Revolutionizing Physical and Biological Sciences
		Redefining Research Paradigms Technologies created in the Center for Embedded Networked Sensing (CENS) will offer researchers access to unparalleled amounts and types of information, as well as new ways of looking at their world. The systems’ ability to capture data across a range of ecological scales from chemistry, physiology, ecology and the environment will truly revolutionize the way physical and life scientists conduct experiments in the field. The close collaborations between engineers and scientists in CENS ensure that the systems are designed from the ground-up to meet specific research goals. Although many of the systems share common elements, each system’s purpose and physical context drive its design. Ecosystems Information on ecosystem dynamics and evolution will be more easily gathered and analyzed through wide deployment of networked sensors. These self-directed sensors will acquire data on flora and fauna, as well as temperature and other conditions, tracking significant changes to an ecosystem over time. Land-Air Interactions The sensor systems will assist in developing a better understanding of the interaction between soil and the atmosphere, leading to better models of weather systems, water resource management and global climate impact. Spatially and temporally dense data acquisition will provide more accurate quantitative measurements of changes over time and area. Earthquakes Low-power, low-cost sensors will enable structures to be densely instrumented, providing civil engineers and geologists with access to large-scale, real-time monitoring of seismic events and their effects. Information gathered during earthquakes and aftershocks will offer scientists a richer pool of data than is available from current testing and simulations. Researchers in the Center are designing and building tools that can operate in natural and agricultural settings, offering physical and biological scientists not only new ways of looking at the world around them, but also more effective ways of gathering and managing data.