Importance of Sensor Networks:

The importance of sensor networks in our everyday lives cannot be overstated. We depend daily on sensor networks to monitor the safety of our bridges, buildings, tunnels and dams, as well as to monitor the weather and provide alerts for dangerous conditions. When the data provided by a sensor network is combined with real-time transmission, powerful processing, and statistical analysis techniques, an operator is armed with the tools to accurately determine how a given system is working overtime and rapidly respond to any issue that arise.

Benefits of Sensor Networks:

Early Warning Alert/Public Safety:

• System parameters can be set, monitored and users notified
• Increases public safety by monitoring health of machines and structures

Information Reconnaissance:

• Specialized sensor networks (often with mobile sensor capability) can be deployed in remote areas, with rough and/or hostile terrain, that may otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach.

Precision Machine Operations:

• Precise control of industrial equipment can be maintained. For example: sensor networks can trigger misting systems, open vents, turn on fans and control a wide variety of system responses.

Cost Savings:

• Reduce waste by precisely monitoring resource use (water, electrical, etc) wirelessly transmitted back to a central control center for billing.

Energy Efficiency:

• Power station monitoring
  

Applications:

Due to technological developments in the areas of energy harvesting, MEMS and embedded software, the areas of application for SN’s has rapidly expanded. Sensor networks can be used to create a variety of “Smart Environments” whereby an end user can view real-time data and program the network to respond automatically if conditions fall outside a given range. For example, in response to humidity, temperature and CO2 levels, vents in a greenhouse can be opened or closed and sprinkler system outputs can be adjusted.

Industrial Monitoring:

• Machine Health
• Agriculture
• Pollution Control

Military Monitoring:

• Battlefield surveillance
• Reconnaissance
• Perimeter monitoring
• Chemical/biological threats

Environmental Monitoring:

• Air pollution
• Forest fires
• Seismic/Landslides

Medical Monitoring:

• Patient bio measurements, vital signs
• Disabled Assistance
• Medication Management

Wearable Mobile Sensors Technology:

• The development of wearable wireless sensors allows for applications in the area of health and e-sensors

Electrical System Monitoring:

• Power Transmission Line
• Transmission Towers
• Underground Cables
• Electric Power Generators

Emergency/Security Monitoring:

• Hazardous Chemical Levels, Disaster Area Surveillance

Vehicular Ad-Hoc Network Technology (VANET):

VANET is a mobile network of moving vehicles where each vehicle acts as a wireless router, and/or sensor node. This allows vehicles within a few hundred meters of one another to communicate, drop in and out of the network, and create a wide ranging sensor network.

• Police, fire, other civil sectors, as well as a variety of industry sectors, can make use of this type of mobile technology for increasing safety, communication and creating innovative methods to serve customers.

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM):

• Bridges
• Aircraft
• Buildings
• Tunnels, Dams
• Composite Materials