Notes from October 13, 2004

Biosensors

• Currently environmental studies are 90% model based and 10% data based
• What to measure:
• seismic/volcanic activity
• species dispersal
• humidity
• temperature
• chemicals
  
• How to take measurements
• example: Gauging species dispersal
• using tags
• cheap but inefficient
• tradeoff between ideal and actuality (lack of resources)
• censors
• wireless censors must have a sufficient power source
• a network of censors would reduce need for large power source
• network of censors that could both receive and transmit data
• censors could analyze part of the data in the field (discarding corrupt or repeat data) thus minimizing data output and reducing the time needed to process raw data
  
• Inacessible points
• Examples:
  
• deep ocean
• divers generally only dive to 60-75 meters
• possibly use sonar or optical sensors
  
• mountains
• volcanoes
• Use of robotics may be possible in these situations
  
• Use of satellites
• satellites can measure a myriad of information without direction interaction with the environment
• however, satellites cannot measure in great detail
• satellites have very limited penetration ability for areas with water
  
• Recruit local fishermen in monitoring effort
• fishermen may be wary of researchers because of quotas and limits they have set to protect wildlife
• steps must first be taken to gain cooperation of the fishermen