Framework for analyzing environmental indicators measurements acquired by wireless distributed sensory network - air pollution showcase

Abstract

Distributed continuous in situ monitoring of the environment is an essential component in assessing environmental indicators as their changes take place on different spatial and temporal scales. Recent sensory and communication technological developments have led to the emergence of Wireless Distributed Environmental Sensing Networks (WDESNs) that consist mainly of Micro-Sensory-Units (MSUs). The set of skills and expertise that are called for developing these WDESNs are from different fields and research disciplines, where each discipline has its own jargon. To allow cross-disciplinary discussion, a comprehensive, yet simple framework for discussing data acquired by WDESNs is presented. The terminology presented here allows for describing complex multi-modal environmental sensory networks and the integration of the observed environmental indicators’ into a holistic understanding of the environment. The usage of the presented framework is demonstrated in describing a recently reported data acquired by air-pollution WDESN.