Evening Lecture:

Wireless Sensor Networks for Environmental Monitoring

Abstract:

The technology is now available to distribute low-cost wirelessly connected devices throughout an environment in order to detect changes and respond rapidly. On the surface, this presents an exciting opportunity in areas such as coastal, catchment and dam monitoring; the generation of alerts related to pollutant releases or bushfires; optimisation of farm irrigation; and the development of a greater understanding of natural processes.

However, natural and man-made environments can be harsh on people, let alone small electronic devices. These sensors and communication networks need to cope with harsh conditions such as dust storms, five-metre waves, biofouling and sweltering heat, as well as the potential for theft or damage.

In this talk, Greg will discuss some of the challenges and progress made by CSIRO in implementing environmental sensor networks and will also outline future plans to seamlessly combine data from different agencies to help create a “Sensor Web”.

Presenter(s):

Greg received the B.Sc. (Hons) and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Sydney. His Ph.D. focussed on the development of quasi-optical antennas to refine the beam from a 150 – 600 GHz step-tunable gyrotron, and the use of the beam to perform dielectric measurements at these frequencies.

In 1997, Greg joined the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) where he researched the environmental impacts of mining, focusing on the physical transport of reactants and pollutants within mine wastes. This role involved a significant level of fieldwork to mine sites throughout Australia as well as to sites as diverse as Kalimantan, Indonesia and arctic Sweden.

Since 2002, Greg has been with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). He was initially engaged in research on gigabit wireless networks. More recently, he led the group developing Australia's first millimetre-wave imager operating at frequencies near 190 GHz.

Greg’s current research focus is on the development and deployment of a marine sensor network in southern Tasmania, enabling him to combine his passions for environmental monitoring and microwave communications. The network will help manage the multiple uses (aquaculture, industry, recreation, tourism, environmental) of the Derwent and Huon Estuaries and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel which runs between them.

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