Wireless sensor networks and their applications in geomatics: case study on developments in developing countries
Ravish Khichar, Sai Shivanandan Upadhyay · Applied Geomatics · 2010
We are at a time of transition in the fields of planetary geodesy, mapping, and imaging. Planetary exploration has moved from a time of initial reconnaissance of the solar system using mostly planetary flyby missions and images exclusively from framing cameras to much more extensive missions of targeted exploration using orbiting spacecraft, line-scanner cameras, laser altimeters, and other sensors. It is appropriate to review the past history of this effort, recent advances in this area, and the current state of the art in both planetary and terrestrial geodesy, mapping, planetary imaging and surveillance, and reference systems. A wireless sensor network is a network consisting of small sensing devices spatially distributed using sensors to cooperatively monitor various conditions (Römer and Mattern, IEEE Wireless Comm 11(6):54–61, 2004; Thomas Haenselmann, Sensornetworks, GFDL Wireless Sensor Network textbook, http://www.informatik.uni-mannheim.de/∼haensel/sn_book , 2006). So far, over 100 physical (light, pressure, humidity, etc.), chemical (gas, liquid, solid, etc.), and biological (DNA, protein, acoustics, etc.) properties can be sensed by using in situ sensing technology. With the presence of cheaper, miniature, faster, and smart in situ sensors, the increasing availability of abundant ubiquitous computing devices, wireless and mobile network access, and autonomous and intelligent geospatial software agents, distributed networked in situ sensing becomes clearly a technological trend. Sensor Webs can perform as an extensive monitoring and sensing system that provides timely, comprehensive, continuous, and multi-mode observations on underground mining, wildlife, and various physical infrastructures such as bridges, pipelines, and buildings. These new earth-observation systems open up new avenues to fast assimilation of data from various sensors (both in situ and remote) and to accurate analysis and informed decision-makings. This paper studies the security aspects and present and future applications of these networks. The paper first introduces the revolutionary concept of the Sensor Web and provides a comprehensive study of Sensor Web (both Sensor Web and sensors mean the same), and then presents its related security problems, threats, risks, and characteristics. Additionally, the paper gives a brief introduction to the application and the opportunities available for these networks in rural India and thereby provides an opportunity to improve the quality of life which is integrated with that of domestic animal health, soil and water quality, and plant/crop health. We examine the possibility of setting up of sensor networks to monitor these aspects so as to provide a detailed set of information to the residents as well as planners.