is
published through Web Services interfaces. In addition, analysis tools let scientists analyze
current and historical data and help manage the sensor network. This deployment that measures
soil factors with unprecedented temporal precision. However, the deployment required devicelevel programming, sensor calibration across space and time, and cross-referencing
measurements with external sources. The database, web server, and data analysis design also
required considerable innovation. So the ratio of computer-scientists to ecologists was 3:1.
Before sensor networks can fulfill their potential as high-quality instruments that can be
deployed by scientists without major effort or cost, these technical problems must be addressed
so that the ratio is one nerd per ten ecologists.
Related Info
Related Files
 tr-2006-90.doc
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