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In the 1990s, the Internet connected us to a planet-wide web of
information—all the zillions of bits that are stored in computer
memories and hard drives. But now, thanks to an ongoing
revolution in highly miniaturized, wirelessly networked sensors,
the Internet is reaching out into the physical world, as well.
"We call it 'the Embedding of the Internet'," says Deborah
Estrin, who is a computer scientist of the University of
California, Los Angeles, and director of the Center for Embedded
Networked Sensing, a multi-university research partnership that
was launched in August 2002 with funding by the National Science
Foundation (NSF). "And it's going to transform our ability to
understand and manage the physical world around us."
Indeed, that prospect has led the NSF to fund sensor research for
the past decade and more, culminating in a foundation-wide
Sensors and Sensor Networks Program that was begun in 2003 with a
first-year funding of $47 million. Among the likely applications:
- Networks of wireless environmental sensors could be
deployed in remote areas to monitor factors such as the
moisture load of the vegetation (and thus the degree of
fire danger); agricultural runoff in rivers, streams, and
groundwater; seismic events; air quality; and the
ecosystem's overall response to climate change.
- Bridges and buildings with built-in sensor networkscould
report on their own structural integrity, and pinpoint
internal damage after an earthquake.
- Networks of miniature chemical and biological sensors could
be deployed in hospitals, post offices, and other sensitive
areas to raise the alarm at the first sign of anthrax,
smallpox, ricin, or other indications of a terrorist
attack.
- Clusters of "smart," but almost undetectably small sensors
could be scattered across a stretch of hostile territory by
air to monitor traffic and troop movements.
Sensors and their applications will also be very much in evidence
at the Seattle meeting of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS). Among the most prominent events
will be two topical lectures:
Deborah Estrin: Instrumenting the World with Wireless Sensor Networks
Friday, February 13, 2004, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
Larry R. Dalton: Electro-Optics for the Next Generation Information Technology, Sensing, And Defense Applications
Friday, February 13, 2004, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
Dalton is director of the NSF-funded Center on Materials and
Devices for Information Technology Research at the University of
Washington.
But other sessions will be dealing with sensors, as well:
Cyberinfrastructure: Revolutionizing Environmental Science in the 21st Century
Friday, February 13, 2004, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon & 2:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m.
Estrin will be giving a technical talk in the afternoon session.
"Cyberinfrastructure" is a term that 's come to describe NSF's
most expansive, long-term vision of computing—a vision that most
definitely includes extensive sensor networks.
Miniaturization of Chemical, Energy and Biological Systems for Security Applications
Friday, February 13, 2004, 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
2004 Nanotechnology Seminar: Chemical and Biological Nanosensors
Friday, February 13, 2004, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
21st Century Photonics
Sunday, February 15, 2004, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon & 2:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m.
Larry Dalton will be speaking in the morning session.
Details of the NSF sensors program, along with highlights from
recent research projects, can be found at http://www.eng.nsf.gov/general/sensors/index.htm.
Proposals are now being sought for a second round of projects, with a deadline
of late February; the official solicitation can be found at
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04522/nsf04522.htm.
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The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget of nearly $5.58 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 40,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,000 new funding awards. The NSF also awards over $200 million in professional and service contracts yearly.
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