Cheap Deployable Networked Sensors for Environmental Use

Abstract

We profile the utility and limits in deployment of inexpensive disposable sensor networks by amateurs to achieve environmental monitoring goals. Four current technology movements — PC-on-a-chip processors such as Arduino, prebuilt sensors, 3-D printing, and Wi-Fi and mesh networking — enable rapid sensor platform creation and make it easy for non-specialists to create general sensor-bearing platforms. Deployment of a cluster of multiple sensor-bearing platforms is, however, communications-limited in terms of both range and number of devices supported, and generally requires a base station with internet access. We examine how inexpensive technology supports scenarios for short-term environmental modelling by average citizens.