Many marine and freshwater water environments are too large and dynamic for efficient and cost effective data collection by sensor networks or... » More

Many marine and freshwater water environments are too large and dynamic for efficient and cost effective data collection by sensor networks or robotic systems alone. Wireless surface and underwater sensor networks allow large-scale data collection although at a generally lower spatial resolution. Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) offer continuous data collection capabilities at a more localised (transect) scale. A method for improving capture of relevant dynamic properties in these environments is to integrate the technologies in a way that they compliment each other. Researchers in the CSIRO Autonomous Systems Laboratory have been developing hardware and software solutions for realizing large-scale integrated aquatic sensor networks. These solutions include in-network event detection, adaptive sampling, distributed communication and data sharing, sensor calibration, multi-robot interaction, and resource management. This presentation will provide an overview of the CSIRO’s research and advancements in the area of static and mobile sensor network technologies for large-scale water quality and biodiversity assessment. Experimental results from deployments in South East Queensland, Australia, will illustrate novel applications of integrated static sensor networks and robotic systems for improving science delivery and operational functionality in aquatic environments. Presented by Matthew Dunbabin. This talk and others were part of the Advanced Aquatic Sensors (AAS) Workshop funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and held at the University of Michigan Biological Station from September 12-13th, 2011.

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