Plans

Plans as of August 2, 2000. These have been divided into near-term plans (tentatively by September 30, 2000) and long-term plans (continuing or longer-term).

Near-Term Goals

Manoa data collection. The goal is to show data flowing in on a near-real time and continuous basis. Would be nice to show some integration. Planning to distribute 5 units around campus. The first one will go on the 6th floor of St. John's building, where we have easy access.
Progress to date: Linux has been installed on about 4 computers (x86), with experimentation to try and minimize the amount of disk space needed (we are currently down to about 60MB). Ten rain gauges have been calibrated and we have the interfaces that will allow them to be connected. We have been collecting weather data in ANCL, and building Lau's interface to experiment with presenting the data as well as the images.
Remaining work: must develop solar radiation sensors, purchase "one-wire distribution boards" such as the one in ANCL, purchase GPS units, complete the camera purchase, build or obtain weatherproof enclosures for the computers, obtain permission and install the units. Optionally would be nice to have temperature and humidity sensors.
National Park data collection. The goal is to show we are doing a good job of supporting the remote data gathering instrumentation. This includes remote management, interactions with the National Park personnel. This also includes taking pictures and measuring the weather.
Progress to date: The "volcano" computer has been installed and is taking pictures, providing a platform to practice remote management and interaction with NP personnel. We also have web interfaces to the images, including Lau's interface. and Hui's interface.
Remaining work: must develop solar radiation sensors, purchase "one-wire distribution boards" such as the one in ANCL, purchase GPS units, complete the camera purchase, build or obtain weatherproof enclosures for the computers, obtain permission and install the units. Goal date for this deployment is Sept 15th. Optionally would be nice to have temperature and humidity sensors.

Longer-Term and Continuing Goals

Two-tier hierarchical "intensive" part of the network:
- communications pod, probably with camera, probably with solar panels.
- sensor pods, probably with batteries, with target running time on one set of batteries of about 2 or 3 months.
- possibly bluetooth to maintain communications (max. distance 10m/30ft).
Gain experience with GPS units: power consumption, reliability, usefulness.
We need to look for skilled people for:
- protocol design and simulation (and eventual implementation)
- web/interface refinement, perhaps using PHP
Continuing to study issues in power management, for example using non-linux capable low-power platforms and using specialized computers to turn the regular computer on or off.
Look into 802.11 for serial interfaces.
Keep developing the containers and sensors. Containers already include different rocks, will soon include tree branches.
Purchase "spider tags" for equipment location.

Prior versions of this plan: