Initiative in Innovative Computing
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.
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