Seminar Series

Wednesday, October 4, 2006; 4:00pm

**Come and enjoy our sweet and savory refreshments starting at 3:45!**

Matt Welsh, Harvard University, Assistant Professor of Computer Science Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Seminar Title: Monitoring Volcanic Eruptions with a Wireless Sensor Network

Abstract: Wireless sensor networks are an exciting new technology with many potential applications in the natural sciences. Our group has been collaborating with seismologists from UNH, UNC, and the Instituto Geofisico in Ecuador to explore the use of sensor networks for monitoring eruptions and earthquakes at active volcanoes. The use of wireless sensor networks can augment and supplant existing seismic monitoring equipment, which often involves heavy, power-hungry data loggers. This is an especially challenging application, requiring high-resolution signal collection across an array of spatially-separated sensors to understand the geophysical processes underlying volcanic activity.

In this talk, I will describe two sensor network deployments that we have undertaken on volcanoes in Ecuador, Tungurahua and Reventador, in the summers of 2004 and 2005. The Reventador network consisted of 16 wireless sensor nodes, distributed over a 3 km aperture, that collected high-resolution seismic and acoustic data on over 200 eruptions and earthquakes over 3 weeks. This project involved many challenges, including reliable multihop routing, fine-grained network time synchronization, over-the-air reprogramming, and event-based triggering. I will also discuss the lessons learned from deploying a sensor network in such a hostile and remote location. Reaching the deployment site required slogging through dense jungle for several hours to the upper flanks of the volcano, deforested by a massive eruption in 2002.

Link: http://www.eecs.harvard.edu/~mdw/proj/volcano/

Link: http://www.eecs.harvard.edu/~mdw/travel/ecuador3/

Seminar Series schedule is available on the IIC website – http://iic.harvard.edu/events.php. The website will be updated often with additional information and seminars.

All IIC seminars will be held at the 60 Oxford Street Building, Room 330 unless otherwise noted.

Date and Time: Wednesday, October 4, 2006; 4:00pm; Full Refreshment Buffet at 3:45pm

Location: 60 Oxford Street, Room 330

Parking: Parking is available in the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Please tell the attendant that you are attending the IIC Seminar. A map is available on line at http://iic.harvard.edu/contactphp.