Earth observation and network of in situ ground sensors for disaster management and early warning

Abstract

Early warning and disaster management needs to acquire data for implementing intervention plans. Satellite and airborne remote sensing allows for Earth observation in an integral way. Furthermore, networks of sensors at ground level are used frequently both for calibrating remote sensing and for acquiring physical quantities directly in situ on the ground. Two services must be considered: communication and detection. Their weight is different in the two situations of early warning and emergency. The satellite link allows the most remote and least accessible areas to be reached. When the communication infrastructure at ground level is destroyed, the satellite link preserves continuity. In any case, an alternative sensors network on the ground could be designed. It must not rely on a traditional communications infrastructure and network electricity supply. This leads to a device design based on energy scavenging. Consequently, each network node should be realized by meeting the design specifications of low consumption and low voltage supply. This goal can be achieved by including RF SoC founded on the communication system ZigBee. The article aims: to list the characteristics of main remote sensing; to highlight problems of communication and electrical energy in remote areas of control; to present cluster architecture of nodes network that are energetically self sufficient. © 2009 WIT Press.